Transport Woes...

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Drivers taken to hospital after 2 buses, lorry collide in Pasir Ris​

SCDF was alerted to the road traffic accident near the junction of Loyang Avenue and Pasir Ris Drive 1 at about 9.30am on May 30. PHOTO: PEDRO YOSEF/FACEBOOK

Ang Qing

May 30, 2024

SINGAPORE - A bus driver and lorry driver were taken to hospital after their vehicles collided with another bus in Loyang Avenue.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Facebook that it was alerted to the road traffic accident near the junction of Loyang Avenue and Pasir Ris Drive 1 at about 9.30am on May 30.
A photo and video of the scene on social media show a lorry sandwiched between two SBS Transit buses.
SCDF said firefighters from Changi Fire Station and Tampines Fire Station responded to the incident.
When they arrived, they found a 69-year-old bus driver trapped in his seat. To free the driver, hydraulic rescue equipment was used to pull back the dashboard and steering wheel, which had been forced inwards due to the impact of the collision.
A firefighter positioned himself inside the bus to ensure the safety of the bus driver during the rescue operation.
The trapped driver and the 31-year-old lorry driver were taken conscious to Changi General Hospital.

About 40 passengers from both buses were evacuated before SCDF’s arrival.
SBS Transit spokeswoman Grace Wu said the bus passengers were not hurt.
The bus driver and lorry driver received medical treatment largely for cuts and abrasions, she added.
Mrs Wu said SBS Transit is assisting with police investigations and has been trying to contact the lorry driver to extend its support.
Police investigations are ongoing.

 

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Power trip after lightning strike stalls MRT services on NSL for over 2 hours on June 3​

SMRT said on Facebook at 7.17pm that no trains would be plying from Choa Chu Kang to Woodlands. PHOTO: NAW PA ZAW PHAW/FACEBOOK

Ang Qing

Jun 09, 2024

SINGAPORE – A traction power fault disrupted commutes along the northern stretch of the North-South MRT Line for more than two hours during peak traffic on June 3.
Transport operator SMRT said the fault, which occurred at about 5.50pm, meant that no trains could travel from Choa Chu Kang to Woodlands.
Preliminary investigations so far found that a lightning strike caused traction power to trip, and a small fire had broken out in a power control box next to the train track, about 20m from the platform of Kranji station.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said the fire had burned itself out before its officers arrived.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire and root cause of the traction power fault is under investigation, said SMRT.
As the operator’s staff and engineers worked to get the system back up, commuters were told to take free regular bus and bridging bus services between the affected stops.
The operator also advised passengers to take the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Circle Line.

However, those who spoke to The Straits Times reported confusion on the ground.
Legal secretary Norazlin Omar, 48, was just three stops away from home at Kranji station when the train stopped. According to an announcement, the delay was due to a passenger who had pressed the emergency button, she said.
SMRT said in an update on June 4 afternoon that a train captain had noticed the fire and immediately activated the emergency switch push button, which caused the train to stop at Kranji station.

“This quick decision prevented the train from potentially stalling on the tracks, which could have required commuters to walk to the nearest station,” the operator said.
Train services in both directions between Kranji and Woodlands were also halted to allow engineers to perform repairs safely, it added.
Madam Norazlin said passengers got tired of waiting on the stalled train and made their way to the bus stop as there was no train service or staff directing them.
Photos on social media show crowds of commuters at the affected stations and bus stops.
Madam Norazlin said: “The bus stop was so overcrowded. People started to push one another just to board the bus. To make it worse, it was raining heavily.”


Others reported snaking queues and long waits for bus services.
Mr Bhagwant Kurade, 50, who works in trading, said he was stuck for almost 1½ hours at Choa Chu Kang station.
“They didn’t inform us at Jurong East. They should have informed us to go via the yellow line, but there was no information. We just took the train and got stuck at Choa Chu Kang,” he said.


Student care teacher Bella Ravi, 26, was travelling to Woodlands from Clementi.
“If not for the disruptions, I would already be home. It normally would have taken me 30 minutes, but I had to wait for the bus for an hour,” she said.
By 8.10pm, regular train services progressively resumed between Choa Chu Kang and Yew Tee stations, according to SMRT.

Passengers alighting from a bridging bus service at Yew Tee MRT station at about 8.30pm on June 3. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Singapore has one of the highest occurrences of lightning in the world, earning the Republic its reputation as a lightning capital.
In January, three workers on the roof of a Build-To-Order block in Bartley were taken to hospital after a bolt of lightning struck near them.
Stray streaks of lightning have also resulted in delays after striking trains or trackside equipment in 2016 and 2017.

 

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Lightning damaged disconnecting switch in power control box, disrupting June 3 train service: SMRT​

SMRT said the damaged switch, which was burnt, will be sent for further investigation and has since been replaced. PHOTOS: NAW PA ZAW PHAW/FACEBOOK, SMRT/FACEBOOK
Therese Soh

Jun 04, 2024

SINGAPORE – The June 3 disruption on the North-South Line (NSL) was caused by a lightning strike that damaged components in a power control box near Kranji MRT station and caused a power trip, said rail operator SMRT.
Providing an update on Facebook on June 4, SMRT said the damaged components included a disconnecting switch – a safety device that ensures that energy is not running through a circuit so that it will be safe to conduct emergency stoppages, repairs, maintenance or inspections.
As a safety precaution, train services were stopped in both directions between Kranji MRT station and Woodlands MRT station, allowing SMRT engineers to isolate the damaged switch and perform repairs safely, said SMRT.
The operator said a train driver activated an emergency switch to stop the train at Kranji immediately after noticing a small fire on the trackside equipment box about 20m from the station platform.
Had he not done so, the train could have stalled on the tracks and commuters might have needed to walk to the nearest station, SMRT said.
SMRT said the damaged switch, which was burnt, will be sent for further investigation and has since been replaced.
The power trip occurred at about 5.50pm on June 3 between Kranji and Marsiling stations, disrupting commutes along the northern stretch of the North-South Line for more than two hours during peak traffic.

This is not the first time lightning-related power trips have disrupted train operations.
In November 2017, a lightning strike damaged trackside equipment and caused a westbound train to stall as it approached Bedok MRT station.
There was initial speculation that the lightning strike had hit the train, but SMRT said that it had affected trackside equipment.
SMRT said then that travelling in trains during lightning storms is safe because trains are protected by a Faraday cage. A Faraday cage, or the metal shell of a train, is an enclosure made of a conductive metal that blocks electric fields and currents, such as lightning strikes, from entering a train.

