For SMRT’s next phase of track renewal works, a handful of MRT stations along the East-West line will close at 11pm over the course of two months to begin track maintenance and renewal work, according to a press release by SMRT today.
From April 11th to 21st, and April 28th to May 5th, train service between Lakeside and Joo Koon as well as Tanah Merah and Changi Airport respectively will halt after 11:00PM onwards to give the track staff more time as “the replacement of the rails at railway junctions, where crossing, switch and running rails are located, is a complex process.”
The west stations past Lakeside might have suffered one minor setback or two, but certainly it looks like they need some maintenance along the Tanah Merah station after the hour-long power fault fiasco yesterday.
Anyway, SMRT had in place measures to handle the possible complications which may arise from the early service halt:
- Commuters will be informed of the alternative routes taken during the period of early closure
- Announcements will be made in trains and stations before the closure
- SMRT staff will be on site to guide commuters if necessary
- Parallel bus services will be arranged to provide commuters with alternative transportation during the period
“We are confident the renewal of railway junctions, where crossing, switch and running rails are located, will be expedited with additional time gained by closing selected MRT stations earlier. Past occasions that called for early closure or late opening of MRT stations resulted in the successful and timely renewal of ageing track infrastructure,” as said in the statement by Mr Lee Ling Wee, Managing Director of SMRT Trains.
Oh, expect another phase of early closures to begin in June too.
