Signalling fault on Thomson-East Coast Line causes hours-long service disruption

SINGAPORE: Train services along the entire Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) were disrupted on Sunday morning (May 3) due to a signalling fault. 

The issue started at around 6.55am when transport operator SMRT posted on Facebook about a "minor" delay affecting services between Stevens and Caldecott stations in both directions.

By about 8.15am, SMRT reported a "major" delay, with no train services between Woodlands North and Bayshore stations.

Bridging bus services were deployed at the affected stations.

SMRT said the signalling fault occurred after tests were carried out by the original equipment manufacturer Alstom the night before.

"While we reset the system, some trains were held at affected platforms. As a result, there were no train services between Caldecott and Orchard stations," said president of SMRT Trains, Lam Sheau Kai, at about 9.15am.

"Our engineers are working with Alstom engineers to restore service as quickly as possible."

CNA understands that the signalling tests Alstom was conducting were in preparation for the rail expansion works for TEL Stage 5.

Commuters travelling towards the city were advised to use the North-South Line, Downtown Line or Circle Line.

"We apologise for the disruption to your morning commute," Mr Lam said.

At 11.10am, SMRT said train services along the TEL have resumed and are operating normally, except between Caldecott and Orchard stations.

"Along this affected stretch, trains are being manually driven in both directions until the end of service," said the transport operator.

In September 2025, a signal fault caused a two-hour disruption on the TEL. A few months earlier, in July, another signalling fault caused delays on the train line, with services between Napier and Great World stations coming to a halt for more than an hour.