SINGAPORE — Be prepared for delays and possible cuts in telecommunication signals if you are travelling on the Circle Line (CCL) on Friday (Nov 4) morning, SMRT has warned, citing a persistent signal fault and ongoing tests to find the cause of the problem.
“Due to intermittent signal interference, CCL trains may experience delays. For safety, CCL trains are manned this morning. We are sorry,” the train operator announced on Twitter, adding that mobile signals on the 30-station line may be temporarily suspended “due to ongoing tests”.
SMRT gave no indication as to when the suspension of telecommunication signals might kick in, or what time the signal interference this morning was detected.
Friday’s announcements came after mobile signals were shut down for at least two hours throughout the entire CCL on Thursday night with little advance warning. The unprecedented move, which upset thousands of commuters, was ordered by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as it tries to flush out the culprit behind the recent signal interferences that caused several disruptions since August.
Commuters fumed, saying an SMS alert could have been sent out moments before the shutdown, even if tests had to run promptly.
The authorities had previously ordered a smaller-scale suspension of mobile signals on Sept 2, in a similar bid to trace the source of the interfering signal, which resulted in train service delays spanning five days. The suspension then lasted two hours and involved only four CCL stations: Kent Ridge, Haw Par Villa, Pasir Panjang and Labrador Park.
They were unsuccessful in tracking down the source of the interference, which resurfaced on Wednesday morning, disrupting service between six stations, including Bishan and Serangoon interchanges.
