The ongoing train disruption on Singapore’s East-West Line (EWL) has entered its third day, with new details emerging about the cause and potential resolution of the issue.
You probably know by now that the disruption, which began on Wednesday morning (25 September), was caused by a faulty first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train that has been in service for over 35 years.
You can watch this video to know more about the disruption:
And if you’re hoping that you can still get in a train to head to Clementi for a meal this weekend, because you’re thinking, “How can an MRT disruption last so long?”, think again.
Normal service might only resume from 30 September.
Here’s the latest update.
Massive Train Disruption Expected Only to End on Next Monday (30 Sept)
On the third day of the disruption (which is today, 27 September), there will still be no regular train service between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations.
Initially, LTA and SMRT had considered operating a shuttle train service between these stations every 20 minutes, but they decided against it to prioritize repairs and expedite full service restoration.
Thankfully, there’s no rain this morning, so things are slightly better. And with more people working from home on Friday, things aren’t as chaotic as yesterday.
Although I’m not sure if the crowds are in clinics instead. IYKYK.
Similar to yesterday, free regular and bridging bus services will continue to be available for affected commuters. Shuttle train services will continue to operate between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, as well as between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations.
SMRT is now targeting to resume full service by Monday, 30 September, 2024.
The decision to focus on repairs rather than implementing a partial shuttle service was made to avoid potentially delaying full restoration by several days.
SMRT engineers and technicians have been working continuously since September 25 to restore and replace the damaged track and trackside equipment.
After the repairs are completed, engineers from LTA and SMRT will still need to carry out tests and checks to ensure commuter safety before fully restoring train services.
The Minister of Transport, Chee Hong Tat, has also apologised for the disruption:
Why So Serious?
Because it’s that serious.
The most critical issue was the damage to the tracks. Engineers found 34 rail breaks along a 1.6km stretch between Clementi and Dover stations. These breaks, which included cracks and chips, made the affected sections unsafe for any train to run on.
Adding to the problem, three point machines were damaged. These machines are vital for switching trains between tracks, and their malfunction has made operations and repairs even more challenging.
The third rail, which provides power to the trains, was also affected. This damage, along with issues to power cables, disrupted the entire power supply system, leading to major service interruptions.
Rail clips, which hold the rails in place on the track bed, were also damaged, potentially affecting the alignment and stability of the tracks.
Overall, the scale of damage stretched over 1.6km of the westbound tracks between Clementi and Dover.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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