The train delay along the North South Line (NSL) said caused by track fault started on Monday (31 Dec) morning had gone on late in the evening.
Commuters periodically posted the information about the NSL delay on TATA SMRT Facebook platform through the afternoon:
Dante Yuxuan wrote at 12:35pm: “NSL to MSP track inspection.”
Dante Yuxuan wrote at 4:01pm: “Train fault on NSL South bound. Just now my train stopped after Canberra Stn.”
Charles Tew wrote at 5:54pm: “The je platform is like sardines…please avoid.”
Samuel Ng wrote at 6:09pm: “There is no train service at platform A Jurong East station.”
A.C. Yap wrote at 6:09pm: “Finally, like finally (sic), SMRT released an official statement after 3/4 of the day had lapsed #latepost [NSL]: Due to track maintenance work, south-bound trains from #YioChuKang to #Bishan are travelling slower till end of service. Please add 10 mins train travel time to your journey.”
SMRT finally announced an official statement at 6:07pm concerning delay (which has been going on since around 6:34am). But it said that the Southbound trains from Yio Chu Kang to Bishan were travelling slower due to ‘track maintenance work’ till end of service, and only mentioning 10 minutes additional travel time:
[NSL]: Due to track maintenance work, south-bound trains from #YioChuKang to #Bishan are travelling slower till end of service. Please add 10 mins train travel time to your journey.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) December 31, 2018
Passengers reacted negatively to the announcement on social media platforms.
On Twitter some posts questioned the maintenance planning and said that it was not realistic:
Track maintenance today and at peak? Nice planning
— Jeffrey (@CryptXus) December 31, 2018
Track maintenance on Xmas eve ?give us a break man,be realistic of your planning schedules huh!.who's going to believe this excuses.
— Alfie10 (@Alfie1019) December 31, 2018
Other commuters complained about the official statement, referencing to the upcoming price increase and the very late announcement:
Price increase at last day of the year and have this kind of problem!
— 용서 forever (@desdanne2002) December 31, 2018
Till now then tweet?
— Leo (@LeoC75987899) December 31, 2018
Only announced now, happened this morning.
Only announced now— Joel Lee Hong Ming (@JoelLeeHongMing) December 31, 2018
Many questioned the ‘maintenance work’ as the reason of the delay:
Just my 2 cents…maintenance can choose less peak hour? I know it may not be practical to have no issues…but at peak hour…is really hard to understand. If it's to resolve issues, be honest about it and we will endure for the better future.
— Vivian Ng 비비안 황 (@nglp3578) December 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/woahwhatisthis/status/1079701315586904064
@LTAsg U all r aware smrt dun give a s*** abt our tweets? Their skin is so damn thick they hv no conscience abt being slammed left right centre wor. Maintenance my rotten ass!
— Adam Satria Premanon (@MasterPremanon) December 31, 2018
At 11:15pm SMRT tweeted an SPF advisory that Promontory and MBS Waterfront is congested due to the #MBSC2019 (Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2019) event and has been closed off to the public. Commuters are advised to avoid the area.
SPF Advisory: MBS Waterfront is congested due to the #MBSC2019 event and has been closed off to the public. Commuters are advised to avoid the area.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) December 31, 2018
SPF Advisory: Promontory Waterfront is congested and closed off to the public due to the #MBSC2019 event. Commuters are advised to avoid the area.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) December 31, 2018
And finally, at 11:59pm SMRT did not forget to wish a Happy New Year:
Happy New Year! Here’s wishing you a marvellous year ahead! ? pic.twitter.com/evnEXvrtxe
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) December 31, 2018