When lightning strikes, the Faraday cage conducts electricity through the outer metal shell of the train so that it passes through the wheels down to the track and does not enter the cabin.
In May 2016, lightning struck between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib MRT stations on the North-South Line and crippled a train, causing delays of nearly an hour.

 

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Sengkang-Punggol LRT service resumes after 4-hour disruption on June 9 morning​

Services had been unavailable at Punggol and Sengkang LRT stations from 5.45am to 10.12am on June 9. PHOTO: LOW NIKKI/FACEBOOK

Christie Chiu

Jun 09, 2024

SINGAPORE – Train service on the Sengkang-Punggol LRT system has resumed after a signalling fault caused a disruption that lasted more than four hours on June 9.
Services had been unavailable at Punggol and Sengkang LRT stations from 5.45am to 10.12am, train operator SBS Transit said in a series of posts on X.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience caused,” the operator said in its latest update at 10.34am.
It added that free regular and bridging bus services, which were available at designated bus stops near affected stations and at Sengkang Bus Interchange, ceased at 10.20am.
No fares would be deducted if passengers had exited from affected LRT stations, the train operator said.
More information can also be found on the SBS Transit app under the “Alternative Transport Option” or the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) MyTransport.SG app and under the “Find My Way” tab.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, a SBS Transit spokesperson said the disruption was caused by the signalling system’s power supply failing, following upgrade works that were carried out during engineering hours. This prevented the trains being launched from the depot for service.

“We apologise to affected commuters for the inconvenience caused,” said the spokesperson.
“Meanwhile, we are working closely with the LTA and the original equipment manufacturer to investigate the cause of the incident and will take all action to prevent a similar fault from occurring.”

 

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Forum: Spate of bus accidents is concerning​

Jun 12, 2024

I am concerned about the recent spate of bus accidents involving public transport services (Bus driver taken to hospital after 2 Tower Transit buses collide in Sembawang, June 9; 93-year-old among 5 taken to hospital after bus and trailer truck collide at Ophir Road junction, June 6; and Drivers taken to hospital after 2 buses, lorry collide in Pasir Ris, May 30).
The frequency of these accidents suggests there may be underlying issues that need urgent attention.
As frequent users of public transportation, we place our trust in bus companies to ensure our safety, but we must also recognise the crucial role that the well-being of bus captains plays in this equation.
Driving a bus requires constant vigilance, quick decision-making and impeccable coordination. Fatigue significantly impairs these abilities, increasing the risk of accidents. Without adequate rest, their ability to perform their duties safely diminishes, putting everyone on the road at risk.
To mitigate such risks, bus companies must implement comprehensive strategies that prioritise the health and well-being of their employees. They should also foster a work environment where bus captains feel comfortable discussing their concerns without fear of retribution. Open communication can help identify issues early and allow for timely interventions.
The safety of our daily commute depends on the well-being of those at the wheel.

Gabriel Chia Sit Loke

 

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Two injured in accident involving bus and two cars near Suntec City​

A video of the aftermath shows that the bus had mounted a kerb. PHOTO: SG ROADS ACCIDENT.COM/ FACEBOOK

Sherlyn Sim

Jun 14, 2024

SINGAPORE – Two bus passengers were slightly injured in an accident involving their bus and two cars at the intersection of Nicoll Highway and Bras Basah Road on the afternoon of June 11.
A video of the aftermath posted on the Singapore Roads Accident.com Facebook page shows that the bus had mounted a kerb, its front extending into the rightmost lane of oncoming traffic on Nicoll Highway, near Suntec City. Debris from the crash is strewn on the road.
The video pans to the area behind the bus, showing that a collision had occurred between a black car and a white car. Both cars are visibly badly damaged.
The two female bus passengers, aged 30 and 35, had minor injuries but declined to be taken to hospital.
A spokeswoman for Go-Ahead Singapore said its bus service 518 had been involved in an accident with two private vehicles.
“All passengers on board were transferred to the next bus service,” she said.
She added that Go-Ahead Singapore was in touch with an injured passenger to render assistance, and urged others involved in the accident to call the company at 1800 812 6469.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force, which said it was alerted to the accident at 4.25pm, said its assistance was not required.
Police said investigations into the accident are ongoing.
At least three other incidents involving buses have been reported in June so far.
On June 6, four bus passengers, including a 93-year-old, and a pedestrian were taken to hospital after an accident involving a Tower Transit bus and a trailer truck near Sim Lim Tower in Jalan Besar.
Two people were taken to hospital on the morning of June 8 after an accident involving a Tower Transit bus and a lorry on the Tampines Expressway.
On the same day, a bus driver was taken to hospital after two off-service buses operated by Tower Transit collided in Sembawang.

 

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Malfunctioning surge arrestor among reasons that led to North-South Line disruption on June 3​

The June 3 MRT disruption left commuters angry and frustrated due to confusion on the ground and long waits and snaking queues for buses. PHOTOS: CONSTANTINE YAN/FACEBOOK, SMRT/FACEBOOK

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Jun 15, 2024


SINGAPORE - A component meant to protect outdoor equipment from power surges, like those from lightning strikes, did not work as intended on June 3, resulting in a traction power fault that disrupted commutes along the northern stretch of the North-South MRT Line for more than two hours during evening peak hours.
In a Facebook post on June 15, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the condition of a surge arrestor located in a power control box near Kranji station could have deteriorated over time. The power control box was damaged by lightning, leading to the disruption.
The authority is now working with rail operators here to review the maintenance frequency of the surge arrestors, it said, adding that it will also work with the operators to strengthen their response to future disruptions.
Without going into specifics, it said public announcements will be improved to provide clearer information. Crowd control measures at affected MRT stations and boarding points for bridging buses will also be made better.
LTA will also review whether public transport operators here will need to maintain a larger fleet of standby buses so they can be activated as bridging buses during a rail disruption.
However, it warned that such a move needs to be carefully assessed, as having a larger buffer of standby buses will incur higher costs for the public transport system.
The June 3 MRT disruption left commuters angry and frustrated due to confusion on the ground and long waits and snaking queues for buses, as huge crowds formed at affected stations and bus stops.

