At around 5.30 am today (1 September) SMRT tweeted that due to intermittent signalling issue, commuters would need additional travel time on Circle Line (CCL). This time it did not mention how long it would be and it does not say whether there was any free shuttle bus available.
[CCL] Due to intermittent signalling issue, please
cater for additional travel time on the CCL today.— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 31, 2016
About 15 minutes later, it tweeted the same thing.
[CCL] Due to intermittent signalling issues, train may have longer dwell times at stations. Pls cater for longer travel time.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 31, 2016
When a train loses communication, it applies emergency braking as a safety precaution. This has caused journeys to be not only longer, but also jerkier.
SMRT has earlier warned standing commuters to hold on to handrails. Going by the slew of public tweets, some trains may also be bypassing stations.
@SMRT_Singapore wants to play with passengers.go forward then reverse , pass the station and reverse. Lol #circleLine
— a! (@ardawanx) August 31, 2016
Commuters were furious as this is the fourth day in a row. The first one occured on 29 August due to intermittent signalling issue, and the same happened on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Transport Minister, Khaw Boon Wan has kept silent over the past few days over the service disruption on Circle Line.
https://twitter.com/Venushew/status/771140981865353216
https://twitter.com/ShahAiruun/status/771138933832822784
https://twitter.com/Venushew/status/771139766700036096
https://twitter.com/Zids04/status/771141156197457920
The crowd at Circle Line Bishan station is insane again… #smrt #trainbreakdown pic.twitter.com/xk8eqszXJS
— Arielnyanko (@Lov3N3ko) September 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/faithxwong/status/771143686725873664
What's the situation on the escalators at Bishan MRT ? It's been 3 working days ! #smrt #crowd @SMRT_Singapore pic.twitter.com/ZwER5BB7X5
— Sugarspiceeverything (@sugaspiceevery) September 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/TcheriseT/status/771144806407950336
Circle line breakdowns affecting NUS students the most….
— Bhavana (@S_B_havana) September 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/faythele/status/771159718718943233
https://twitter.com/tehaliah/status/771163239593811970
https://twitter.com/yokey017/status/771166787744387073