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http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111215-0000087/Circle-Line-train-services-disrupted-again
Circle Line train services disrupted again
by Sumita Sreedharan
04:46 AM Dec 15, 2011
Singapore - The number of service disruptions on the Circle Line in the first 10 months of this year has already equalled the total experienced by commuters last year, according to figures from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) .
The number of disruptions on the North South and East West lines, however, are on track for a drop.
Between January and October, there were eight disruptions lasting more than 10 minutes each on the Circle Line - the same number experienced during the whole of last year.
In comparison, there have been 17 train disruptions on the North South and East West lines as at October this year. Last year, there were 28 such incidents on the North South and East West lines in total.
Yesterday, the Circle Line was hit by its latest disruption - not included in the figures provided by the LTA - when services between Marymount and one-north MRT stations was disrupted at 6am due to a communication network problem.
While SMRT "partially restored" train services at the affected stretch within 40 minutes, the public transport operator said that trains could not be deployed to meet morning peak frequency because the fault was "not fully rectified". Trains were delayed for more than five hours as a result of the disruption, Channel NewsAsia reported. This led to long queues at some stations, and some commuters waiting up to 30 minutes for their rides.
SMRT said yesterday the cause of the fault was "still unknown" and would be investigating its cause with transport system supplier Alstom.
The transport operator estimates that about 1,400 passengers were left stranded between Marymount and One-North MRT stations between 6am and 6.40am.
An SMRT spokesperson said: "Passengers who were unable to complete their journeys due to the disruption can file a claim for refund at the Passenger Service Centre in any of the 68 SMRT stations. SMRT apologises for the inconvenience caused."
Mr Lim Hoon Leong, 52, who waited for about 20 minutes for a train at MacPherson, felt that SMRT staff should have done better in informing passengers about the disruption.
"There was no one (on the platform) to tell us what was going on," he said. Mr Lim, who works in sales, had to take three buses to his workplace in Woodlands and was late for work.
SMRT said it issued travel advisories through radio stations to inform passengers of the reduced frequencies and alternative transport arrangements, including bus bridging services.
The bus bridging service was activated at 6.30am between Marymount and one-north stations, and at 7.35am between Serangoon and one-north MRT stations. The first bus arrived at around 7am at Marymount station.
Public announcements were made and signs were put up to inform affected passengers at stations, SMRT added.
The public transport operator also said it activated about 100 employees to assist passengers and resolve the fault.
However, over at Bishan, some passengers heading towards one-north waited for close to 30 minutes for a train to arrive.
One of them, researcher Radi Chandran, felt that stricter service standards should be imposed for public transport operators.
"We were told in three different announcements that the train would be arriving in five to 10 minutes, but I've waited for at least 25 minutes," the 29-year-old said.
A LTA spokesperson said investigations into yesterday's service disruption as well as an incident in September - a four-hour disruption caused by a faulty cable beneath the platform at Dakota Station - were in progress.
The authority says it conducts regular audits, and requires the operators to comply to a set of Operating Performance Standards (OPS) covering safety, operations, schedule adherence and service reliability, including requirements for operators to meet train service availability standards of at least 98 per cent per week.
"If it is found that SMRT has breached the OPS, a penalty will be imposed," said an LTA spokesperson.
Circle Line train services disrupted again
by Sumita Sreedharan
04:46 AM Dec 15, 2011
Singapore - The number of service disruptions on the Circle Line in the first 10 months of this year has already equalled the total experienced by commuters last year, according to figures from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) .
The number of disruptions on the North South and East West lines, however, are on track for a drop.
Between January and October, there were eight disruptions lasting more than 10 minutes each on the Circle Line - the same number experienced during the whole of last year.
In comparison, there have been 17 train disruptions on the North South and East West lines as at October this year. Last year, there were 28 such incidents on the North South and East West lines in total.
Yesterday, the Circle Line was hit by its latest disruption - not included in the figures provided by the LTA - when services between Marymount and one-north MRT stations was disrupted at 6am due to a communication network problem.
While SMRT "partially restored" train services at the affected stretch within 40 minutes, the public transport operator said that trains could not be deployed to meet morning peak frequency because the fault was "not fully rectified". Trains were delayed for more than five hours as a result of the disruption, Channel NewsAsia reported. This led to long queues at some stations, and some commuters waiting up to 30 minutes for their rides.
SMRT said yesterday the cause of the fault was "still unknown" and would be investigating its cause with transport system supplier Alstom.
The transport operator estimates that about 1,400 passengers were left stranded between Marymount and One-North MRT stations between 6am and 6.40am.
An SMRT spokesperson said: "Passengers who were unable to complete their journeys due to the disruption can file a claim for refund at the Passenger Service Centre in any of the 68 SMRT stations. SMRT apologises for the inconvenience caused."
Mr Lim Hoon Leong, 52, who waited for about 20 minutes for a train at MacPherson, felt that SMRT staff should have done better in informing passengers about the disruption.
"There was no one (on the platform) to tell us what was going on," he said. Mr Lim, who works in sales, had to take three buses to his workplace in Woodlands and was late for work.
SMRT said it issued travel advisories through radio stations to inform passengers of the reduced frequencies and alternative transport arrangements, including bus bridging services.
The bus bridging service was activated at 6.30am between Marymount and one-north stations, and at 7.35am between Serangoon and one-north MRT stations. The first bus arrived at around 7am at Marymount station.
Public announcements were made and signs were put up to inform affected passengers at stations, SMRT added.
The public transport operator also said it activated about 100 employees to assist passengers and resolve the fault.
However, over at Bishan, some passengers heading towards one-north waited for close to 30 minutes for a train to arrive.
One of them, researcher Radi Chandran, felt that stricter service standards should be imposed for public transport operators.
"We were told in three different announcements that the train would be arriving in five to 10 minutes, but I've waited for at least 25 minutes," the 29-year-old said.
A LTA spokesperson said investigations into yesterday's service disruption as well as an incident in September - a four-hour disruption caused by a faulty cable beneath the platform at Dakota Station - were in progress.
The authority says it conducts regular audits, and requires the operators to comply to a set of Operating Performance Standards (OPS) covering safety, operations, schedule adherence and service reliability, including requirements for operators to meet train service availability standards of at least 98 per cent per week.
"If it is found that SMRT has breached the OPS, a penalty will be imposed," said an LTA spokesperson.