One person said he was stuck for almost 1½ hours at Choa Chu Kang station.
“They didn’t inform us at Jurong East. They should have informed us to go via the yellow line, but there was no information. We just took the train and got stuck at Choa Chu Kang,” he told The Straits Times.
LTA said it has since reviewed the disruption and rail operator SMRT’s responses to it.

It said a lightning strike had damaged a trackside power control box near Kranji station at 5.46pm, causing the rail disruption between Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands stations.
It was previously reported that a small fire had broken out in the power control box next to the train track in Kranji. The fire burned itself out before Singapore Civil Defence Force officers arrived at the scene. No injuries were reported.
SMRT said on June 4 that the lightning strike damaged many components, including the disconnecting switch, which has been sent for further investigation by LTA, SMRT, Meiden and Kraus Elektrotechnik.
LTA said inclement weather and lightning risks prolonged service recovery efforts by SMRT as its engineers had to physically access the power control box on the MRT viaduct to isolate it before power could be restored to the rail at 7.50pm. Train service later resumed at 8.10pm.

Inclement weather prolonged service recovery efforts by SMRT as its engineers had to physically access the power control box on the MRT viaduct to isolate it. PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK
About 10 minutes into the disruption, SMRT activated bridging bus services for the affected stations and provided free boarding on 48 regular bus services, LTA said.
The first seven bridging buses arrived at affected stations by 6.27pm, and a total of 36 bridging buses were sent out that evening.
SMRT also deployed more than 160 additional staff, on top of the regular teams at the affected stations, to guide commuters to alternative rail and bus services.


In its assessment, LTA said SMRT had responded in accordance with standard operating procedures, adding that the company had promptly disseminated information about the disruption through multiple platforms, including public announcements in stations and trains and through social media.
LTA said the impact of the disruption on June 3 was more serious than other major MRT disruptions in the past two years because it happened during peak hours and trains were unable to operate.
It added that bridging buses cannot be a full substitute for disrupted rail services as these buses can only carry 80 to 120 passengers, compared with trains, which can carry up to 1,000 or 1,200.
“This is why our longer-term plan is to build up the resilience of the rail network with new lines that are interconnected with existing lines, so that most commuters could switch to an alternative line when a rail line is disrupted,” LTA added.
SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai said the firm understands the frustration caused by the overcrowding on June 3, and it is committed to addressing this.
“In collaboration with LTA, we are actively reviewing our crowd management protocols... We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we work towards better solutions,” he added.
Singapore’s other rail operator SBS Transit also said it will work closely with the LTA.
According to LTA’s records, there were five MRT service delays lasting more than 30 minutes in 2023, three of them on the North-South Line.
In 2022, there were seven such delays across the MRT network.

 

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Component that malfunctioned during June 3 North-South Line disruption is new, says SMRT​

The disconnecting switch control box near Kranji MRT station was damaged by a lightning strike on June 3. PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Jun 18, 2024

SINGAPORE – An electrical component that did not work as intended during a lightning strike on June 3, which led to train services being disrupted on the North-South MRT Line for more than two hours, was handed over to SMRT seven months ago.
In a statement to The Straits Times on June 18, the rail operator said the surge arrestor in question, which is meant to protect outdoor equipment from power surges like those from lightning strikes, is new.
The new part was among those commissioned as part of a decade-long, $2.6 billion renewal programme for the ageing North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL) conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
SMRT said the current maintenance schedule for the new surge arrestors, as prescribed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Kraus Elektrotechnik, is once every two years. The first maintenance window is scheduled for 2025.
“SMRT diligently adheres to the maintenance schedule prescribed by the OEM,” said SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai.
“We are collaborating with the LTA to review and enhance this maintenance schedule, as well as the resilience of the lightning protection system,” he added.
SMRT earlier said that the lightning strike on June 3 damaged numerous components within a power control box near Kranji station, especially the disconnecting switch – a device that ensures energy is not running through a circuit so it is safe to conduct emergency stoppages, repairs, maintenance or inspections.

The surge arrestors are a component of this disconnecting switch, which has been sent for further investigations by LTA, SMRT, Kraus Elektrotechnik and another OEM, Meiden.
In response to queries, LTA said it is working with the OEM to determine the cause of the surge arrestor failure and investigations into the June 3 disruption are ongoing.
Earlier on June 15, LTA said that the trackside power control box near Kranji station was damaged at 5.46pm. This led to a power trip that disrupted train services between Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands stations during evening peak hours.

Inclement weather and lightning risks prolonged service recovery efforts, as SMRT engineers had to physically access the power control box on the MRT viaduct to isolate it before power could be restored to the rail at 7.50pm.
Train service resumed at 8.10pm.
LTA said on June 15 that the condition of the surge arrestor in the affected power control box could have deteriorated over time, which it suggested was the reason the component did not operate as intended.
The authority noted that the other equipment in the vicinity of the affected power control box was not damaged during the same lightning incident.
The disruption left many commuters frustrated due to confusion on the ground and long waits and snaking queues for buses, as huge crowds formed at affected stations and bus stops.

Photos on social media show crowds of commuters at the affected stations and bus stops on June 3. PHOTO: CONSTANTINE YAN/FACEBOOK
SMRT has since pledged to improve its crowd control measures at MRT stations and boarding points for bridging buses. It said it is also exploring “innovative ways” to keep commuters informed during future disruptions.
The project to renew and upgrade six core systems on the NSEWL, including the power supply system, started in 2012.
Most of the upgrades were completed by end-2023, including replacing wooden sleepers that hold the running rail in place with concrete ones, changing the third rail that supplies traction power to trains and upgrading the signalling system.
Work to upgrade the NSEWL’s power supply system started in 2018 and was completed in September 2023.
The new system was touted as being more robust, with sensors that can monitor the condition of components like power cables in real time, so pre-emptive action can be taken.

SMRT workers ensuring that all systems on a section of the North-South Line were restored after a lightning strike caused a power trip that disrupted train services on June 3. PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK
As part of this renewal, voltage protection systems for the 27 stations on the North-South Line and the 35 stations on the East-West Line were replaced with new voltage limiting devices that LTA said could isolate power faults and prevent line-wide disruptions.
It was a glitchy power system that caused Singapore’s biggest rail breakdown in 2015, which brought the NSEWL to a standstill during the evening rush hour of July 7 that year.
Malfunctioning electrical components were also the cause of a massive three-line rail breakdown on Oct 14, 2020, that affected 123,000 commuters and left more than 6,700 passengers stuck on stranded trains for up to three hours.
The 2020 disruption was traced to a cut in the insulation layer of a power cable and a rusted trip coil along the EWL’s Tuas West Extension.
In the aftermath, systems supplier Alstom replaced all 113 trip coils and all 150km of power cables along the 7.5km extension. The French firm bore the full costs of these replacement works.

