Singapore’s MRT network faced significant delays on February 7, 2025, after an engineering vehicle derailed at Bishan Depot, affecting morning and evening peak hour commutes. The disruption caused passengers on the North-South Line (NSL) and East-West Line (EWL) to experience longer travel times. SMRT engineers worked tirelessly for over 12 hours to clear the tracks and restore normal train operations by 7:20 PM.
What Caused the MRT Delays?
At around 5:15 AM on February 7, an engineering vehicle returning to Bishan Depot after routine maintenance derailed, blocking a key crossing. This prevented trains from leaving the depot, resulting in longer intervals between trains. SMRT initially reported a fault with the engineering vehicle but later confirmed the derailment.
To maintain train services, SMRT redirected trains from the EWL to support the NSL. This led to a temporary increase in train intervals to up to five minutes during morning peak hours, compared to the usual two-to-three-minute intervals.
Impact on Commuters
- Morning Peak Hours: Commuters were advised to add up to 20 minutes of travel time between Ang Mo Kio and Jurong East. Free bus bridging services were provided between Bishan and Woodlands stations.
- Evening Peak Hours: Train intervals remained longer than usual, with a gap of 3.5 minutes instead of the standard two minutes. SMRT urged passengers to use alternative MRT lines or other modes of transport.
Despite the disruptions, train services during off-peak hours remained unaffected.
The Recovery Process
SMRT engineers faced difficulties recovering the derailed vehicle due to the tight space at Bishan Depot. Instead of using a heavy-lifting crane, a hydraulic jack was employed to shift the derailed wagon inch by inch. After more than 12 hours of work, the tracks were finally cleared at 6:36 PM, allowing normal train operations to resume.
Investigation and Future Preventive Measures
SMRT is conducting an investigation into the cause of the derailment, looking into factors such as:
- Potential faults with the engineering vehicle or wagon
- Track defects at Bishan Depot
- Possible operational errors
- Environmental or weather-related factors
This is the second derailment affecting MRT services in recent months, following a major East-West Line disruption in September 2024. However, SMRT emphasized that the two incidents were unrelated.
Conclusion
While train services on the NSL and EWL have returned to normal, the incident highlights the importance of preventive maintenance and system reliability. Commuters are encouraged to stay updated on MRT service alerts via SMRT’s social media channels and official website.
For the latest updates on Singapore’s MRT network, follow SMRT on Facebook or check the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) official announcements.
