Commuters faced major disruptions during the evening peak hour on Tuesday (17 Sep), when a power fault briefly halted train services on Singapore’s Circle Line. The fault, which occurred just before 6pm, led to train stoppages in both directions, affecting passengers across multiple stations.

SMRT reported that the fault was resolved within 15 minutes, stating in a 7.30pm update, “Fault cleared, train services are progressively returning to normal. Free regular buses are still available for all Circle Line stations.” However, passengers took to social media, criticizing the handling of the situation and the accuracy of updates provided by the transport operator.

Public Frustration Over Delays and Poor Communication

Many commuters who were stranded during the disruption shared their frustration on SMRT’s Facebook page.

Some accused the operator of providing inaccurate information regarding the resumption of train services.

A user at Paya Lebar station commented, “According to the staff, there is still no train service. Why can’t they stop people from tapping in? We only know about it when we reach the platform. AND WE NEED TO APPLY FOR OWN REFUND for tapping in.”

Others questioned the claims that services had resumed and that free bus services were available.

One passenger, who was stuck on a train between Tai Seng and Bartley from 5.45pm, wrote, “What free regular bus service? 15 minutes resolved? Some of us were stuck in the train… only reached Serangoon MRT at 6.45pm to find no free bus service.”

Further comments highlighted the ongoing delays and lack of communication, with a commuter noting at 6.50pm, “We are all still stuck in the train!! For 30 minutes!”

Another passenger reported a second stoppage, stating, “Got on Circle Line 15 minutes ago at Botanics after disruption, and it’s now at a standstill again. No one is communicating what’s happening or how long the delay might be. It’s a crowded train with young babies at risk.”

Growing Discontent Over Fare Increases and Service Reliability

In the midst of this disruption, SMRT faced a wave of public backlash over the recent public transport fare increases announced by the Public Transport Council (PTC).

Many passengers linked the service breakdown to broader dissatisfaction with the fare hikes.

One user commented, “SMRT still dare to ask PTC for a fare increase. Profits rather than commuters,” while another echoed the sentiment, “Increased fare should be given to reliable MRT or public transport. Just how appalling things are managed.”

Others questioned the adequacy of fare increases to maintain the rail infrastructure, with one user stating, “This shows that the price increase is not enough to sustain repair and maintenance. I suggest increasing prices by $1.”

Delayed Commuter Journeys and Stranded Passengers

Throughout the disruption, announcements were made advising commuters to alight from trains and seek alternative transportation, though some passengers reported confusion at several stations.

Commuters at Pasir Panjang station, for example, were told to disembark and find other means of transport, while passengers at Buona Vista were directed to the East-West Line.

Social media was flooded with accounts of passengers stuck in trains for extended periods.

One user described being stranded between Haw Par Villa and Kent Ridge for 20 minutes before another delay en route to Caldecott.

Passengers expressed frustration at the lack of clear communication and the difficulty in finding alternative routes. “Add 30 minutes? It’s a lie. Can add up to 1 hour and more depending on which station you’re going. Still wanna increase fare?” one commuter complained.

Commuter Experiences During the Breakdown

Despite SMRT’s reassurances that services were returning to normal, commuters reported longer-than-expected delays.

Quoted by Channel News Asia, Ms Felicia Ng, who experienced a 20-minute delay, boarded a train at Buona Vista station at 5.50pm, only for the lights to go out partially before passengers were instructed to alight at Pasir Panjang. After waiting for 15 minutes, she resumed her journey, finally reaching her destination at HarbourFront station at approximately 6.30pm.

Meanwhile, passengers on platforms like one-north and Payar Lebar reported large crowds and confusion as train services remained suspended for longer than initially announced. With social media platforms buzzing with complaints and calls for better management, the disruption has intensified calls for improved service reliability, especially in light of recent fare adjustments.

A Reddit thread has surfaced in response to a Channel News Asia (CNA) article published on 12 September, which highlighted the growing problem of internet bots being used to book practical driving lessons in Singapore.