 

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Higher surcharges for taxi rides from Changi Airport, Mandai attractions to be made permanent​

Passengers taking a taxi from Changi Airport will continue to pay an additional $8 between 5pm and 11.59pm, or an additional $6 during other times. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Jun 25, 2024

SINGAPORE – Location surcharge hikes introduced on a temporary basis in 2022 for taxi rides starting from Changi Airport, as well as attractions at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, will be made permanent from July 1.
This means that passengers taking a taxi from Changi Airport, Changi Airfreight Centre, Airport Police Station and the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore will continue to pay an additional $8 between 5pm and 11.59pm, or an additional $6 during other times.
For taxi rides starting from the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and Bird Paradise, passengers will still pay a surcharge if they are picked up between 1pm and 11.59pm, and the cost has been increased to $5.
Currently, passengers pay a $3 surcharge for pickup at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve attractions during those hours.
The permanent fare hikes were announced on June 24 on Facebook by Singapore’s largest taxi operator, ComfortDelGro, and taxi firm Strides Premier. The other two taxi operators, Trans-Cab and Prime, announced the changes in notices published in the Business Times on June 24.
In response to queries, a ComfortDelGro spokesperson said taxi location surcharges are determined in consultation with premise owners, and taxi operators lodge the surcharges or changes with the Public Transport Council and the Land Transport Authority upon receiving the requests. “This mechanism aims to increase the supply of taxis at underserved areas by incentivising drivers,” the spokesperson added.

The Straits Times has contacted Changi Airport Group for comment.


Mandai Wildlife Group said the average waiting time for taxis at Mandai Wildlife Reserve remains at 30 to 60 minutes. This is even after the initial temporary $3 location surcharge was introduced in August 2022.
“With the latest revision, we hope to encourage more taxi drivers to keep the Mandai Wildlife Reserve top of mind as a preferred pickup destination, and reduce waiting times for our guests,” said a spokeswoman.
“There are no plans in the near future to further revise the surcharge rate,” she added, noting that there are other transport options for guests, including public bus service 138 to and from Springleaf MRT station and a $3 loop shuttle service that goes to Khatib station.

Introduced in May 2022, the increase in the location surcharge for taxi rides from Changi Airport came amid reluctance from cabbies to go to the airport to pick up passengers.
This was despite a revival in international air travel post-pandemic.
Before the fare hike, the surcharge was $5 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5pm to 11.59pm, and $3 at other times.
At the time, taxi drivers said more money could be made in the Central Business District and at night, and with the high fuel costs then, they found no reason to go all the way to the airport, where they risked long periods of waiting with their taxi engines switched on.
The hope was that by raising the location surcharge by $3, it would attract more cabbies to go to Changi.

Initially, the increase in the surcharge was supposed to last for only six weeks.
However, this temporary hike was extended multiple times, with the latest extension slated to end on June 30.
Separately, on the ride-hailing front, a temporary fee introduced by Grab, Gojek and Tada in 2022 to help private-hire drivers cope with rising costs will remain in place for another six months until Dec 31.
This temporary “driver fee” was set to end on June 30, before the latest extension on June 24.
Grab will continue to charge passengers a temporary fee of 50 cents per trip, which applies to all of its transportation services except the standard taxi service.
Similarly, Gojek will continue to impose a temporary fee of 50 cents for trips less than 10km, and 80 cents for trips 10km and above.
For Tada, the fee is 50 cents for rides with fares $18 and below, and 80 cents for rides that cost $18.10 and above.

The three ride-hailing platforms have said the money will go directly to drivers. In Grab and Gojek’s case, it will not be subject to commission. Tada does not charge a commission on fares.
Grab said fuel costs remain high, and the fee will help drivers manage this.
Similarly, Gojek said the fee is part of its efforts to help drivers cope with the rising cost of living and higher operational costs.
“We will monitor the situation closely and will continue to review the driver fee on an ongoing basis,” Gojek added.
Tada said easing inflation has not translated to a significant decrease in cost for drivers.
“Pump prices remain at levels similar to when this fee was first implemented,” it added.
Fuel prices here reached new highs in 2022, with a litre of the most popular 95-octane petrol priced at around $3 in March that year, before going up to around $3.40 in late June.
Since then, prices have eased, with a litre of 95-octane fuel now costing between $2.86 and $2.90.
In a joint statement on June 24, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Public Transport Council (PTC) said they do not intervene in the setting of taxi and ride-hail fares.
They said operators here must state and publish all fares clearly, including any additional charges, and operators must provide commuters with at least seven days’ notice before implementing any changes.
“LTA and PTC will continue to monitor the industry to ensure that the licensed operators abide by these regulatory obligations,” they added.

 

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Forum: Taxi surcharges fair but service standards must improve​

Jun 26, 2024

I refer to the report, “Higher surcharges for taxi rides from Changi Airport, Mandai attractions to be made permanent” (June 24).
With the high cost of living in Singapore, the move is fair as it helps taxi drivers eke out a living.
Compared with most developed countries, Singapore taxi fares are still relatively affordable. But the service standards of Singapore taxi drivers are far from acceptable. They hardly ever help passengers with their luggage. At best, a driver may alight to make room in the boot. At worst, he simply sits in the taxi and waits for the passengers to help themselves.
In other countries, taxi drivers always help passengers with their luggage, even in those places where taxi fares are very low. In fact, it is quite obvious that most of these drivers take pride in helping with the luggage.
It is about time Singapore taxi companies made helping passengers with their luggage (or any other things, especially wheelchairs) mandatory. The service standards need to improve to a professional level to position taxis for future fare hikes.
Passengers, on the other hand, must make it a point to also help drivers with the luggage, especially when the drivers are elderly. Obviously, two persons carrying luggage is much easier than one – this is a win-win situation. The bigger taxi companies should take the lead in implementing the luggage assistance rules as soon as possible.

