Commuters hit by 4th train delay this week
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE – Early morning commuters were faced with a fourth straight day of train delays on Friday (June 30), caused by a signal track fault at Ang Mo Kio station.
The track fault was finally cleared at 8.50am, more than two hours after it was first announced.
SMRT first alerted the public about the delay on their Twitter feed 6.32am, advising commuters to add 10 minutes to their travel time on the North-South Line (NSL) if they were heading towards Ang Mo Kio from Woodlands station.
They later revised the delay time to 15 minutes at 7am.
While some commuters took to social media to vent their frustrations, others found an opportunity to add some levity to an otherwise frustrating situation.
Twitter user Jason Lim wrote: “Free rides for public (no uniforms required) due to signal fault”.
Mr Lim was making a reference to the free rides being offered to NSMen who wore their uniform on Friday, as well as the free shuttle bus services that SMRT offers when there is a train breakdown.
Bus shuttle services were not activated on Friday though, as the trains were still operating.
Friday’s train delay capped a week of disruptions for commuters. On Thursday, at about 6.40am, a train encountered a signalling problem at Woodlands station. It had to be driven at a slower speed to Jurong East station, where commuters alighted safely.
Later, at 8.20am, a platform door at Bishan station malfunctioned, delaying a train that was travelling towards Marina South Pier.
On Wednesday, train services were delayed during the evening rush hour on both the NSL and the newly opened Tuas West Extension, due to a signalling fault. Commuters had to put up with the slowdown for about two hours, with long queues forming at busier stations, and passengers rushing to catch buses, which were also packed.
On Tuesday, the Land Transport Authority and SMRT reminded commuters to expect delays due to tests being conducted on the new signalling system for the NSL. That morning, those travelling on the trains complained on social media about the slow train service along the NSL and the East-West line.
The trials for the new signalling system started in March, and are expected to continue for a “few more months”.
Both parties said they sought the “continued understanding and patience” of commuters as they work to resolve the issues and complete the scheduled tests.
