On the morning of February 10, commuters on the North-East Line (NEL) faced significant travel delays due to a signalling fault at Buangkok MRT station. The disruption, which lasted for approximately two hours, led to overcrowding at stations and extended travel times for many passengers. SBS Transit, the operator of the NEL, provided updates throughout the morning and deployed alternative transport arrangements, including free bus services. This incident follows a recent train delay on the North-South and East-West lines, raising concerns about the reliability of Singapore’s MRT system.
Details of the Disruption
The first alert about the signalling fault was posted on SBS Transit’s social media platforms at 6:56 AM, informing commuters to expect additional travel time. Initially, the operator estimated a delay of 15 minutes but later revised it to 30 minutes as the issue persisted.
By 7:05 AM, free regular bus rides were made available at Serangoon, Hougang, and Sengkang bus interchanges. Additional bridging bus services were also deployed at designated stops between Dhoby Ghaut and Punggol Coast to help ease commuter congestion.
At 7:30 AM, SBS Transit advised commuters at major interchange stations such as HarbourFront, Outram Park, Chinatown, Dhoby Ghaut, Little India, and Serangoon to consider alternative MRT lines. Specific rerouting recommendations were given to help passengers reach their destinations more efficiently.
Full regular service on the NEL gradually resumed at 8:00 AM, with SBS Transit officially confirming the resolution of the fault at 8:23 AM. Despite this, free bus services remained available for affected commuters as stations worked to manage residual crowding.
Commuter Reactions and Challenges Faced
Many commuters took to social media to voice their frustration over the disruption. Some reported being stranded for over 20 minutes, while others shared images of packed platforms and long queues at bus stops. One commuter at Hougang MRT station mentioned difficulty finding staff to direct passengers to the bridging bus services, while another expressed concerns over train doors closing too quickly amidst heavy crowding.
A frustrated passenger commented, “At Hougang MRT and couldn’t even find any staff directing passengers to the bridging bus. Was only told that the bridging bus wasn’t activated yet at the passenger counter.”
Another commuter raised concerns about safety, stating, “This fault was handled so badly. Can’t even get on bridging buses. Trains don’t allow commuters enough time to alight or board. With so many people squeezing, the doors close so fast—this can cause injury, right?”
There were also broader criticisms regarding public transport reliability, with some pointing out frequent fare hikes despite recurring service disruptions.
Recent MRT Service Issues
This latest disruption comes just days after an incident on the North-South and East-West lines, where a derailed engineering vehicle prevented some trains from leaving Bishan Depot. That issue took nearly an entire day to resolve, further fueling concerns about the resilience of Singapore’s MRT infrastructure.
SBS Transit’s Response and Apology
SBS Transit issued an apology for the inconvenience caused, stating that their team worked to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. The company also assured commuters that efforts would be made to prevent similar issues in the future.
Conclusion
The February 10 MRT disruption highlights the challenges faced by commuters when technical faults occur. While alternative transport options were provided, many still experienced significant inconvenience. With recent disruptions on multiple MRT lines, public confidence in the reliability of Singapore’s train system remains a topic of concern. Moving forward, commuters will be hoping for improved service reliability and quicker resolution times when faults arise.
