Transport Woes...

Punggol LRT service not available due to systems fault


Free regular and bridging bus services are available at the Punggol Bus Interchange and designated stops near affected stations.

Sep 13, 2025

SINGAPORE – Train service on the Punggol LRT line resumed full service about 3 hours after a systems fault led to a disruption on the morning of Sept 13.

In a social media post on X at 5.14am, train operator SBS Transit said that Punggol LRT service is not available due to a systems fault.

In an update at 6.08am, it added that free regular and bridging bus services are available at the Punggol Bus Interchange and designated stops near affected stations.


It also advised commuters to follow directional signs to get to these boarding points, and to log on to the SBS Transit mobile app, or the LTA MyTransport mobile app, to view alternative transport options.

SBS Transit’s passenger service teams are also on site to assist commuters, the train operator said in an update at about 7.28am.

This is the third disruption to the Punggol LRT service to have occurred in just over a month.

On Aug 12, a failure of the power switchboard at the North-East Line’s depot substation crippled services on the entire Sengkang-Punggol LRT, as well as an 11-stop stretch between Farrer Park and Punggol Coast MRT stations on the NEL.

The LRT system was disrupted for about 10 hours that day.

On Aug 15, trains on the Sengkang-Punggol LRT system were disrupted for about four hours after resumed full service about four hours after a power fault.

MRT service resumes between Newton and AMK after nearly 40-minute disruption: SMRT​

The disruption affected commuters at six stations: Newton, Novena, Toa Payoh, Braddell, Bishan and Ang Mo Kio.

Sep 14, 2025

SINGAPORE – A train fault occurred along the North-South Line, resulting in a 40-minute disruption on Sept 14 – the second such disruption in September along the line.

In its initial social media post at 11.44am, transport operator SMRT advised commuters to factor in an additional 25 minutes of travelling time on trains from Newton to Ang Mo Kio stations, in the direction of Jurong East.

The disruption affected commuters at six stations: Newton, Novena, Toa Payoh, Braddell, Bishan and Ang Mo Kio.

At 12.21pm, SMRT said train service between the affected stations had resumed, and that the free regular bus service for commuters had ceased.


In a post on SMRT’s Facebook page at 12.52pm, Mr Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains, said the line encountered a train fault between the affected stations at around 11.35am, and the company immediately deployed staff to rectify the fault.

“After commuters in the faulty train were safely disembarked, the affected train was taken out of service,” Mr Lam said, apologising for the delay.

On Sept 2, a train fault, also along the North-South Line, saw passengers’ journeys delayed by 25 minutes when travelling from Woodlands to Yishun towards the Marina South Pier station. The 45-minute-long disruption affected commuters at five stations: Woodlands, Admiralty, Sembawang, Canberra and Yishun.
The Punggol LRT Line, operated by SBS Transit, saw train services disrupted for about three hours on Sept 13 – the third disruption to the Punggol LRT service in just over a month.

In September, quarterly numbers from the Land Transport Authority showed that the MRT network’s reliability over the 12 months ending June 2025 fell to its lowest level since 2020.

However, reliability on the LRT network showed improved performance.

Disruption in EWL MRT service on Sept 16 due to fault in power supply system: SMRT​

Free regular and bridging bus services were rolled out between Aljunied and Tanah Merah stations on the East-West Line on Sept 16.

Sep 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – The train service disruption on the night of Sept 16 was due to a fault in the power supply system that caused a signalling failure, SMRT said in an update on the morning of Sept 17.

Train service became unavailable at MRT stations between Aljunied and Tanah Merah on the East-West Line late on Sept 16.

In an update on its social media platforms at 4.30am on Sept 17, SMRT said that at around 11pm on Sept 16, “a fault in the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system caused a signalling failure”, resulting in a disruption to train service on the six-station stretch.

Train services are running normally, the transport operator added.

“We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience and understanding,” said SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai.

In an earlier post at 1.01am, SMRT said train services had ended and free regular and bridging bus services had also ceased.

The six affected MRT stations were Tanah Merah, Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar and Aljunied.

In an update on social media platform X at 11.17pm, operator SMRT said there was no train service available between the six stations.

Free regular and bridging bus services were rolled out between Aljunied and Tanah Merah, SMRT added, and station staff were deployed to assist passengers.

Passengers were advised to take the Thomson-East Coast Line, Circle Line or Downtown Line to continue their journey, SMRT said.

Those travelling to Pasir Ris and Changi Airport were advised to take the Downtown Line at Bugis.

Passengers on the East-West Line were earlier in the night delayed by at least 20 minutes because the signalling fault affected the six stations, SMRT said in a post on X at 11pm.

The operator had advised passengers to “add 20 minutes” of train travel time.

