Breakdowns on SMRT
SMRT warned us about the delays on its North-South Line (NSL) in late May, but commuters using the East-West Line (EWL) should be worried as well.
The latter had endured an assortment of faults and disruptions over the past two weeks, but only one was reported by SMRT on their Twitter page.
This morning (June 28), it suffered its biggest breakdown yet.
Pioneer platform jam?!? @SMRT_Singapore ??? pic.twitter.com/AD209wX4Mn
— Cloudywind @ Momonohana (@cloudywind) June 28, 2017
@SMRT_Singapore problem? pic.twitter.com/h5JeyajyXe
— serene (@fatmadcat) June 28, 2017
According to Twitter, Pioneer station seemed to be the most affected.
Pioneer MRT escalator spoiled, platform jam, train not opening door. More signal testing, @SMRT_Singapore ?? pic.twitter.com/AB0iJsdW5G
— Cloudywind @ Momonohana (@cloudywind) June 28, 2017
Pioneer platform jam?!? @SMRT_Singapore ??? pic.twitter.com/AD209wX4Mn
— Cloudywind @ Momonohana (@cloudywind) June 28, 2017
The platforms were so crowded, queues were seen forming outside the stations.
@SMRT_Singapore Train fault travelling towards #JooKoon . #Long queues @ #Lakeside and delays pic.twitter.com/51BRjMyH3K
— María Martínez Valado (@mmvalado) June 28, 2017
@SMRT_Singapore You sure have many people to apologise to thanks to your train fault and additional 30min journeys. pic.twitter.com/SPR7N6BNw1
— Julianah Jamal (@Julianah_Jamal) June 28, 2017
This delay was not mentioned by SMRT.
A track fault later occurred in the evening, crippling services on the newly-opened Tuas West extension.
[EWL]: Due to a signalling fault, there are no train service btw #TLK & #JKN. Free regular bus services are available btw #TLK & #JKN.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) June 28, 2017
Train service was temporarily halted across the entire NSL as well, following a “signalling fault”.
MustShareNews had earlier highlighted the SMRT Twitter page’s inactivity during the first week of trials for the new signalling system, and unfortunately their social media team doesn’t seem to have upped their game.
The latest catalogue of delays raises concerns about the EWL as commuters were not informed of any signalling tests, track repairs or replacement works. Since June 12, the delays have progressively worsened.
Here’s a recap of the latest incidents.
Monday (June 12)
SMRT was already facing the wrath of commuters caught in the morning delays on the NSL.
@SMRT_Singapore current situation at Choa chu kang again!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fIEtKJGPEX
— renier brigola (@akocmrsuave) June 12, 2017
The notorious line had experienced another signalling fault, forcing SMRT to deploy additional bus bridging services between Choa Chu Kang and Jurong East stations.
Just moments earlier, an emergency button was activated after a lady complained she was feeling unwell.
Train's stuck near Jurong East for >10 minutes & saw a lady not feeling well. She pressed the emergency button & puked moments later.
— Shaiwala (@shhai) June 12, 2017
Train is stuck for abt 10 mins at Bukit Gombak towards Jurong East. Announcement said emergency button was pressed on train ahead. #smrt
— Sharifah Sharomsah (@sharifahsharoms) June 12, 2017
[NSL] UPDATE: Free regular bus service is still available between #ChoaChuKang and #JurongEast stations for both directions.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) June 12, 2017
It’s bad enough having to drag yourself to work after a weekend – the last thing anyone wants is to be stuck in a congested space while the train crawled along at a snail’s pace.
But SMRT’s day – and month – was about to get worse as service on the EWL started showing signs of trouble.
At buona vista station. Apparently there is train fault but no announcement was made by #smrt . The platform is now jamned with commuters
— Heng Choon Kee (@choon_kee) June 12, 2017
Average train waiting time is 7 minutes!! But #smrt didn't inform on the delay
— Heng Choon Kee (@choon_kee) June 12, 2017
Thanks for adding AT LEAST 30mins to my travel time home, @SMRT_Singapore . And YES I'M STILL ON YOUR DAMN STOPPED TRAIN!!!
— Cloudywind @ Momonohana (@cloudywind) June 12, 2017
They say hindsight is 20/20, and in retrospect, perhaps The Straits Times shouldn’t have jinxed the situation.
Morning update: No train delays reported; thundery showers mainly over southern, eastern and western Singapore in the afternoon.
