A train disruption that began on Wednesday (Sep 25) morning will continue into Thursday, with no trains running between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations, said SMRT. In an update at 9.30pm on Wednesday, the train operator said bridging bus services will be available between Jurong East and Buona Vista. Free regular bus services will also be available between Boon Lay and Queenstown.
According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), disruptions on the segment of the East-West Line affecting nine stations began as early as 9.25am after a train caused a power trip when it was returning to Ulu Pandan depot. This caused a train near Clementi station to stall, and about 850 commuters on this train had to disembark on the tracks and be guided back to the station platform. From then, regular train services were not available at the nine stations – Boon Lay, Lakeside, Chinese Garden, Jurong East, Clementi, Dover, Buona Vista, Commonwealth, and Queenstown – in both directions.
Regarding the cause of the disruption, SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming and group CEO Ngien Hoon Ping stated that it was caused by an “unforeseen issue” during the withdrawal of an old train. A defective train axle box on a first-generation train led to the power fault, prompting the need for extensive repairs and replacements.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat mentioned that the Land Transport Authority would conduct “a thorough investigation to ascertain what happened and identify areas for improvement”.
The disruption led to the activation of shuttle train and bus bridging services to assist affected commuters, with crowds and queues forming at various stations. Staff worked diligently to manage the situation, with heartwarming moments emerging amid the frustrations.
For students taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board reassured candidates that they would not be penalized for being late due to train service disruptions.
As the situation unfolded, cooperation and support were evident among commuters, staff, and authorities to mitigate the challenges posed by the disruption.
