This morning (30 August) at around 6.08 am, SMRT tweeted that its North-South Line (NSL) had no train service from the YewTee to Bukit Gombak MRT stations due to a track fault.
[NSL]: No train service from #YewTee to #BukitGombak due to track fault until 6:15AM.Free bus service is available.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 29, 2016
Around 20 minutes later, it said that the service had resume and free bus service is still available.
[NSL] CLEARED :Train service between #YewTee and #BukitGombak has resumed. Free regular bus service is still available.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 29, 2016
Then it said that the trains are moving at a slower speed between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak.
[NSL]Update:Trains are moving at a slower speed between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak.Free regular bus service is still available.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 29, 2016
Around 7 am, it said that the trains would be travelling at slower speed and it provided free regular bus between YewTee and JurongEast.
[NSL]Update:Due to earlier track fault,trains will be traveling @ slower speed.Free regular bus still available between YewTee & JurongEast.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 29, 2016
About an hour later, it said that the fault had cleared but the stations are still crowded. It said that the trains would need 15 minutes additional travel time between Woodlands and Jurong.
[NSL]:Fault cleared but trains & stations are still crowded.Due to congestion,estimate 15mins additional travel time between WDL & JUR.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 29, 2016
At around 7.38, it tweeted that the trains needed longer additional travel time, 20 minutes longer. Free bus were still available.
[NSL]:Due to congestion,estimate 20mins additional travel time between WDL & JUR.Free regular bus is still available between WDL & JUR.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 30, 2016
The train service resumed at around 9 am and the free regular bus had ceased.
[NSL] CLEARED: Train service between Woodland and Jurong East has resumed. Free regular bus service has ceased.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 30, 2016
The vice-president of corporate information and communication Patrick Nathan said that the delays were caused by a fault train. It could be traced back to train signalling equipment near Choa Chu Kang MRT Station.
“For the safety of passengers, trains had to be manually driven at 18kmh over the affected stretch. The fault was cleared and regular train services resumed at 9.10 am,” he said.
He also stated that SMRT is carrying out investigations to find out the cause of the fault.
Netizens were outraged about the delay. One even complained that the free shuttle bus actually were not provided.
Seriously?! I didn't know there's so many stops from Jurong east Mrt to Bukit Batok station. What's going on #smrt?
— W A K . F A I I ™ (@kekasih82) August 29, 2016
Expect travelling delay on south bound trains to Marina. This is due to track fault at Choa Chu Kang. #smrt
— Richard Jang (@richardjang) August 29, 2016
Massive human jam at Yishun MRT on both entrance and platforms. I survived the trip. #smrt pic.twitter.com/eBIpqKBzsu
— Richard Jang (@richardjang) August 30, 2016
@SMRT_Singapore 20 minutes doesn't even come close! Stuck at Woodlands MRT alone for close to 15 minutes!
— Sunil Rai (@sunilraisg) August 30, 2016
Been on this train from Yishun since 7.15am and I still haven't reach Woodlands?? @SMRT_Singapore
— ☣kent (@kentlimx) August 30, 2016
Been on this train from Yishun since 7.15am and I still haven't reach Woodlands?? @SMRT_Singapore
— ☣kent (@kentlimx) August 30, 2016
No train service between Woodlands and Jurong East. #trainbreakdown #smrt
— Ariel (@Lov3N3ko) August 30, 2016
@SMRT_Singapore I am waiting more than 20 min at Yishun MRT station to go towards Marina Bay.Don't you have delay towards Marina? Pls inform
— aNaNtHaN (@sgananthan) August 30, 2016
@SMRT_Singapore There is more than 20 min delay towards Marina bay as well. I'm waiting more than 20 min at Yishun.
— aNaNtHaN (@sgananthan) August 30, 2016
Well done sia SMRT, Took 35 min from woodlands to YCK, Now late for phase test
— quxN (@WeiQxxN) August 30, 2016
Work at 9 but I'm still stuck at jurong east thanks smrt ?
— rachelaze (@Rachelbites) August 30, 2016
@SMRT_Singapore rubbish there isn't any free shuttle at Jurong east to Woodlands. Been asked to take 178
— Qing feng (@qfqfqf) August 30, 2016
@SMRT_Singapore Congestion is not just that direction! Yishun itself was packed and this is the direction towards Marina bay/south pier!
— Ad Lim (@AdLim7) August 30, 2016
Oh look! I just spent half hour waiting for mrt and another half hour getting from Yishun to Bishan. Thanks a lot #smrt
— 人斬り抜刀斎 (@sephblue) August 30, 2016
Passengers of Circle Line also complained as this is the second day in a row for such delays to happen. However, no statement made by SMRT regarding the delay on this line.
mai kaysiao your circle line also super slow today ok… teh gong ah? @SMRT_Singapore
— aikloong (@aikloongg) August 29, 2016
Second day in a row with delays in the circle line, botanic garden mrt @SMRT_Singapore pic.twitter.com/SK3uVGJ4z1
— Diana Teixeira (@DianaTeixeiraG) August 30, 2016
Red line jam. Circle line also jam -,- #smrt
— chloelovesnow (@snowb3rry) August 30, 2016
. Yesterday circle line delayed. Today north sound bound disruption. WTH. SMRT!
— Lynn Charis (@lynncharis) August 30, 2016
@SMRT_Singapore There's still issue with Circle Line? It's a 5 min wait at Farrer MRT this morning 🙁
— Jasmine Pang (@opheliap) August 30, 2016
Just yesterday (29 August), SMRT said that the Circle Line was delayed due to intermittent signalling causing the train to travel longer.