The CNA article points out that driving schools like the Singapore Safety Driving Centre, ComfortDelGro Driving Centre, and Bukit Batok Driving Centre are struggling to manage the post-pandemic surge in sign-ups, with waiting times now stretching from two to six months for practical lessons.

Redditors highlight deeper issues beyond bots

While the CNA article focused on the ethical concerns of bot usage and the efforts by schools like ComfortDelGro to mitigate these activities through CAPTCHA and AI algorithms, Redditors argue that the real issue lies in the limited capacity of driving schools, which has remained stagnant for years despite the growing demand.

One Redditor summed up the issue succinctly: “I think the problem is very clear, and it’s not the bots. Despite the growth in population size and the number of lanes on the road, I don’t think our driving school capacity has increased much over the last 2 decades.”

This view reflects a shared frustration with the limited availability of lessons, rather than the bots being the core problem.

Intentional restrictions?

Another thread participant speculated that these capacity limitations might be intentional, aligning with Singapore’s long-standing goal of becoming a car-lite society.

This commenter remarked: “I thought this was intentional to make it harder to learn to drive. Coupled with the fact that they’ve stopped giving out new private driving instructor licenses since forever.”

This sentiment resonated with other Redditors, who pointed out that restricting driving access through such methods might be an indirect way of discouraging car ownership without implementing more obvious or direct measures.

A common theme throughout the discussion was the call for more private driving instructors, as their dwindling numbers have exacerbated the problem. The CNA article notes that Singapore stopped issuing new licenses for private driving instructors in 1987, and only around 300 private instructors remain today.

Redditors expressed frustration over this restriction, with one saying: “Opening the doors for more private driving instructors would solve a lot of this crazy pent-up demand… I can’t understand why TP [Traffic Police] refuses to consider this when their 3 authorized schools are run like a shitshow.”

Others echoed this call, questioning why the private route isn’t expanded when the schools are clearly overwhelmed.

The CNA article reported that bots are used to snap up slots when other learners cancel bookings, often leaving regular students scrambling to secure lessons.

Many Redditors shared their personal frustrations with the booking systems, with one user stating: “I remember many years back when I took my lessons, it was already very hard to book… In the end I wrote a script to help me to book lessons and I could complete in a much shorter timeframe.”

Another user mentioned: “I enrolled in February, it’s September now, and I can’t even get a single slot for my 3A.”

These anecdotes reflect a widespread sense of exasperation with a system that many feel has not adapted to meet current demand.

Allegations of inefficiency

Some Redditors also questioned whether driving schools have any incentive to resolve these issues, accusing them of benefiting from drawn-out processes and high fees.

One participant commented: “The school instructors have no relationship with the student and are paid to just go through lessons like a robot rather than concentrating on the student’s weaknesses. Meanwhile the school has an incentive to drag the process out as long as possible to collect as much fees as possible.”

This view paints a picture of inefficiency and potential exploitation, adding to the frustrations of those trying to obtain their driving licenses.

The broader impact of Singapore’s car-lite policy

Several Redditors tied the bot controversy to Singapore’s broader push for a car-lite society, with one remarking: “They’re probably thinking: it’s part of the system to discourage cars on the road… TP failed lots of people, that’s why they have so much backlog.”

Some users felt that discouraging people from learning to drive could lead to long-term issues, with one suggesting that the difficulty in obtaining a license might ultimately reduce the number of private hire vehicles (PHVs) on the road: “All this is doing in the long run is making taxis extinct faster and possibly creating an issue years from now where there aren’t enough PHVs around because most Singaporeans gave up learning how to drive.”

The Reddit thread responding to the CNA article reveals that many Singaporeans believe the issues with booking driving lessons run deeper than just bots.

The root causes—limited capacity, intentional restrictions, and inefficiency—are seen as part of a broader challenge in Singapore’s car-lite ambitions.

Redditors are calling for reforms, such as more private instructors and greater transparency, to address the growing frustrations around learning to drive in Singapore.