This is the fourth disruption on the MRT network this month.

On Sept 14, a train fault occurred along the North-South Line, affecting the stretch from Newton to Ang Mo Kio MRT stations. This resulted in a 40-minute disruption.

On Sept 2, passengers on a five-station stretch from Woodlands to Yishun stations had their journeys delayed owing to a train fault along the North-South Line.

On the morning of Sept 1, service along a three-station stretch between Marina Bay and Promenade stations on the Circle Line became unavailable after a train fault.

Delay on MRT service on TEL between Woodlands North and Bayshore stations​

Sep 17, 2025

SINGAPORE – Train service between Woodlands North and Bayshore stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) was disrupted on the morning of Sept 17 due to a signal fault.

In a post on X and Facebook at 7.29am, train operator SMRT urged commuters to allow for an additional 15 minutes of travelling time on the 27-station stretch, in both directions.

In an update at 7.55am, SMRT said free regular bus services between Woodlands North and Bayshore are available.

SMRT added in an update at 8.14am that its engineers are working to recover train services and urged commuters heading towards the city centre to take the North-South Line, Circle Line or Downtown Line.

It also encouraged affected commuters to download an e-Travel Chit as proof of their travel at https://smrttravelchit.sg/.

Ms Pei Wen Kok was heading from Woodlands South to Caldecott station at around 7.10am when the MRT train she was in stopped between the Woodlands South and Springleaf stations for about an hour minutes.

Ms Kok said she was worried as she was rushing to her workplace at 8am, and that it was very hot inside the packed train.

“Everyone was pissed because there was a train announcement for a delay of 15 minutes but the train was not moving to any stops for a much longer time” said the 32-year-old human resource executive.


SMRT said free regular bus services between Woodlands North and Bayshore are available.

The train she was in moved one stop to Springleaf station by 8.15am where she was able to catch a free regular bus to work.

This is the second train disruption in less than 12 hours, after service for six stations on the East-West Line was affected late on the night of Sept 16 due to a fault in the power supply system.

Abolishment of accountability (no more by-elections vz GRC system), means frequent train disruptions are an expected outcome.


https://ibb.co/hx3d8zLc

Recent MRT disruptions isolated, not systemic in nature: SMRT Trains president​

On the morning of Sept 17, a signaling fault at about 7.10am caused a two-hour disruption on the Thomson-East Coast Line.


Summary

• SMRT addresses recent rail disruptions, stating they are isolated incidents, not systemic issues, and apologises for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
• SMRT will work with LTA, conducting assessments, technical audits, and improving incident response to minimise recovery time and prioritise passenger safety.
• Commuters had expressed frustration over underestimated delay times; SMRT acknowledges the need for improved communication during disruptions.

AI generated

Sep 17, 2025

SINGAPORE – The three rail disruptions that have occurred over the last four days on lines operated by SMRT are isolated cases and “not systemic issues across the rail network”, said Mr Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains.

“We recognise the inconvenience these incidents cause, and sincerely apologise to affected commuters,” Mr Lam told reporters on Sept 17, hours after a signalling fault at about 7.10am caused a two-hour disruption across the entire Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

SMRT had initially warned of delays of up to 15 minutes, but later suspended services on the TEL for about 30 minutes to reset the signalling system, leaving some passengers stranded on board trains for an hour.

The signalling system directs rail traffic, keeps trains a safe distance from each other, and ensures they run according to schedule.

Mr Lam said SMRT is working with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the signalling system’s manufacturer to investigate the Sept 17 fault. The TEL’s signalling system is supplied by French company Alstom.

There have been at least five disruptions across the MRT network in September alone, including the latest on Sept 17, as well as those on the East-West Line (EWL) on Sept 16 and North-South Line (NSL) on Sept 14.

The latest trip-ups follow a string of rail disruptions in July and August, including on the Bukit Panjang LRT line, as well as the SBS Transit-run North East Line, Sengkang-Punggol LRT system and Downtown Line.

Before this spate of incidents, the MRT network’s overall reliability had already fallen to its lowest level since 2020, according to LTA’s latest statistics for the 12 months ending June 2025.

At a press briefing at Kim Chuan Depot on Sept 17, Mr Lam said SMRT will work closely with LTA on three areas moving forward, with the first being a detailed assessment of SMRT’s rail assets.

In addition to the TEL, SMRT runs the NSL, EWL and Circle Line (CCL). It also operates the Bukit Panjang LRT.

Mr Lam pledged to strengthen the management of SMRT’s rail system, and speed up asset renewal and upgrading where needed. This is part of the operator’s commitment to reliability, he said.

Second, SMRT and LTA will carry out technical audits of the operator’s critical systems. This is to “identify gaps, areas for improvement and response procedure”, he said. These include audits on the power, signalling, train and track systems.

