For those who’ve endured the frustration, pain and agony of yesterday’s major train service disruption on the North-South Line (NSL), know this — the authorities’ explanation of what went wrong in their system will do absolutely nothing to ease your despair. Nada. Zilch. Nil.
People mountain people sea at Jurong East MRT. #whatsnew #littlereddot # smrt #sardinecan #goodmorning pic.twitter.com/GgORUbRsm3
— Freya (@fureiyasan) June 28, 2017
And yet, here we are with SMRT’s and Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s joint statement about the two-hour-long service disruption and delay on the NSL during yesterday’s evening rush hour. Turns out, the specific source of your commuting misery was a signalling fault on the new Communication-Based Train Control system. We’ll let them explain the issue in their own words:
“Initial investigations point to failure in the radio communication network of the new CBTC system, which is currently undergoing intensive full day testing. Unlike new lines where the signalling system can be fully tested before being put into commuter service, we have to continue full day checks on the existing NSL even as service is ongoing.”
Did that do anything to alleviate your discontent about the dismal journey back home? No? Yeah, us too.
As for the extremely crowded conditions at bus stops for the free shuttle service, LTA and SMRT apologized for the long waiting times, which apparently was a result of “train bunching”.
Trains are down my usual bus stop is packed. SMRT staff are here to give advice too. pic.twitter.com/JR0A6wLMrZ
— Aloysius Low (@longadin) June 28, 2017
“Although service recovery measures including free bus boarding were taken immediately, some commuters may have experienced longer waiting time as a result of train bunching. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
The icing on top of the crap cake will have to be the fact that we shouldn’t be surprised if the mayhem happens again sometime soon — the NSL signalling system should take a couple more months to fully stabilize. Yes, it’ll be a couple more months ‘till we’re in the clear. Godspeed us all.
@SMRT_Singapore & @stompsingapore this is happening at Sembawang Station pic.twitter.com/quOnXLTU2I
— curlie_bro (@curlie_bro) June 28, 2017
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