Ong Kok Lam

 

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Task force to look into bus safety after recent spate of accidents​

The task force aims to complete its review by early 2025. PHOTO: ST FILE
Kok Yufeng and Sherlyn Sim

Jul 01, 2024

SINGAPORE – The safety of public buses here will be scrutinised by a task force that will be led by newly minted Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai.
This comes on the heels of a spate of accidents involving public buses. In the most recent one on June 27, a 33-year-old Indian construction worker was hit while working as a traffic controller in Anson Road. He suffered fractures in his right leg.
The task force, comprising representatives from government agencies, the National Transport Workers’ Union, all four public bus operators and the Singapore Road Safety Council, aims to complete its review by early 2025, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on July 1.
The four operators are SBS Transit (SBST), SMRT Buses, Go-Ahead Singapore and Tower Transit Singapore. In all, they operate about 5,800 public buses.
Mr Chee said in a Facebook post that the review will identify ways for the bus industry to make further improvements, building on safety initiatives and practices put in place over the years.
He noted that the annual number of serious accidents involving public buses in Singapore has remained stable in the past few years. There were 75 such accidents in the first five months of 2024, compared with 207 in the whole of 2023 and 207 in the whole of 2022.
“Safety is a key priority for our public transport network,” Mr Chee said. “Murali has been a strong advocate of road safety, and this will be a useful platform to work with our tripartite partners to review how we can enhance safety for commuters, bus captains and other road users.”

In 2023, 3.75 million public bus rides were taken each day on average.
Apart from the Anson Road accident on June 27, there were at least four other accidents involving public buses reported in June alone.
On June 11, two passengers on board Go-Ahead Singapore’s bus service 518 were injured in an accident involving the bus and two cars at the intersection of Nicoll Highway and Bras Basah Road.

On June 8, two people were taken to hospital after an accident involving a stationary Tower Transit bus and a lorry on the Tampines Expressway. The bus was off-service and awaiting engineering assistance on the shoulder of the expressway when the accident happened.
On the same day, a bus driver was taken to hospital after two off-service buses operated by Tower Transit collided in Sembawang.
On June 6, four bus passengers, including a 93-year-old, and a pedestrian were taken to hospital after an accident involving a Tower Transit bus and a trailer truck near Sim Lim Tower in Jalan Besar.
Videos of the accident showed the left side of the travelling bus hitting steel bars secured onto the bed of the trailer truck.
In response to queries, Tower Transit and SMRT said they will work closely with the task force, while SBST expressed commitment towards enhancing safety with the tripartite group.
Go-Ahead Singapore also said it is committed to supporting the task force.
The operators also pointed to existing safety initiatives, such as structured training for new drivers, safe driving incentives and investments in technology like fatigue and collision warning systems.
Tower Transit Singapore managing director Winston Toh said compulsory safety timeouts are conducted at its depots and interchanges to brief drivers on the learning points from recent accidents.
Go-Ahead Singapore said it has safety champions who update senior management about safety-related feedback from staff.
At SBST, bus drivers are trained on safety drills, such as those at pedestrian crossings and junctions, while at SMRT, drivers are given scenario-based training using simulators, said their spokesmen.
Mr Murali, 56, who is MP for Bukit Batok and formerly a partner with law firm Rajah & Tann, started work as Minister of State for Transport and Law on July 1.
In his Facebook post, Mr Chee welcomed him to the Transport Ministry, saying he will help to look after the maritime industry and the Government’s engagements with the transport unions.


Mr Murali will look after some land transport matters such as transport technologies and public bus services as well.
In a June interview with Petir.sg, he said he aims to improve road safety through joint efforts with the Ministry of Home Affairs, when asked about his new appointment.
“Road safety for the most vulnerable groups like motorcyclists and the elderly is close to my heart,” he told the People’s Action Party’s sociopolitical website. “The statistics show we have not achieved the highest safety standards in these areas.”
Mr Chee also welcomed veteran public servant Lau Peet Meng, 49, to the ministry on July 1 as the new permanent secretary for transport development, and expressed his appreciation to the outgoing Ms Lai Wei Lin, 48.
She is taking on the role of permanent secretary for policy and development at the Ministry of Health.

 

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Regular train service on East-West Line resumes after delay due to track fault on morning of July 4​

Staff explaining the track fault situation and offering passengers alternatives, at Boon Lay station. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Kolette Lim

Jul 04, 2024

SINGAPORE - Regular train service has resumed on the East-West Line after a three-hour delay caused by a track fault at Jurong East station on the morning of July 4.
While train service was available during the period of delay, trains were running slower.
Regular train service resumed progressively from 7.48am, train operator SMRT said.
The delay was the result of a faulty point machine, said SMRT in a Facebook post at 8.18am.
“A point machine controls train movements at rail junctions when trains switch tracks. It is crucial for the point machine to be fully functional for the safe operation of trains,” it added.
Due to safety reasons, trains travelled at a speed of 5kmh near the point machine after the fault was detected, said SMRT. “To rectify the fault, our staff went onto the track to investigate the issue.”
Free regular bus and bridging bus services, which were available between Clementi and Boon Lay stations at designated bus stops, ceased by 8.12am.

At 7.25am, SMRT announced the track fault, which occurred at the station at around 5am.
It advised commuters to add up to 30 minutes of additional train travel time. Commuters were also asked to take other lines, including Thomson-East Coast Line, Downtown Line and North-South Line towards the city.
At 8.10am, SMRT updated that the fault had been cleared and the service was progressively returning to normal.
Ms Alice Low, who works at a clinic in Novena, was slightly late for work due to the train fault.
She boarded the train at Boon Lay station at 6.45am, and when she reached Jurong East station, all passengers were asked to alight.
As the train station was packed, she figured she would need to wait for a long time before she could board the next available train on the East-West Line, so she took the North-South Line to get to Novena station instead.
“Luckily I left very early,” she said, adding that she would have been very late for work otherwise.

 

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LTA to look at ways to make Marine Parade bus stop more user-friendly for commuters: Chee Hong Tat​

The pillars at the bus stop are making it more difficult to see approaching buses. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

The unusual design of the Marine Parade MRT station bus stop has drawn flak. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Carmen Sin

Jul 09, 2024

SINGAPORE - One way to solve a problem commuters are facing at the new bus stop opposite Parkway Parade mall due to its design is to install cameras that allow those seated at the bus stop to see footage of arriving buses.
This is among the suggestions the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been asked to consider so that the bus stop can be made more user-friendly for commuters, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.
In a Facebook post on July 6, Mr Chee said with the installation of cameras, commuters who are seated at the bus stop can see the oncoming buses and have more time to get ready for boarding.
If this works, LTA can implement it at other bus stops with similar site constraints or pillars that hinder the view of approaching buses.
The unusual design of the Marine Parade MRT station bus stop has drawn flak due to two issues, Mr Chee said.
“First, the pillars at the bus stop are making it more difficult to see approaching buses. Second, it is a long bus stop with two different bus bays and commuters are not sure what buses stop at which bay.”
Mr Chee said the pillars are meant to support the roof and had to be installed at the front – rather than at the back as is more common – because there are underground drains at the back of the bus stop.

