21 Jan
57,000 stuck by 7-hour breakdown in MRT train service
Disruption of services from Pasir Ris to Tanah Merah caused by stalled maintenance work train.
SOME 57,000 were stranded when MRT train services on the East-West line between Pasir Ris and Tanah Merah stations were disrupted on Monday morning.
There was no train service from 5.28 am till 12.45 pm between the two stations. Normal service resumed after that.
The disruption was caused by the breakdown of a maintenance work train which was carrying out works between Tampines and Simei (westbound) MRT stations, said SMRT in a statement on Monday.
'There were some damages to the maintenance works train and we are investigating the cause,' said SMRT, the train operator.
During the breakdown, eastbound trains were turned around at Tanah Merah MRT station.
Buses were deployed to ferry stranded passengers between the two stations, with the first arriving at Tanah Merah MRT station at 5.48 am.
Forty SMRT buses and 30 Singapore Bus Service Transport buses were sent to Pasir, Ris, Tampines, Simei and Tanah Merah stations to pick up the commuters.
The disruption also affected wesbound shuttle trains serving Tampines, Simei and Tanah Merah MRT stations from 8.28 am.
They were running at 28-minute intervals to ease passenger flow at Tampines and Simei MRT stations.
SMRT said passengers were informed of the service disruption and the free bus bridging services through train and station announcements, notices and rail travel information system in the stations and broadcast channels.
Many passengers also had difficulty getting taxis as most of them were occupied.
SMRT said passengers who were unable to complete their journey due to the disruption can claim a full fare refund from the Passenger Service Centre at any of the 51 SMRT stations within the next three working days, from Monday to Thursday.
SMRT has apologised for the inconvenience caused.
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