UPDATE (8 Feb, 3.35pm): In an update to their Facebook post at 1.45pm today (8 Feb), SMRT shared that regular train services had resumed by 12.47pm. This means that the service disruption lasted just over six hours, since they first detected the track point fault at 6.45am.
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Singapore’s transport system is often pegged as being efficient and reliable.
However, at about 6.45am today (8 Feb), a track point fault issue between Admiralty and Sembawang occurred, causing a delay along the North-South Line (NSL). According to The Straits Times (ST), this is the second disruption the NSL has seen in three days.
Today’s train fault saw many commuters’ morning travels between Woodlands and Yishun extended by up to 25 minutes.
Free regular bus and bridging bus services were provided between Woodlands and Yishun MRT stations.
SMRT Corporation first announced the disruption on their official Twitter page at 6.58am on Wednesday (8 Feb), where they advised commuters to factor in an additional 10 minutes to their commuting time due to a track point fault.
Source: @SMRT_Singapore on Twitter
A track point fault refers to a glitch affecting the switch that allows trains to change tracks, noted ST.
In their update via Facebook shortly after their Tweet, SMRT Corporation detailed that the fault occurred at around 6.45am. Engineers were promptly deployed on site to fix the fault.
Although train services were still ongoing, commuters were advised to cater in additional time to their commutes as the trains would be moving at a slower speed in both directions.
SMRT Corporation’s latest update as of 10.48am stated that commuters may have to wait even longer, for up to 25 minutes.
Source: @SMRT_Singapore on Twitter
In their latest Facebook update at 1.45pm on Wednesday (8 Feb), SMRT shared that train services had resumed by 12.47pm.
Source: SMRT on Facebook
They explained that the delay was because staff had to “physically check, troubleshoot and remedy the fault point machine”.
Trains thus had to move at a slow speed for safety after the detection of the fault.
Only then could staff go down to the track to investigate the issue.
SMRT thanked commuters for their patience and apologised to them for the inconvenience.
On Monday (6 Feb), a track fault near Woodlands MRT station also caused slight delays to commuter’s journeys along the NSL.
The Thomson East Coast Line also experienced train faults on 2 Feb and 6 Feb, making today’s train fault the fourth MRT train disruption that has occurred in two weeks.
In light of the recent delays, we hope SMRT will look into any underlying issues to ensure smoother journeys for all.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from @mrtsginfo on Twitter.
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