SINGAPORE: In an updated Facebook post on 10th October at 3:56 PM, SMRT confirmed that the train fault on the East-West Line (EWL), which occurred at noon on the same day, was caused by a train-borne electrical fault.

SMRT clarified that this fault is distinct from the earlier incident on 25th September, which involved an axle box.

They also reported that the faulty train has since been recovered to the depot.

Acknowledging that some commuters experienced a tilt while aboard the stalled train, SMRT explained that this was due to the slope of the track at the curvature near Tiong Bahru station.

They reassured commuters that the tilt is normal and that the train remained stable.

The disruption occurred around 12.30PM, SMRT a first-generation westbound Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train stalled near Tiong Bahru station due to the fault.

“All commuters were safely disembarked at Outram Park station,” said SMRT, who also expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused.

During the disruption, SMRT advised commuters to expect an additional 25 minutes of travel time between Outram Park and Queenstown MRT stations towards Joo Koon.

They also announced the availability of free regular bus services and assured passengers that station staff were on hand to assist.

By 1:22 PM, SMRT said train services from Queenstown station to Bugis had resumed.

Earlier, some commuters who were on the train during the disruption observed that it was tilted.

Many took to social media to express their frustration over the EWL latest disruption.

Some reported being stuck on the train between Tiong Bahru and Redhill stations for nearly half an hour, while another claimed to have been trapped for approximately 45 minutes.

This train fault came just 10 days after the resolution of the major six-day EWL disruption on 1st October.

SINGAPORE: On 10 October at noon, the East-West Line (EWL) experienced a disruption due to a train fault reported by operator SMRT at 12:31 PM.

Commuters were advised to expect an additional 25 minutes of travel time between Outram Park and Queenstown MRT stations towards Joo Koon.

SMRT also  announced the availability of free regular bus services and assured passengers that station staff would be present to assist those in need.

By 1:22 PM, SMRT said train services from Queenstown station to Bugis had resumed.

SMRT explained that at 12:30 PM, a first-generation westbound Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train stalled near Tiong Bahru station due to the fault.

“All commuters were safely disembarked at Outram Park station,” said SMRT, who also expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused.

According to comments from commuters on social media platform XiaoHongshu, some reported being stuck on the train which halted between Tiong Bahru station and Redhill for nearly half an hour.

One commuter commented, “I’m really speechless… Just a few days ago, the EWL had a major breakdown and just recovered. I thought things should be safer recently? Yet today I encountered this, the train stopped between Tiong Bahru and Redhill for almost half an hour.”

“SMRT really leaves people speechless. Prices increase every year (they’re set to rise again at the end of the year), yet faults occur one after another.”

“The last incident still hasn’t received a satisfactory response or explanation from the public, and now another one has occurred just a few days later.”

Commuter Expresses Disappointment Over SMRT’s Inability to Manage Repeated Breakdowns

Observing comments on SMRT’s Facebook post, one commuter, who claimed to have been stuck in the faulty train for approximately 45 minutes, expressed disappointment that, despite numerous breakdowns, SMRT still could not manage the situation effectively.

There were also commuters who criticised the communication during the train fault. He pointed out that the announcement made at the station was so muffled that it was unintelligible, rendering it effectively useless.

As a result, He had to look for information on SMRT’s Facebook page to find out about the delay.

Some questioned whether SMRT had conducted proper due diligence checks on all first-generation trains, given that the latest disruption occurred just 10 days after the resolution of a six-day major EWL disruption.

One netizen expressed dissatisfaction with SMRT’s approach to managing first-generation trains.

The comment questioned whether SMRT was waiting for more breakdowns of these trains before deciding to withdraw them from service.

The netizen expressed concern that this delay in action resulted in unnecessary costs for repairs and significant inconvenience for commuters.

A Comment expressed frustration with SMRT’s focus on post-incident announcements, arguing that such actions are too late. He suggested that SMRT should prioritise precautionary measures to enhance the reliability of train services.

Another netizen sarcastically noted that as public transport fares increase, train faults seem to be on the rise as well.