Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations on Singapore’s East-West Line remain suspended following a disruption that started on Wednesday morning, September 25. Authorities from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT announced that no trains will run along this section for the rest of Thursday, with hopes of partially resuming services by Friday. A single-line shuttle train service, operating every 20 minutes, is expected to run between the two stations once partial services are restored.
The Cause of the Disruption
The disruption was caused by a faulty train returning to the Ulu Pandan depot, which led to extensive damage across the track and trackside equipment. According to LTA and SMRT, a critical component known as an axle box fell onto the tracks, causing one bogie — the train’s undercarriage — to detach from the rail. This fault occurred between Dover and Clementi stations and is considered the first of its kind in Singapore’s MRT system.
This malfunction resulted in significant damage along the track, with engineers discovering 34 rail breaks across a 1.6km stretch between Clementi and Dover stations. Additionally, three machines used to switch trains between tracks were damaged, along with the third rail that supplies power, power cables, and rail clips.
The incident also triggered a power trip at approximately 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday, causing a second train near Clementi station to stall. About 850 commuters on that train had to be evacuated and walked along the tracks back to the station. The incident led to widespread service disruption at nine stations between Boon Lay and Queenstown, affecting thousands of commuters.
Impact on Commuters
The initial disruption on Wednesday affected an estimated 358,000 commuters. With the continued suspension of services on Thursday, this figure is expected to rise to 516,000. The disruption has caused significant inconvenience for many commuters who rely on the East-West Line for their daily travel.
In response, SMRT is operating shuttle train services between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations. To help ease the situation, bus bridging services are available between Buona Vista and Jurong East, and 80 double-deck buses have been deployed to support these routes. In total, about 620 personnel, including police officers and staff from LTA, SMRT, SBS Transit, and Tower Transit, have been deployed to manage crowds and assist commuters.
Repair Efforts and Ongoing Restoration Work
LTA and SMRT engineers have been working around the clock since the disruption began. The priority is to repair the damaged tracks and equipment as quickly as possible. SMRT engineers found damage to critical trackside equipment that is essential for safe and efficient train operations. This includes rail breaks, damaged machines, and faulty power supplies.
As of Thursday, teams are still replacing damaged tracks and restoring equipment, with SMRT officials stating that safety remains their top priority. The train responsible for the fault, a Kawasaki Heavy Industries model that has been in service for 35 years, underwent an axle box functionality check along with other Kawasaki trains operating on Thursday. There are currently 48 such trains in operation, and all have passed their inspections.
The President of SMRT Trains, Lam Sheau Kai, acknowledged the disruption and the inconvenience caused to commuters. “My team and I have worked hard throughout the night, and we are doing our very best to recover train services safely on the affected stretch,” he said. “The safety of our commuters and staff is our topmost priority.”
Apology from Transport Minister
In response to the disruption, Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat issued an apology to affected commuters. Speaking from Beijing, where he was on an official visit when the incident occurred, Mr. Chee expressed his regret. “On behalf of the One Transport Family, I would like to offer my sincere apologies to all our commuters for the disruption,” he said. He also reassured the public that workers are doing everything possible to restore services as soon as possible, emphasizing that the safety of commuters is of utmost importance.
Moving Forward
While the LTA and SMRT work to restore partial services by Friday, commuters will need to rely on shuttle trains and bus bridging services to navigate the affected stretch of the East-West Line. With no trains running between Jurong East and Buona Vista, it is advisable for commuters to check for regular updates from SMRT and the LTA to stay informed about service restoration and alternative transport options.
The disruption has sparked questions about the reliability of Singapore’s MRT infrastructure, particularly as the affected train has been in service for over three decades. However, LTA and SMRT have assured the public that all trains currently in operation have passed safety checks and that they are committed to resolving the issue swiftly while maintaining safety standards.
