Everything About the 2nd MRT Disruption in 2 Days Due to Signalling Fault

As most of you know, there are three things in this world that will send Singaporeans into a frenzy of anger:

1. Price hikes
2. Bubble tea store closures
3. Train delays

The first two, while infuriating, will not arouse rage as murderous as train delays or breakdowns will.

We are a species that appreciates efficiency, mostly because we’re so used to it. So, if we’re told that we’ll have to add some time, even a few minutes, to our travel time, we won’t be pleased.

Especially if we have to add 45 minutes.

Train Disruption on NSL Btwn Raffles Place and Bishan Due to Signaling Fault; Commuters Asked to Add 45 Minutes to Their Travel Time

The Monday Blues today (29 March) was exacerbated by a signalling fault that caused train delays along the North-South Line (NSL).

SMRT first informed commuters of the delay at 5.47 am, advising passengers to add 25 minutes to their travel time between Raffles Place and Toa Payoh.

[NSL]: Due to a signalling fault, pls add 25mins train travel time btwn #RafflesPlace and #ToaPayoh. Free bus and free bridging bus services are available between MarinaSouthPier and ToaPayoh.

— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) March 28, 2021

An hour later, SMRT advised passengers to avoid taking trains between Bishan and Marina South Pier altogether.

It added that free bus and bridging bus services would be available between the Marina South Pier and Toa Payoh MRT stations.

Shortly after, it asked commuters to add 35 minutes to their travel time between Raffles Place and Novena.

[NSL] UPDATE: Due to a signaling fault, pls add 35mins train travel time btwn #RafflesPlace and #Novena. Free regular and bridging bus services are available between #MarinaSouthPier and #ToaPayoh.

— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) March 28, 2021

Commuters were also advised to make alternative travel arrangements, including taking the East-West Line, Circle Line, North-East Line, and Downtown Line to the city.

Then, at about 7.30 am, SMRT revised the figure to 45 minutes.

[NSL] UPDATE: Due to a signalling fault, please add 45mins train travel time btwn #RafflesPlace and #Bishan. Free regular bus and bridging bus services are available. We are sorry for affecting your morning commute.

— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) March 28, 2021

Frustrated netizens then started sharing photos of commuters packed like sardines in train stations, waiting for their turn to board the trains.

According to ST, the fault has affected commuters on the MRT line for more than two hours.

“At the start of service this morning, a signalling fault occurred between Newton and City Hall on the North-South Line,” SMRT explained on Facebook at about 7 am.

The company added that its engineers were working to rectify the fault and that trains would be moving at a slower speed.

“We are sorry for affecting your morning commute”, the line operator said.

3-Hour Disruption on North-East Line

A day earlier, train services between Serangoon and Punggol MRT on the North-East Line were disrupted for three hours, according to SBS Transit.

According to the rail operator, the fault occurred at around 7 am on the overhead catenary system which supplies power to the train, as a segment of the system had been damaged.

At 9.53 am, the company announced that train services had resumed, three hours after the fault first occurred.

Still, free regular and bridging buses at affected stations continued for some time.

“Once again, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused,” SBS Transit said.

Featured Image: Twitter (@Eddy1983)