This morning (May 3), commuters on the Downtown Line experienced a service disruption during rush hour. According to SBS Transit, which sent out a tweet at 7.41am, trains were delayed because of a signalling fault, and commuters should expect additional travelling time of up to 10 minutes between Bukit Panjang and Chinatown stations.
DTL svc betwn DT01 BKP & DT19 CNT is delayed due to a signalling fault. Add’l travel time of up to 10 minutes may be expected. We are sorry
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) May 2, 2017
But frustrated commuters took to social media to claim that the trains stopped for at least 10 minutes at each station.
@SBSTransit_Ltd Your train stopped for 10 mins at every station, you think people don’t have watches?
— ickyいっきー (@icky_sg) May 2, 2017
@SBSTransit_Ltd Please dont mislead ppl. It has taken 40mins to travel 7 stations
— 심칭하우 입니다 (@asimovic324) May 3, 2017
@SBSTransit_Ltd Are you serious? Can you tell the truth is 10mins delay for every stop?
— HarryHF (@fanghao9) May 2, 2017
At 9.37am, SBS Transit finally tweeted that train service would bypass Botanic Gardens station on the route towards Chinatown, and that commuters should transfer at Tan Kah Kee or Stevens stations to continue their journey.
DTL – Trains will bypass DT09 BTN twds DT19 CNT. Train service from CNT to BKP is normal. Pls transfer at DT08 TKK & DT10 STV to continue.
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) May 3, 2017