“Building the pillars at the back, on top of the underground drains, would hamper subsequent maintenance work that needs to be done,” he added.
Mr Chee said LTA had considered other locations for this bus stop, but decided to stick to this spot and work around the site constraints because it is a shorter distance for commuters to walk to and from Marine Parade MRT station.
“I recognise the downside of this arrangement, as it means commuters could not clearly see the approaching buses when they are seated inside the bus stop,” said Mr Chee.

However, with technology, not having a direct line of sight does not mean no visibility, he added.
“For example, we could consider installing a camera which faces the oncoming traffic, and show the video footage on display screens inside the bus stops.
“This way, commuters who are seated inside the bus stop can see the oncoming buses and have more time to get ready for their boarding.”

The long bus stop has two different bus bays. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
As for the two bus bays at the stop, Mr Chee said LTA’s reasoning was that it will speed up boarding as many buses call at the same bus stop, and if the buses were not separated, commuters might have to walk farther to board them.
“I understand LTA’s reasons for having two bus bays. LTA will improve the signages at the bus stop to make it clearer to commuters where they should go to wait for their bus,” he added.
Mr Chee said LTA will provide an update on the improvements to be made after its review.
Complaints about the Marine Parade bus stop emerged on Reddit on July 3, with one person asking: “Which genius designed this? No one can see incoming buses thanks to the row of pillars obscuring the view.”
The post, with a picture of the bus stop, has attracted 114 comments so far.
The bus stop began operations shortly before the new Thomson-East Coast Line station opened on June 23.

 

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Forum: PMAs and other big objects on trains can affect commuters’ safety​

Jul 10, 2024


With an ageing population, more people (abled and disabled) are expected to use personal mobility aids (PMAs) and also MRT and LRT trains for their journeys.
However, these days, our trains are often crowded during peak and non-peak hours.
Commuters are fighting for space to get in and out of trains with PMA users who need to park their devices near exit doors, posing a safety hazard to commuters. Also, it’s not uncommon to see oversized prams, luggage and electric bicycles inside train cabins.
I have not seen any officers checking the stipulated sizes of these objects or seen any enforcement action at train stations. When rail disruptions happen (often during peak hours), it becomes chaotic as commuters rush to get out of the train for alternative means of transport, and oversized PMAs and other objects could obstruct exit doors.
It’s time for the Land Transport Authority and train operators to review this safety issue and implement enforcement action for commuters boarding trains with big objects.
If security officers stationed inside train stations are not the right resources to check commuters and take enforcement action, then technology such as sensors, camera systems and artificial intelligence could be deployed at train stations’ entry gates. After all, we are a smart nation and it should be easy to improve commuters’ safety.

Lee Foo Hoe

 

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LTA calls for public feedback to make buses safer​

In 2023, 3.75 million public bus rides were taken each day, on average. PHOTO: ST FILE

Isabelle Liew

Aug 23, 2024

SINGAPORE – Public feedback is being sought to improve the safety of public buses following a recent spate of accidents involving these vehicles.
The Land Transport Authority on Aug 23 launched an online survey inviting the public to rate how safe they feel when travelling on public buses and to send in suggestions for how safety can be improved.
In a Facebook post on Aug 23, Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai encouraged Singaporeans to share their frank feedback, which he said would help the authorities find solutions that would “benefit bus captains, commuters and other road users”.
The survey is one of the measures by the Bus Safety Tripartite Taskforce headed by Mr Murali, which seeks to identify ways for the bus industry to make further improvements, and build on safety initiatives and practices.
“In the months ahead, the task force will be engaging different stakeholders, including commuters and bus captains, for their views on what more we can do to improve bus safety,” Mr Murali wrote on Facebook.

The task force comprises representatives from government agencies, the National Transport Workers’ Union, all four public bus operators and the Singapore Road Safety Council. The four operators are SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Go-Ahead Singapore and Tower Transit Singapore. In all, they operate about 5,800 public buses.
The latest effort follows a number of accidents involving public buses. In June, there were at least five such accidents.

The Government had said previously that the number of serious accidents involving public buses has remained stable each year over the past few years.
There were 75 such accidents in the first five months of 2024, compared with 207 in the whole of 2023 and 207 in the whole of 2022.
In 2023, 3.75 million public bus rides were taken each day, on average.
Mr Murali also pointed out that the number of workplace injuries for rail and bus operations has dropped. There were 37 such cases in the first half of 2024, down from 49 over the same period in 2023, said Mr Murali, who also spoke at a ceremony for the Public Transport Safety and Security Awards on Aug 23.
“While these trends are moving in the right direction, we must stay humble, remain vigilant and build on these improvements, to reduce workplace injuries further,” he said in his speech.
Mr Murali also said it is important to have the mindset that “every accident is an accident too many”.
“This is why whenever any accident occurs, it is extremely important for us to come together to investigate root causes and implement improvements, so that we can move closer to our collective target of zero accidents,” he added.
The survey can be found at https://go.gov.sg/bussafetyfeedback

 

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'Enormous' PMA on train: Stomper wants only a fixed size allowed on MRT between 7am and 9am​

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Ong Su Mann​

Posted on 13 August 2024 12:05 pm | 32,545 views | 103 comments


There are already rules regarding the size of personal mobility aids (PMAs).
But one commuter wants the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to permit only a certain size on the MRT train during a certain time of the day.
Sharing a photo of what he called an "enormous" PMA on a North-South Line train, Stomper David asked: "Why can’t the transport authority fix a certain size of PMA allowed on the train, especially from 7am to 9am so that they do not block the space during the influx of office workers?"

According to LTA, PMAs on public transport should not exceed 120cm in length, 70cm in width and 150cm in height.
The total weight of the PMA together with the user should not exceed 300kg.

In a proposal submitted to the Ministry of Transport on Dec 14, 2023, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel said that in recent years, there have been rising concerns that able-bodied people have been misusing PMAs, particularly mobility scooters. These include concerns over dangerous riding, speeding and overly large PMAs.
The 16-member advisory panel recommended that only people who are certified to have walking difficulties or medical needs should be allowed to use mobility scooters and the Government reduce the speed limit of all PMAs from 10kmh to 6kmh, the typical walking speed.

