More than 300 engineers and technicians from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT have been working tirelessly to repair the damaged tracks of the East-West Line (EWL). On the evening of Sep. 26, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat addressed the media near Clementi station, emphasising the extensive damage and the meticulous care required for the repairs. Consequently, train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations will be suspended on Sep. 27, with full service expected to resume by Sep. 30.
Background
The disruption began on the morning of Sep. 25 when a Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train, in service for over 35 years, developed a fault along the EWL. As the train was being withdrawn, it caused significant damage to the tracks, including the running rails and the third rail that supplies power. Investigations by LTA and SMRT revealed that a defective train axle box had fallen off, causing the wheels of a bogie to derail between Dover and Clementi stations. This incident resulted in 34 rail breaks over a 1.6km stretch and damaged three-point machines, power cables, and rail clips.
Extensive damage
The fallen axle box from the KHI train led to severe damage, including 34 rail breaks across 1.6km of tracks between Dover and Clementi stations. The third rail, which supplies power to the train, along with power cables and rail clips, also sustained damage. Chee highlighted the challenges in replacing the damaged rail segments, each weighing more than a tonne. The replacement process involves not only bringing in new segments but also carefully calibrating and aligning the third rail, power cables, and point machines.
Express thanks
Chee expressed gratitude to the workers for their relentless efforts to restore full train services safely and swiftly. He also thanked One Transport Family, SBS, and Tower Transit for providing bridging buses to ferry passengers during the disruption. Additionally, he acknowledged the commuters for their patience and understanding, as well as their support for the staff. “One Transport Family, together with our operators and workers, pledge to complete the repair works safely and as quickly as possible. SMRT aims to finish by Monday (Sep. 30), and we will strive to achieve this target as a team,” Chee stated.
Related story
For further details on the extent of the damage and the ongoing repair efforts, refer to the related stories on the incident and the measures being taken to mitigate the disruption. The repair work is crucial and requires time to ensure the safety and reliability of the train services once they resume.
