Thought your commuting troubles were over last night when trains on the North-South Lines (NSL) were delayed for two hours? Nah, fam. Signaling faults returned this morning in a big bad way as they crippled the whole of SBS Transit’s Downtown Line (DTL) and caused further delays on the SMRT’s NSL.
Commuting woes started as early as 6:25pm, when SBS issued an alert that there were no DTL train services at all due to a signaling fault, while free bus rides were provided near the affected stations. Services reportedly returned at 7pm, but the progressive recommencing of trains meant longer waiting times.
There is no DTL train service due to a signalling fault. Free bus rides are available at all designated bus stops. We are sorry.
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) August 17, 2017
To assist with your journey, free bus rides and bridging bus services are available at designated bus stops near affected stations.
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) August 17, 2017
[NSL] UPDATE: Trains services are progressively being restored. Pls add 30mins train travel time btwn #MarinaSouthPier and #Sembawang.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 18, 2017
DTL train services only started “running normally” at 9pm, nearly three hours after the troubles started.
DTL is back to normal service since 9.00am. Free bus rides and bridging bus services have ceased. Once again, we are sorry.
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) August 18, 2017
Those traveling on the NSL fared no better. A signaling fault near Ang Mo Kio was surfaced at 6:29pm, causing extreme delays that reached up to 45 minutes of additional travel time in both directions between Sembawang and Marina South Pier MRT stations. Free bus services were provided, at least.
[NSL]: Due to a New Signalling System fault near Ang Mo Kio, pls add 30mins travel time btwn #sembawang & #Marina South Pier.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 17, 2017
It was at 6:38pm that SMRT seemed to have given up on providing hope for commuters, and told folks to just take other MRT lines or look for alternative transport towards the city area.
[NSL] UPDATE: Please take other MRT lines or seek alternative transport towards city area.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 17, 2017
Sure, SMRT, can do. If you’re willing to pay up to $71 for an Uber ride to work.
It was only at 9:22pm that the signaling fault was cleared on the NSL.
[NSL] CLEARED: Train svcs btwn #MarinaSouthPier and #Sembawang have resumed. Free regular bus & free bridging bus svcs have ended.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) August 18, 2017
This was definitely not the morning to be late for school, especially for students who were due to take their ‘N’ Level preliminary and PSLE oral examinations — Channel NewsAsia spotted a long queue of students lining up at the passenger control station in Bishan MRT to collect excuse letters.
Today’s train service disruptions are just the latest to happen due to SMRT’s testing of its new signaling system, which is said to take months to completely stabilize — and just has to be tested during peak hours. But hey, it’s best not to say anything bad about it because the Minister of Transport believes that the media has been totally unfair in their reporting of SMRT’s troubles. We’ll just let the people speak for themselves then.
Today was a day i cant absolutely be late. And guess what, waited 40 mins for a train that havent even came …. and taxi is too expensive..
— alphosen (@alphosen) August 17, 2017
Now want to go bishan from woodlands take which other lines? Crawl is it? Taxi can reimburse? 😠😠😠
— MIRA❤#2PMFOREVER (@simplyMIRA) August 17, 2017
How can this be? Just yesterday it took me two hours to get home! How many hours now do I have to take to get to work?
— Chris Howells (@howellschris) August 17, 2017
— Ray (@wrcyn) August 17, 2017
You are an embarrassment. The line is down twice within 12 hours. How are passengers to take alternative lines to city when dtl is dead too?
— Choon Hoong Chng (@Chngchoonhoong) August 17, 2017