 

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MRT service resumes on Circle Line after power fault causes delay for commuters​

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Train services resumed after engineers recovered power to the network, and the fault was resolved within 15 minutes. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Chin Hui Shan

Sep 18, 2024

SINGAPORE – A power fault on the Circle Line (CCL) on Sept 17 caused delays of about 30 minutes during the evening peak-hour commute.
Transport operator SMRT first announced on Facebook at 6.11pm that there was a power fault on the CCL. At 7.45pm, it said on X that train services had fully resumed.
In an update close to midnight, the Land Transport Authority said a traction power trip disrupted train services along the entire CCL at 5.50pm and power was restored by 6.05pm.
A total of 11 trains were stalled in the CCL tunnels during the traction power outage, it added.
After power was restored, SMRT staff had to manually recover these trains, and all were driven to the next station by 6.30pm, said LTA.
“In accordance with the standard operating procedure, SMRT had to manage the inflow of commuters to the stations during the progressive restoration of train services,” said LTA, adding that this was to avoid overcrowding and ensure the safety of commuters.
The authority added that it will investigate the cause of the traction power trip and assess the adequacy of SMRT’s service recovery measures.

SMRT said that during the 15-minute fault, the stalled trains did not have air-conditioning.
“The battery powers the ventilation fans and some lights, so it may not have been as bright,” it added.
While its engineers restored power to the network, it said some segments of the network required trains to be safely reset.

“At 7.10pm, all trains were put back into service and train services are progressively resuming,” SMRT added.
In earlier updates, commuters were advised to take other lines, and free regular bus services were activated. Station staff were deployed to assist commuters who were affected by the delay.
“We are sorry to affect your evening commute,” SMRT added.
Commuter Lars Gruenitz, who said he had been stuck in the train at Bartley station for close to an hour, told The Straits Times that there were no announcements. The 48-year-old added that the doors were kept closed and there was no air-conditioning half the time.
“I am heading home after a long work day… It does not feel nice, and it’s scary to some extent,” said Dr Gruenitz.
At Farrer Road MRT station, staff stopped commuters from entering the station at about 6pm and people were seen moving out to the bus stops.
Teacher Jane Oh, who was at Bishan station at about 6.45pm, said people were initially disallowed from going to the Circle Line platform, but the restriction was lifted after five minutes when the platform was not crowded.

At Bishan station, people were initially disallowed from going to the Circle Line platform, but the restriction was lifted after five minutes when the platform was not crowded. PHOTO: JANE OH
Mr Richard Toh, who was stuck in a train between Marymount and Bishan, told ST that there were about three “sudden brakes” during the short commute.
“It was my first time experiencing a train fault and the situation was worrying,” said the 57-year-old retiree, who added that he was an hour late for a gathering in Kovan.
Marketing executive Elena Lim said she was unable to board the train at Buona Vista station when she was making her way back to her home in Serangoon, so she had to take a detour.
“My office is in Tuas West and I left at 6pm, but I managed to reach Serangoon only at 7.50pm,” said the 33-year-old, who added that it was crowded at Buona Vista as everyone was rushing to the East-West Line.

 

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Circle Line disrupted again after fire breaks out in power system cubicle in MRT depot​

SMRT said it restored power to the rail line by 8.10pm and normal train service resumed at around 8.15pm. PHOTO: POCATTF/X

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Sep 19, 2024

SINGAPORE - For a second day, passengers on the Circle Line (CCL) had their journeys disrupted after several trains briefly lost power at about 8pm on Sept 18, stalling for about 15 minutes.
Rail operator SMRT said in a statement that a fire broke out in one of the power system cubicles at Kim Chuan Depot, leading to a power trip that disrupted the power supply to the entire 35km rail line. “This caused some trains to stall, and lighting within the trains was affected,” SMRT added.
The operator said the fire was extinguished by its engineers, who were on site, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force was also activated.
SMRT said it restored power to the CCL by 8.10pm and normal train service resumed at around 8.15pm. “We sincerely apologise for the disruption to your journey this evening,” it added.


The rail disruption on Sept 18 comes after 11 CCL trains stalled for about an hour during the evening peak period on Sept 17 due to a power fault that also affected the entire MRT line.
According to earlier statements by SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Sept 17 fault started at about 5.50pm and power was restored by 6.05pm. However, SMRT staff had to manually recover the trains that had stalled in the CCL’s tunnels.
All the stalled trains were driven to the next station by 6.30pm, and services progressively resumed by about 7.10pm.

The next day, at 9.35am, SMRT said its trains division had worked late into the night to complete an engineering diagnosis for the earlier power fault and had ensured that all systems were functional.
LTA said that it would investigate the cause of the traction power trip on Sept 17 and assess the adequacy of SMRT’s service recovery measures.
Mr Alfred Chua, who was travelling on the CCL from HarbourFront to Holland Village on Sept 18, said the train he was on stalled at one-north station at about 8.05pm.

Half of the cabin lights switched off, the air-conditioning stopped working, and there was an announcement that the train would be delayed, but no reason was given, the 33-year-old writer said.
“When the lights suddenly went off, there were some on the train who gasped,” he added.
He said the train got more crowded as it waited at one-north station.
After about 10 minutes, the train moved slowly towards Buona Vista, stopping twice en route. It then proceeded normally to Holland Village, where Mr Chua alighted at about 8.25pm.
He said he heard an announcement there that service on some sections of the CCL would be delayed by 15 minutes due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Another passenger, who wanted to be known only as Mr Andy, was caught in both disruptions on Sept 17 and Sept 18.
The retired risk consultant, who is in his 60s, said he was able to take an alternative route home to Lorong Chuan via the East-West and North East lines on Sept 17, as he had seen an alert on the LTA’s MyTransport.SG app and noticed that the trains at Buona Vista station were at a standstill and packed to the gills.
But on Sept 18, he was stuck on a train at Caldecott station for about 10 minutes, as he did not see any alerts about the latest disruption.
“I was surprised because the app is usually quite reliable,” he said. “I was not in a hurry to go back, and the train was empty, so I had a seat and could just wait until the trains resumed.”
In the 12 months ending March 2024, the CCL was the least reliable among five MRT lines, and the only one that posted a dip in performance. This excludes the Thomson-East Coast Line, which has not fully opened.
Based on the rail reliability figures released by the LTA in July, CCL trains went an average of 1.03 million train-km between delays between April 2023 and March 2024, sliding from 1.21 million train-km in 2023 and 1.84 million train-km in 2022.
SMRT previously said that half of the breakdowns during this period were due to upgrading works to integrate existing systems with the CCL’s three final MRT stations that will close the loop between HarbourFront and Marina Bay.
It said the project affects the execution of regular maintenance work, with SMRT group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping telling reporters at a press conference on July 31 that the reliability of the CCL “will go straight up” when the full line is complete in 2026.

