Second day of East-West Line disruptions causes long queues and crowded stations

SINGAPORE: Commuters experienced a second consecutive day of disruptions on the East-West Line (EWL) on today (26 September). The suspension of regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations resulted in long queues and packed stations, further exacerbated by a heavy downpour during the morning rush hour. A video taken this morning showed a queue extending hundreds of meters from West Gate mall to the bus stop, where commuters waited for shuttle buses operating between the affected stations—Jurong East, Clementi, Dover, and Buona Vista. Meanwhile, other footage posted on social media platform Xiaohongshu captured large crowds at Boon Lay station, where shuttle trains were running at 10-minute intervals. The disruption follows an announcement by SMRT, the train operator, stating that regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations would be unavailable on 26 September. This follows a power fault that occurred the previous day, which led to significant service interruptions across a larger stretch of the EWL. The power fault, which occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. yesterday, forced the suspension of regular train operations between Boon Lay and Queenstown MRT stations for the rest of that day. According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the issue originated from a first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train near Clementi station. The train experienced a mechanical fault in its axle box, which led to the derailment of wheels and damage to critical infrastructure, including the third rail and point machines. Following the incident, SMRT safely evacuated passengers from the affected train at Clementi station. However, while withdrawing the faulty train to Ulu Pandan depot, a power trip occurred at 9:25 a.m., causing another train to stall between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations. Approximately 850 passengers were safely disembarked and escorted along the tracks back to Clementi station by SMRT staff.

In response to the disruption, SMRT deployed shuttle buses and trains to serve commuters along the affected stretch of the EWL. Despite these efforts, the alternative transport services struggled to meet demand, particularly during peak hours. SMRT apologised for the inconvenience, stating, “We are deeply sorry and thank all commuters for their understanding and patience as we do our best to recover train services on the affected stretch of the East-West Line.” The operator added that engineers had been working overnight and throughout 26 September to restore normal services as soon as possible. LTA and SMRT have both pledged to investigate the cause of the axle box failure to prevent similar incidents in the future. This marks the second consecutive day of disruptions on one of Singapore's busiest MRT lines, causing frustration among commuters who rely on the EWL for daily travel. While SMRT has worked to provide alternatives, many have expressed concerns about overcrowding and the extended waiting times at shuttle bus and train services.