— The Straits Times (@STcom) June 11, 2017
Definitely not an ideal start to the week for SMRT.
Tuesday (13 June)
While service along the NSL improved, problems with the EWL persisted.
Good luck to you @SMRT_Singapore for your 'signaling checks' pic.twitter.com/JtTapjhV89
— Apple the Fruit (@bbcdpple) June 12, 2017
Stations were unusually crowded and the disruption wasn’t limited to a particular portion of the line – delays were reported near both the Jurong and Pasir Ris stations.
It's so crowded, people are standing at the stairs instead. @SMRT_Singapore pic.twitter.com/3vK3yccKJe
— Beatrice (@lovexlight) June 13, 2017
Track fault at Pasir Ris zzzz
— ᴍɪɴɪᴏɴ ᴍɪᴋᴇ (@ecownomics) June 13, 2017
Decided to bounce from Pasir Ris after seeing the crowd at Tampines, but the train has stopped on its way to Pasir Ris. Out-SMRTed.
— Zu Kai (@Onizukai) June 13, 2017
Some felt these errors could be attributed to the recent extension of the EWL:
I suspect the EW MRT line delay has to do with the fact that they are sending trains towards Tuas now rather than stopping at joo koon
— M.AzK (@MohdAzK) June 13, 2017
A frustrated commuter came up with some ideas to make the breakdowns more bearable.
Wednesday (14 June)
Things got bad.
Always happen @SMRT_Singapore when u have new lines out, can u go hk n see how fast is their train n how slow is ours😑 pic.twitter.com/Cd5PLJCWS4
— lee lijuan (@leelijuan) June 13, 2017
Like really, really bad.
Is this a signalling fault as I am on a C151B set no. 651-652 and there are a few trains behind me waiting and not moving. pic.twitter.com/vylZJNvPkn
— Nicholas Dash (@nicholas_pong) June 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/beliciaaaaaa/status/874863276181647364
@SMRT_Singapore train is not moving at all. Stuck between lakeside and Boon Lay for more than 15mins now.
— Saurabh Gupta (@saurabh84) June 14, 2017
It was so bad, SMRT finally felt compelled to post an update about the situation on Twitter.
[EWL]UPDATE:Pls add 25 mins travel time from #CityHall to #Dover,due to a track circuit fault at #BuonaVista. Train svc is still available.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) June 14, 2017
Some netizens regretted their decision to take the train.
https://twitter.com/melissatan_/status/874813255482458112
Others exploited the situation.
when you late but your boss also the same. actually train is okay, but i stalled in my sleep HAHAHA pic.twitter.com/YydjY6pH90
— zubir mustaq (@zubirmustaq) June 14, 2017
One summed up our frustrations succinctly.
Leave hse late. Late for work.
Leave hse on time. Train delay. Late for work.
Leave hse early. Train fault. Late for work.
Knn.
— ONE-EE (@loywoanyee) June 14, 2017
And you can always count on Mother Nature to rub some salt into your wound.
wew train 30mina delay and now raining
— ShahrinAzrulLesta🐙 (@ShahrinMathers) June 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/MELnab/status/874787179926441985
Thursday – Sunday (15 – 18 June)
Normal service seemed to have resumed on the EWL. Those on the NSL, however, weren’t so lucky.
https://twitter.com/jenniefurry/status/875510950232641537
https://twitter.com/Kaitodesuuu/status/875147079311544320
https://twitter.com/nitzdotr/status/876427303483342850
Monday (19 June)
The EWL was still struggling.
Zzz. Still having train delay in between JE to JOOKOON STATION…
— ☮JunCheng Zane☮ (@LookAtZane) June 18, 2017
@SMRT_Singapore Have you guys tried taking from Clementi to Jurong itself ? It takes more than 10min for a stop. Wake up your mind
— Brandonnn (@brandon_ckc) June 18, 2017
walao sian train delay again 🙄
— wennnn (@wennxii_c) June 19, 2017
Netizens began to voice their concerns over the new Tuas West extension.
@SMRT_Singapore EVEN YR STAFF DUNNO WHICH TRAIN CAN BOARD,IS ALREADY 3RD TRAIN STILL SAID CANT BOARD.😡
— lee lijuan (@leelijuan) June 19, 2017
Speechless!!!! @SMRT_Singapore Yr b****y new system testing cannot done in weekend!?!? It's not delay 5mins!!! It's more than 20mins!!!!
