Commuters were seen queuing for bridging buses at Buona Vista MRT station at 6:15 pm on Wednesday, 25 September. The line stretched to about 200 metres long and continued to grow, snaking in front of an office building. Police officers were spotted at the scene to manage the situation. Affected commuters will be able to get home with the help of free bridging buses. SMRT has also arranged two shuttle train services from 5 pm: one between Boon Lay and Jurong East, and another between Queenstown and Buona Vista. Train services in both directions on the East-West Line (EWL) between Boon Lay and Queenstown MRT stations will be unavailable for the rest of the day, with a possibility of continued disruption on 26 September, according to Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. The Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) to prepare contingencies for the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) scheduled to start on Thursday.
Background
The disruption began on Wednesday morning when an eastbound train developed a fault near Clementi station at about 9 am. A power trip was detected at 9:25 am while the train was being withdrawn, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). This caused trains on the EWL between Queenstown and Boon Lay stations to stall. LTA’s preliminary assessment indicated that the damaged train caused further damage to the tracks, including the running rails and the third rail supplying power to the train. SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming and Group CEO Ngien Hoon Ping apologised for the “significant disruption” in a Facebook post, explaining that the incident occurred during the withdrawal of an old Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train, which has been in service for over 35 years. The train emitted smoke while returning to Ulu Pandan Depot after encountering a fault.
Commuter response
Commuters expressed frustration over the lengthy queues and delays. “I’ve been waiting for over an hour, and the line doesn’t seem to be moving,” said one commuter, who wished to remain anonymous. Another commuter, Jane Lim, mentioned, “I understand that faults happen, but better communication and quicker solutions would help ease the frustration.”
Impact on daily routines
The disruption has significantly impacted daily routines, especially for those relying on the EWL for their commute. Many were late for work or had to make alternative arrangements. “I had to take a taxi, which cost me an extra $20,” said Mark Tan, a regular commuter on the EWL. The situation has also raised concerns about the reliability of the ageing train fleet and the need for timely maintenance and upgrades.
Future implications
The ongoing disruption has prompted discussions about the future of Singapore’s public transport infrastructure. Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat stated, “We are committed to ensuring the reliability and safety of our train services. Investigations are ongoing, and we will take the necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.” The incident has also highlighted the importance of having robust contingency plans, especially during critical periods like the PSLE examinations.
Related events
This disruption is not an isolated incident. The East-West Line has experienced several delays in recent years, although there have been improvements in mean distance travelled between delays, from 3.36 million train-km to 5.05 million train-km. The Ministry of Transport and SMRT are working on long-term solutions to enhance the reliability of the train services, including upgrading older trains and improving track maintenance protocols.
