Commuters on the Circle Line experienced significant delays on Saturday evening (Dec 14) when a stalled train at Tai Seng station caused a service disruption for nearly an hour. The incident, which began at 6:20 pm, left passengers stranded and disrupted travel plans across the affected stretch between Promenade and Serangoon stations.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happened, how SMRT handled the situation, and what it means for train services moving forward.
MRT Disruption Timeline: What Happened?
- 6:20 PM: Commuters reported a blackout on the stalled train at Tai Seng station. The train came to a standstill, with passengers standing by open train doors as they waited for services to resume.
- 6:30 PM: SMRT issued alerts via social media, informing commuters of a 30-minute delay and providing free regular bus services between the affected stations (Promenade to Serangoon).
- 7:10 PM: SMRT announced that the faulty train had been coupled with another train and withdrawn to the depot. Services began to progressively return to normal.
- 7:30 PM: Normal train services resumed, and the free bus service was stopped.
SMRT’s Response to the Disruption
SMRT quickly provided free bus services between the affected stations to minimize inconvenience for passengers. Announcements were made on trains and at stations to keep commuters informed.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to your evening commute,” SMRT said in a statement.
Behind the Breakdown: What Caused the Issue?
The disruption was attributed to a stalled train at Tai Seng station. SMRT engineers coupled the faulty train with another and towed it to a depot for repairs.
This is not the first time the Circle Line has faced disruptions. In September, the line experienced two consecutive days of service interruptions due to a fire in a power system cubicle at Kim Chuan Depot.
Commuter Reactions: Frustrations and Delays
Passengers shared their experiences on social media, with visuals showing a train in darkness and commuters stranded on the platform. Some described the atmosphere as tense, especially when air-conditioning systems stopped functioning during the blackout.
Alfred Chua, 33, recounted his experience during a previous disruption in September, saying, “When the lights suddenly went off, there were some on the train who gasped.”
Improving MRT Reliability
In light of recent disruptions, SMRT has formed a working group to review the safety and reliability of its rail network. This initiative follows a series of high-profile breakdowns, including a six-day disruption on the East-West Line that affected over 2.6 million passengers.
Moving forward, commuters hope for more robust measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Conclusion
The MRT disruption at Tai Seng station serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by Singapore’s rail network. While SMRT acted swiftly to manage the situation, consistent reliability remains a key concern for commuters.
As improvements are made to the system, passengers can only hope for smoother journeys ahead.
