With Malaysia’s recent change in goverment, they are slated for a significant tweak in terms of policies.

And indeed, with the upcoming removal of GST in the country, they are already seeing benefits of it.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, it’s still pretty much the same. And by same, I don’t mean the GST rate, because it’s all but set in stone to increase to 9% (goddammit). Here, take a look at this video if you want to know about the impending increase.

(Since you’re here, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more informative videos lah)

Rather, I’m talking about train faults because apparently…

That’s what happened yesterday.

It was a tough ride but we dug out eight dirty secrets – I mean facts about the NSL Disruption that occurred yesterday.

So without further ado…

Let’s get the show on the road.

1. The Gist

On Thursday evening (17 May), commuters travelling on the North-South Line were dealt with some free after-work entertainment when delays started hitting them square in the faces during rush hour. And the reason?

A platform screen door fault.

If you can’t play the video because of unforeseen circumstances (like an MRT staff beside you on the train trying to peek at your phone), here’s a pic of the door with an ad that should have a good ROI now.

2. Tweet-nouncement

At 6:00 p.m., SMRT announced on Twitter that those travelling from Ang Mo Kio to Dhoby Ghaut towards Marina South Pier should incorporate an additional 15 minutes into their travelling time.

But it wasn’t just 15, as the delay was subsequently increased to 25 minutes.

At 6:45 p.m., it was increased yet again to 35 minutes. And by 7:40 p.m. the figure had climbed to 45.

A colleague of mine was rushing for his RT-IPPT. So no, an excuse chit won’t work this time.

3. Making up for a lost cause

With MRT queues beginning to resemble those outside Koi’s, SMRT had to take action. And that they did with their trademark free bus services.

In a separate tweet, SMRT announced that free bus services between Novena and Marina South Pier have been made available.

Though I doubt the passengers would be that much happier about it just because of some freebies.

4. Progressive restoration

Around two hours and a half hours after SMRT alerted the public, it was announced that the platform screen door fault has been rectified.

But it was a progressive journey, and the train company advised commuters to add 10 minutes travel time to their journey.

5. Just how bad was it though?

At first glance, it does seem pretty bad.

But just how bad was the situation?

We look at live reactions on the scene, courtesy of the bluebird.

Primary School Teacher, Mr Marcus Teo, was one of the affected passengers, and in an interview with Straits Times expressed how he took about 20 minutes to travel from Toa Payoh to Somerset station when it usually takes him just 10.

“Even at Toa Payoh, the train was stopping in between stations.” He also added that the train kept stopping in between stations for up to three to four minutes at one time.

Student Martin Ho also found himself in the mix of it and facing a distinct fear.

“At this rate, I will be late for my family dinner and my mother will scold me,” he told The Straits Times.

We get you, Martin. That’s a fate worse than death.

But if there was a reason to be optimistic…

Well, at least something’s improving here.

6. Netizens react

If you ask me, online netizens are the most interesting bunch to write about because their replies are just so diverse. And as such, we’ve once again roped them citizen vigilantes in for some good ol’ tug of train.

Some condemned the train company for it.

But some chose to look on the bright side of life.

And one was probably that ‘constructive’ kid in school.

7. Not the first incident (duh)

When shit like this appears on your Google search engine, you know that SMRT’s not exactly a clueless virgin in terms of infiltrating breakdown holes.

But if you were to be curious about the last known incident, it would probably be a pretty long while back…

Like last month?

On 18 April, train service between Tampines and Pasir Ris stations on the East-West line was suspended briefly due to a train fault, causing an additional 30 minutes of travel time for grateful passengers.

Before that, on 9 April, a track fault along the EWL led to delays culminating in almost three hours.

But of course, door fault is pretty new.

8. Things are improving

Seeing how there were already two incidents by this time last month, I would say that things are improving… albeit slightly.

And it seems that I’m not alone.

“It was inconvenient,” said Nur Afiqah, 24, whose commute from Braddell to Dhoby Ghaut station took near 45 minutes. “but at least you don’t see train faults so often these days.”

9. Despite that, the line before Ang Mo Kio isn’t affected

So you thought that since doors aren’t going haywire, it’s going to affect the entire red line.

Well, no. Remember that RT colleague of ours? He took a train from Bukit Batok to Yew Tee, and despite the big red notice, he didn’t experience any disruption.

So the fault doesn’t spill over to the rest of the stations, but here’s something even more interesting.

10. The disruption line occurred along the stations that are scheduled for maintenance and rectification works.

Lest you’ve forgotten, for this month during the weekends, the stations between Khatib to Novena close earlier and open later during the weekends for maintenance and rectification works.

And the stations that are affected yesterday?

Between Ang Mo Kio and Dhoby Ghaut.

Here, I draw something for you guys.

Well. Any inspiration for this weekend’s 4D number?

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