— Erin Han (@morningmist17) June 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/Emmaemmagoh/status/876597504803876865
Some netizens took to sarcasm to cope.
Good, now we can have more smelly trains!
— Lily (@Lily56758026) June 18, 2017
And this is why my journey is extended by almost 20min today. Thanks. I help you make announcement since you don't wanna.
— Julianah Jamal (@Julianah_Jamal) June 18, 2017
@LTAsg Great! Looking forward to super congested line n more frequent breakdowns.
— Adam Satria Premanon (@MasterPremanon) June 18, 2017
Tuesday (20 June)
Besides some minor hiccups, nothing significant happened along the EWL. A major signalling fault did, however, paralyse the NSL.
https://twitter.com/eisen/status/876951514249543680
No train service from TPY all the way down. Way to go @SMRT_Singapore
— Richmond (@Richmond_Sir) June 20, 2017
@SMRT_Singapore why are you not moving in city hall. We don't have time for your breakdown at peak hour.
— Adam mikhail (@Adam_mikhail32) June 19, 2017
A somewhat positive story did emerge from the mess.
Train stopped abruptly.
I accidentally bumped into someone.
Or so I thought.I just apologised out loud to the train pole. LOL great start
— like fireman w/o the e (@ohcahaya) June 20, 2017
Thursday (22 June)
You know, the usual happened.
@SMRT_Singapore thank you pic.twitter.com/hMyajqnJU9
— BoyUtotTweets (@boypostscrap) June 22, 2017
@SMRT_Singapore can u freaking do your train fault announcement for pionner area????!!!! So that I can show my boss! Are u paying me?!
— Coweygay (@coweygay) June 21, 2017
Dear @SMRT_Singapore , I understand you are doing signalling stuff. But taking 10mins from pioneer to boon lay is too much. We need to work!
— KARLING (@kkarling) June 21, 2017
One commuter wasn’t aware of what was going on around her.
LOL the train stopped moving for about 5mins before this woman realises and goes "wait what's happening, we're stuck"
— N.M.O.C.H ♏ (@JustNigelOng) June 22, 2017
Another started thinking there might be a conspiracy going on.
@SMRT_Singapore kept quiet abt train disruption tdy as it "only slowed dwn train arrival". We should all call @LTAsg to lodge a report.
— 07 (@okletsSTOP) June 22, 2017
A “faith-in-humanity-restored” moment did happen at City Hall station though.
https://twitter.com/ggupta_/status/877769838520745984
Saturday (24 June)
SMRT’s luck didn’t change during the weekends. Several netizens noted delays on the EWL during the evening peak hours.
https://twitter.com/jadedartdraws/status/878537926375653376
Been waiting at Lakeside MRT station for more than 12 minutes. No train towards pasir ris.
— Darryl Kang (@dk) June 24, 2017
Bodoh sia stood in the train for 15 mins then they announced the shit. Idiot. Now they say got delay what shit la
— Adam Mikhail. (@_AdamMikhail) June 24, 2017
W T F SMRT I boarded the train 1.5 hours ago from Tampines and I am still stuck in Jurong CAN U NOT 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
— wan❁xin (@Joeyeatstars) June 23, 2017
Tuesday (27 June)
https://twitter.com/UsovNoor/status/879864268883075072
This Is like the 4th or 5th time it stopped between Chinese garden and lakeside mrt
— Far East (@Flamefaiz) June 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/cerevonials/status/879492186068230144
Stucked at Chinese Garden for almost half an hour…… What's with MRT these days 😡
— RS (@honeylemon_r) June 27, 2017
Are things going to get worse?
Train fault at NSL. But there's a distinct difference this time. All the passengers were so damn calm and like, oh another day in SG.
— Kishen Kumar (@rasta5kosher) June 23, 2017
In a report by TODAY Online, SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed that signalling tests might continue for a “few more months”. While no definite end date has been announced, the two organisations are warning commuters to expect more delays.
“Intensive performance checks” will be conducted and additional software will be deployed to stabilise the new signalling system. According to the joint statement, teething issues like the alignment of train doors and the regulation of train frequency have been ironed out.
No mention of the EWL was made.
With the NSL experiencing frequent delays, Singapore cannot afford another faulty line, especially one that connects its citizens from one end of the island to another.
Is a new signalling system being tested on the EWL that the public isn’t aware of? Is there something not quite ready with the Tuas West extension?
The deafening silence from SMRT only leaves commuters with more questions.