Finally, when handling incidents, SMRT will do its best to shorten the recovery time, while applying a safety-first approach for passengers and staff, Mr Lam said.

“Safety precautionary measures, which typically take two to three hours, are necessary to ensure the protection of all,” he added.

Addressing complaints by passengers caught in disruptions who felt that SMRT had downplayed the length of delays, Mr Lam acknowledged that there is room for improvement.

“For each incident, the impact on each commuter varies depending on where one is within the train network,” he said.

“This is an area that we are looking to work on with LTA.”

Passengers affected by the TEL disruption on the morning of Sept 17 had told The Straits Times that there was frustration at initial announcements about a delay of 15 minutes, when the trains they were on had stopped moving for a much longer time.

“Everyone was upset,” said one commuter, a 32-year-old human resources executive who wanted to be known only as Ms Kok.


A signalling fault at about 7.10am on Sept 17 caused a disruption across the entire Thomson-East Coast Line.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Mr Alvin Lee, a manager in healthcare operations who managed to take an alternative route to Woodlands, said: “While disruption is unavoidable, the frequency of updates by SMRT on train disruptions can be improved.”

The Sept 17 disruption resulted in 18 students being late for their N-level examination, but they were not penalised and later given the full duration of their paper.

Mr Lam pointed out that SMRT is testing new crowd management measures and way-finding signs at Jurong East MRT station to improve its response to rail disruptions.

These measures, which include the deployment of more staff on the ground and providing them with high-visibility vests and portable speakers, will be rolled out progressively to other major MRT interchanges, the rail operator had told ST.

Details of other MRT disruptions in September​

Sept 16​

Late on Sept 16, train services were halted on a six-station stretch of the EWL, between Aljunied and Tanah Merah stations.

The disruption, which happened at about 11pm, was caused by a faulty component in the power system, Mr Lam said. This in turn caused a signalling failure.

Mr Lam said the faulty part has been isolated, and normal train service resumed on the morning of Sept 17.

Sept 14​

At about 11.45am on Sept 14, a faulty train on the NSL caused delays of up to 25 minutes along a six-station stretch between Ang Mo Kio and Newton.

Passengers had to disembark before another train could move the faulty one away, thereby allowing service to resume, said Mr Lam.

Sept 2​

On Sept 2, a faulty train caused a 45-minute disruption on a five-station stretch of the NSL.

At about 8.20pm, SMRT warned commuters to factor in an additional 25 minutes of travel time between Woodlands and Yishun stations.

Sept 1​

A faulty train disrupted service on the CCL during the morning peak period on Sept 1.

The disruption affected a three-station stretch between Marina Bay and Promenade.

18 students late for N-level paper after MRT disruption; all given full duration to sit exam: SEAB​

At about 7.30am on Sept 17, service on a section of the TEL stretching to 27 stations was disrupted by a signalling fault.

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Sep 17, 2025

SINGAPORE – There were 18 students who were late for the GCE N(A)-level humanities exam because of the two-hour Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) disruption on the morning of Sept 17.

A spokesperson for the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), in response to queries, said the students were not penalised.

She said: “They arrived before the end of the paper and were given time to settle down before sitting the paper. All of them were given the full duration of the paper.”


All candidates, she added, will be given the full duration of the paper if they reach the examination centre before the end of the paper.

Each year, SEAB issues guidelines for all exam candidates – for instance, making sure they give themselves enough travel time on their exam days, and what to do if they are affected by a major train service disruption.

At about 7.30am on Sept 17, service on a section of the TEL stretching 27 stations was disrupted by a signalling fault.

SMRT first said there was a signal fault between Woodlands North and Bayshore stations in a Facebook post at 7.29am.

At 8.54am, SMRT said train service had resumed, and that free regular and bridging bus services had ended.

SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai later in the day said the recent MRT disruptions are isolated cases and “not systemic issues across the rail network”.

The train disruption on Sept 17 was the fifth to hit the MRT network this month.

Late on Sept 16, a six-station stretch of the East-West Line was unavailable owing to a fault in the power supply system that led to a signalling failure.

On Sept 14, a train fault occurred along the North-South Line, resulting in a 40-minute disruption. On Sept 2, there were delays across a five-station stretch
from Woodlands to Yishun stations on the same MRT line.


On the morning of Sept 1, service along a three-station stretch between Marina Bay and Promenade stations on the Circle Line became unavailable after a train fault.

Other than the TEL, SMRT operates the North-South Line, East-West Line and Circle Line. It also operates the Bukit Panjang LRT line.

According to latest figures from the Land Transport Authority, the MRT network’s reliability over the 12 months ending June 2025 fell to its lowest level since 2020.