Train service was disrupted along the Circle Line (CCL) on Saturday evening due to signaling fault, starting with trains being stuck between Tai Seng – Mac Pherson stations, and Paya Lebar – Dakota stations.
About 6pm tweets from affected and worried passengers started to post questions about their stalled trains on the social media platform:
https://twitter.com/_m_ichae_l/status/1025683227757838336
We are stuck between paya lebar and dakota
— imraashing (@Raashplayer) August 4, 2018
smrt did maintenance on the tracks this morning and even now it's still fucked up wtf bye
— hakimz (@spicytunaroll01) August 4, 2018
@SMRT_Singapore We've been stuck at Dakota Station for some time now. I hope you are able to address the issue and inform the passengers what is going on instead of keeping quiet and letting the passengers wait without knowing what would happen.
— teudoongie (@sanatozakiss_) August 4, 2018
Cte train fault on both bounds at stadium now , thanks @LTAsg @SMRT_Singapore @TODAYonline pic.twitter.com/ndhBoTD2Cg
— suhaimi abdullah (@suhaimila) August 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/ToxicConsort/status/1025688869558136832
At 6:21pm SMRT officially informed that due to signaling fault there was no train service between Tai Seng and Mac Pherson in both directions; free regular bus services were offered:
[CCL]: Due to signalling fault, there is no Train Service between Tai Seng to MacPherson on both bounds. Free regular bus services are available. We apologise for the inconvenience.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 4, 2018
And at 6:35pm SMRT also tweeted there was no train service between Tai Seng and Mountbatten on both bounds, free bus regular services were available between Bartley and Stadium:
[CCL]: Due to signalling fault, there is no train Service between Taiseng to Mountbatten on both bounds. Free regular bus services are available between Bartley and Stadium.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 4, 2018
Not long after, TYH complained why trains not serving the affected stations were also not moving; and Mark Zuckervurg explained it was a domino effect:
Please explain why trains not serving the affected stations are not moving.
— JOY C2 kazoo and zhongli (@Joytyhea) August 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/MarkZuckervurg/status/1025691826315964416
Other commuters complained about the announcement on the trains – or the lack of useful information:
Announcement on train works during train breakdown is unthoughtful and shows a lack of common sense.
— Su (@SuZhenn) August 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/born_in_august_/status/1025692293875912705
https://twitter.com/MarkZuckervurg/status/1025692707803385859
https://twitter.com/MarkZuckervurg/status/1025694189369978880
https://twitter.com/born_in_august_/status/1025694306378498048
https://twitter.com/born_in_august_/status/1025694597404487680
And Mark Zuckervurg posted some photos of crowds caused by the breakdown outside the station:
https://twitter.com/MarkZuckervurg/status/1025695567958011904
https://twitter.com/MarkZuckervurg/status/1025695853967626241
At 6:52pm SMRT informed that train service was already available between Tai Seng and Mountbatten, while additional time between Stadium and Bartley was expected:
[CCL Update]: Trains service is available between Tai Seng and Mountbatten. Additional travel time between Stadium and Bartley is expected. Free regular bus services are still available between Stadium and Bartley.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 4, 2018
But Mark Zuckervurg questioned the promised free bus services, while Eiram tweeted that the buses (drivers) were not informed about it:
https://twitter.com/MarkZuckervurg/status/1025696377362235393
Buses are not updated that there are free bus services. Please fix.
— Eiram (@3iramari3) August 4, 2018
At 7:02pm and 7:13pm SMRT repeated that the CCL train service between Tai Seng and Mountbatten has resumed, stating that additional 5 minutes travel time between Stadium and Bartley was expected and that free regular bus services were still available between Stadium and Bartley till 7:30pm:
[CCL Update]: Train service resume between Tai Seng and Mountbatten. Additional 5 minutes travelling time between Stadium and Bartley is expected. Free regular bus services are still available between Stadium and Bartley.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 4, 2018
[CCL Update]: Train service has resumed between Tai Seng and Mountbatten. Free regular bus service will be available between Stadium and Bartley till 1930hrs.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 4, 2018
Michelle Hiew explained the reasons of confused information at Tai Seng:
https://twitter.com/hiew_michelle/status/1025704878172041216
And Shahron expressed dissatisfaction with a tweeted photo:
Thanks for ruining my Saturday night fever smrt buto Kau pic.twitter.com/GvToc2SUPv
— ron borden (@False9Ron_lfc) August 4, 2018
