Chee Hong Tat: SMRT to replace 30+ rail segments on damaged EWL track with no clear timeline for completion
In a Facebook post, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said more than 300 engineers are working around the clock to repair extensive damage to the East-West Line in Singapore after a first-generation train malfunctioned, severely damaging tracks and equipment. The disruption, which began on 25 September, has extended into its third day, with no clear timeline for full service restoration.
SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on Friday (27 September) shared that more than 300 engineers and technicians have been working round the clock to repair significant damage to tracks and equipment on the East-West Line.
The extensive damage was caused by a malfunction involving a first-generation train on 25 September.
According to an earlier Facebook post by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a defective axle box on a 35-year-old Kawasaki Heavy Industries train caused a bogie—the undercarriage with wheels—to derail between Clementi and Dover MRT stations, severely damaging the tracks.
This resulted in 34 breaks along 1.6 kilometers of westbound track, as well as damage to power cables, point machines, and other critical equipment.
This incident triggered a power trip, disrupting services on the East-West Line, one of Singapore's oldest rail lines.
Initially, the LTA and SMRT aimed to restore partial services by Friday, but on Thursday evening, they confirmed that the disruption would persist for a third consecutive day.
Transport Minister Chee in a Facebook post highlighted the scale of the ongoing repair efforts.
"I visited Ulu Pandan depot after my flight landed from Beijing, and met some of our 300 engineers and technicians who have been working hard over the last 40 hours to conduct repairs and checks to the damaged tracks and equipment.," he said.
Among the tasks being undertaken, the replacement of over 30 rail segments, each weighing more than one tonne, is particularly challenging, he added.
Workers are also repairing the third rail, power cables, and point machines, which necessitate careful calibration to ensure smooth functioning.
Minister Chee expressed gratitude to the workers involved in the repairs, acknowledging the difficulty of their task.
"I would like to thank our workers for their hard work and dedication, and our commuters for their kind understanding and showing care and concern for our workers, as our teams continue to work safely towards full restoration of train services as soon as possible," he said.
The malfunction occurred at around 9am on Wednesday when the faulty Kawasaki Heavy Industries train was being moved back to Ulu Pandan depot.
The dislodged axle box caused the bogie to detach, inflicting damage not only on the rail but also on essential infrastructure.
Along with the 34 rail breaks, three machines that divert trains between tracks, the third rail supplying power, and rail clips were damaged.
LTA and SMRT have assured the public that all Kawasaki Heavy Industries trains operating on Thursday have passed axle box functionality checks to prevent further incidents.
These trains, which have been in service for more than three decades, are part of Singapore's first-generation fleet.
While repair efforts continue, authorities have not yet provided an updated timeline for the full restoration of services.
According to LTA, SMRT is aiming to restore full service on Monday, 30 September, and running the shuttle train could risk delaying full restoration by at least a few days.
As commuters await further updates, SMRT has arranged for additional bus services to alleviate the disruption caused by the ongoing train line closure between Clementi and Dover stations.