 

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East-West Line disruption to go into second day, no MRT service between Jurong East and Buona Vista​

About 850 commuters on board a stalled train near Clementi MRT station safely disembarking on the tracks and being guided back to the station platform. PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK

Fatimah Mujibah

Sep 26, 2024

SINGAPORE – There will be no regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista on Sept 26, marking a second day of disruptions for commuters on the East-West Line (EWL).
This comes after a power fault halted normal passenger service between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations for most of the day on Sept 25.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement late on Sept 25 that engineers from LTA and train operator SMRT started recovery works in the afternoon, and will continue into the night.
“However, as the damage to the tracks is extensive, more time is required to do the necessary repairs and replacements,” the authority said.
Both SMRT and LTA will check all first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains overnight, before they are put into service, LTA added.
A defective mechanical component of a first-generation KHI train contributed to the power fault on Sept 25.
In a Facebook post, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said: “LTA will do a thorough investigation to ascertain what happened and identify areas for improvement.”

Separately, the authority said: “LTA and SMRT will perform a rigorous investigation into the cause of the incident and provide an update in due course.”
There will be free regular bus services between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations on Sept 26, as well as free bridging bus services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations. Also, there will be a shuttle train service between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and also between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations at 10-minute intervals.
“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,” SMRT said.

As Primary 6 pupils will sit their English papers in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) on Sept 26, the Ministry of Transport will work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) to “prepare contingencies to minimise the impact on our students”, said Mr Chee, who is in Beijing for the Global Sustainable Transport Forum.
In a media reply, the SEAB said there are existing arrangements for such contingencies and pupils have been briefed.
It said: “SEAB would like to assure examination candidates that they will not be penalised for being late to their examination due to train service disruptions. Candidates will be given the full duration of the paper if they reach the examination centre before the end of the paper.”
In a Facebook post, MOE said pupils who are late due to the train disruption should inform the exam centre and continue to go to their exam venue, or the nearest one. They should also approach staff at the MRT stations’ passenger service centre if they need help with directions.
A parent told The Straits Times that she would accompany her son to school by bus on Sept 26, to make sure he does not get lost. The child, who studies in a primary school in the west, is sitting his PSLE English written examinations, and typically would take the train to school on his own.
LTA said earlier that the eastbound train developed a fault on the EWL near Clementi station at about 9am on Sept 25. SMRT helped passengers to disembark at Clementi station, before withdrawing the train towards Ulu Pandan Depot.
While the train was being withdrawn, a power trip was detected at 9.25am, causing another train on the EWL between Queenstown and Boon Lay stations to stall near Clementi station, LTA said.
SMRT said there were about 850 commuters on board this train, and they safely disembarked on the tracks and were guided back to the Clementi station platform.

SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming and group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping explained in a statement that the incident was the result of an unforeseen issue during the withdrawal of an old train, where a defective mechanical component dropped.
That caused the wheels of a bogie – a framework to support a rail car’s traction and braking – to come off the running rail and hit track equipment, including the third rail and point machines, leading to the power fault.
“We fully understand the inconvenience, frustration and delays this disruption has caused, and we deeply regret the impact it has had on your journey,” they added.
The hours-long train disruption affected many commuters, with some telling The Straits Times that they were late for work by more than an hour.

Commuters were advised to use alternative transport arrangements, and check for updates on SMRT’s and LTA’s social media platforms, as well as LTA’s MyTransport app.
From 5pm, SMRT started running separate shuttle train services between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations, at intervals of 10 minutes.
Free regular and bridging bus services were available between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations, with commuters advised to take alternative lines.
There was confusion among commuters about where to board the bridging buses in the morning, and which platforms to board the shuttle trains in the evening, according to ST’s interviews at the affected stations.
This is despite ST observing SMRT staff and TransCom police officers assisting affected passengers at the stations. Some commuters also had to contend with trying to board packed bridging buses in the rain at around noon.

In a Facebook post, Acting Transport Minister Amy Khor said she visited the Queenstown station on the evening of Sept 25 and observed SMRT staff proactively guiding commuters towards alternative transport arrangements.
“I also had the chance to speak to affected commuters, and although some felt inconvenienced by the disruption, commuters were generally understanding,” said Dr Khor, who is the Senior Minister of State for Transport, and Sustainability and the Environment.
“I thank commuters for their patience and assured them that SMRT is working closely with LTA to resume normal train services as soon as possible.”


Last week, the Circle Line (CCL) grappled with two consecutive days of disruptions – a power fault that caused delays on Sept 17, and another one caused by a fire in the power system cubicle at Kim Chuan Depot on Sept 18.
The first incident caused about a 30-minute delay during the evening peak-hour commute, where a total of 11 trains stalled in the CCL tunnels during the traction power outage.

In the Sept 18 incident, the power fault was later isolated from the network, as SMRT engineers worked overnight to ensure smooth operations. It is not known if both incidents are linked to each other.
This is not the first time that a train delay coincided with the PSLE. In 2017, commuters on the EWL experienced a three-hour delay, starting at about 6am, due to a train fault. However, no candidate sitting the PSLE papers was affected by the disruption.
MOE also said at the time that students who were affected by the train delay on EWL need not submit an excuse letter and would be given the full paper duration.
In 2023, when a cracked rail was discovered on the CCL, SEAB did not receive any reports of candidates who were unable to take their exam on time because of the disruption.
In the first quarter of 2024, EWL was the second most reliable MRT line, managing 5.05 million train-km between delays of more than five minutes.
Both the EWL and North-South Line had just undergone a $2.6 billion renewal programme in 2023 that upgraded four of its six core systems. These revamps included the replacement of sleepers that hold the running rail in place, changing of the third rail that supplies traction power to trains, upgrading of the signalling system, and renewal of the power system.