Singapore
LTA Probes Three Unrelated MRT Disruptions in a Week
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is investigating three MRT disruptions that occurred in less than a week, affecting peak-hour commuters on the North-South Line, North East Line, and Circle Line. LTA is working closely with train operators SMRT and SBS Transit to identify the causes and prevent future occurrences.
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is working with train operators SMRT and SBS Transit to investigate three MRT disruptions that occurred between 7 February and 11 February.
The disruptions, which affected the North-South Line (NSL), North East Line (NEL), and Circle Line (CCL), caused significant delays during peak hours.
In a statement on 13 February, LTA emphasised that while the disruptions were unrelated, it takes a serious view of these incidents and is working to determine their root causes.
North-South Line: Engineering Vehicle Breakdown at Bishan Depot
The first disruption occurred on 7 February when an engineering vehicle broke down at a railway crossing in Bishan Depot around 5:15 am after routine maintenance work. This prevented trains from being deployed for passenger service.
Attempts to move the stalled vehicle using a rescue train resulted in some of its wheels coming off the rails, LTA said. SMRT responded by redirecting some trains from the East-West Line to the NSL to maintain service, albeit with longer intervals during peak hours.
Commuters were advised to add up to 10 minutes of travel time between Ang Mo Kio and Jurong East towards Jurong East. To alleviate congestion, SMRT deployed free bridging and regular bus services between Woodlands and Bishan.
The disruption lasted throughout the day, with the stalled vehicle finally removed by 5:30 pm. This allowed train services to resume normal operations progressively in time for the evening peak.
LTA and SMRT are conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the breakdown.
LTA also clarified that this incident was unrelated to the East-West Line disruption in September last year, which lasted six days due to a defective train component that fell onto the tracks, affecting service for half a million passengers daily.
North East Line: Signalling Fault at Buangkok MRT
On 10 February, a signalling fault at Buangkok MRT station caused delays on the North East Line.
The issue was first detected at 6:08 am, prompting SBS Transit to provide free bridging and regular bus services between Punggol Coast and Dhoby Ghaut.
Train services resumed progressively from 8:00 am after SBS Transit replaced a malfunctioning electronic card in the signalling equipment. The faulty component has been sent to Alstom, the system manufacturer, for further examination.
Circle Line: Power Trip Due to Signalling Fault
The third disruption occurred on 11 February at 8:15 am when a signalling fault between Paya Lebar and Marymount stations triggered a power trip, affecting 17 trains. LTA stated that power was restored within five minutes, and train movement resumed shortly after.
However, SMRT noted that the Central Automatic Train Supervision (CATS) System, which manages driverless trains, was slower than usual in responding. This caused a delay in returning to normal operations.
LTA revealed that a similar issue with the CATS system occurred in September 2024.
In response, LTA and SMRT have been working with Alstom to develop a software patch, which is scheduled for deployment over the weekend following thorough testing.
Investigations and Preventive Measures Underway
LTA reiterated its commitment to ensuring MRT reliability and minimising future disruptions.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether additional preventive measures are needed for engineering vehicles, signalling systems, and train supervision software.
