SINGAPORE: Part of the North-South Line was disrupted during the morning rush hour on Monday (Dec 16) due to a signalling fault.
Commuters alerted CNA at about 8am to the disruption, which brought train service between Bukit Gombak and Kranji MRT stations to a standstill.
SMRT, which operates the North-South Line, posted on Twitter at about 8.15am about the disruption.
It said free buses were plying between Jurong East and Kranji stations to ferry commuters affected by the delay.
Several commuters sent in photos of crowds at the affected stations. Some said they waited more than half an hour for a train while others said they were stuck in trains that were not moving.
Commuters waiting at Kranji MRT station during a train service disruption on Dec 16, 2019. (Photo: William Moy)
Mr William Moy tweeted a photo of crowds at Kranji station where he was trying to board a train heading to Jurong East. He said he waited for about 30 minutes but was unable to board the train.
Mr Jeremy Mak told CNA that the train he was in stopped moving near Woodlands station. He later alighted at Kranji station to take a bus, but returned to the train station as it was “too crowded to get into the bus”.
“Every passenger was out in the streets chasing after buses. No SMRT staff was seen at the point, no crowd controlling. No signs to tell us where to go after we got out of the train … literally everybody walked around aimlessly,” he added.
Ms MJ Marguax Lao Cutamora said she waited at Yew Tee MRT station for 15 minutes before SMRT staff announced that there was no train service.
A train stationary on the tracks near Choa Chu Kang MRT station. (Photo: Steven Siau)
Affected commuters wait at Kranji MRT station for buses. (Photo: Jeremy Mak)
Mr Sathya Narayanan, who was on his way to work, said he waited for 25 minutes at Choa Chu Kang station before leaving.
“The problem is they did not even announce anything for five to 10 minutes,” the 31-year-old accountant said of the situation at the MRT station. “If we ask the shuttle bus, the staff said as they didn’t get any information, they charged us for the fare.”
He managed to get a taxi but ended up being 40 minutes late for work, he told CNA.
Commuters waiting for buses at Kranji MRT station. (Photo: Jeremy Mak)
SMRT staff at Choa Chu Kang MRT station assisting commuters affected by the disruption. (Photo: Binyi Zhu)
At about 8.50am, SMRT said the signalling fault had been rectified and train service was returning to normal. Free bus services ended at about 20 minutes after that.
“We are sorry to have affected your morning commute,” it said.
Crowds seen outside Yew Tee MRT station during a disruption on the North-South Line on Dec 16, 2019. (Photo: MJ Marguax Lao Cutamora)
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