Experiencing a train breakdown is not uncommon. However, when multiple disruptions occur within a single week, frustrations are bound to rise — especially for those relying on the MRT to get to work on time.
Over the past week, three MRT service disruptions have taken place, prompting the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to issue an update on the incidents.
In a statement on Thursday (13 February 2025), LTA stated that it is working closely with train operators SMRT and SBS Transit to determine the root causes of these disruptions, which affected the North-South Line (NSL), North East Line (NEL), and Circle Line (CCL).
The service disruptions occurred on 7 February, 10 February, and 11 February 2025 significantly impacting peak-hour commutes.
North-South Line Disruptions Caused by Engineering Vehicle Breakdown at Bishan Depot
On 7 February 2025, disruptions were reported on the North-South Line (NSL) and East-West Line (EWL) during both morning and evening peak hours.
According to a Facebook post by LTA, the disruptions resulted from an engineering vehicle breaking down at 5:15am at a railway crossing in Bishan Depot, following routine maintenance.
This prevented trains from departing Bishan Depot for passenger service, LTA stated on Thursday, outlining preliminary investigations.
On 7 February at 7:20pm, SMRT announced on Facebook that its engineers and technicians had successfully cleared the tracks at Bishan Depot, allowing trains to be launched.
Normal train services on the North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL) had resumed.
Trains Redirected from EWL to NSL
SMRT redirected several East-West Line trains to the North-South Line to enable operations on both lines throughout the day.
Commuters were advised to allow an additional 10 minutes of travel time between Ang Mo Kio and Jurong East stations in the direction of Jurong East.
To help with the influx of commuters during peak hours, SMRT provided free regular and bridging bus services from Woodlands to Bishan.
The disruption persisted until the evening, with the engineering vehicle cleared by 5:30pm, allowing SMRT to resume train launches from Bishan Depot and gradually restore normal services by the evening peak.
LTA and SMRT are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident’s root cause.
LTA also clarified that this incident differs significantly from the September 2024 East-West Line disruption, where an empty train derailed while returning to the depot. This resulted in a six-day disruption affecting approximately half a million passengers daily.
The incident was caused by a defective train component that fell onto the tracks, causing extensive damage between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations.
Fault Near Buangkok Station Causes NEL Disruptions
The second MRT disruption occurred on the North-East Line (NEL).
On 10 February at 6:08am, a signalling fault near Buangkok station caused delays on the NEL.
According to The Straits Times, this fault led to delays of up to 30 minutes for NEL commuters due to slower train operations.
SBS Transit offered free regular and bridging bus services between Punggol Coast and Dhoby Ghaut during the incident.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fault stemmed from a malfunctioning electronic card within the signalling equipment.
Normal services resumed progressively from 8am after SBS Transit replaced the malfunctioning card on the same morning.
The faulty component has been sent to Alstom, the system manufacturer, for further analysis.
Disruptions on Circle Line
On 11 February at 8:15am, a signalling fault between Paya Lebar and Marymount stations on the Circle Line (CCL).
This triggered a power trip affecting 17 trains, causing delays during the morning commute.
Power was subsequently restored, and train movements resumed progressively five minutes later by 8:20am.
During the restoration process, SMRT noted reduced responsiveness in the Central Automatic Train Supervision (CATS) System, which oversees driverless train movements, delaying the return to normal operations.
LTA reported a similar CATS system issue last experienced in September 2024.
LTA and SMRT have collaborated with Alstom over recent months to develop a software patch addressing these issues. This is set to be scheduled for deployment over the upcoming weekend following rigorous testing.
Following this series of MRT disruptions, LTA emphasised that it takes a serious view of the incidents and clarified that the three disruptions were unrelated.
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