MRT breaks down again - Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: Train services between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations were disrupted Saturday morning, in the third service breakdown this week for Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT).
In its latest update at about 10.55 am, SMRT said the southbound train service between Toa Payoh and Newton is now available.
The southbound service between Newton and Marina Bay stations is not available.
The northbound train service between Raffles Place and Jurong East stations is available.
The train service between Raffles Place and Toa Payoh stations is running at reduced frequencies.
And the northbound train service between Marina Bay and Raffles Place is not available.
Bus bridging services are available between Ang Mo Kio and Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Raffles Place, Marina Bay and City Hall.
Passengers on the affected stretches are advised to use alternative transport or take the bus bridging service.
They should also commute using the Circle Line, which has been running at a three-minute frequency since 8.40 am to cater to the influx of passengers.
Calls to Channel NewsAsia on Saturday's service disruption started coming in at about 7.00 am.
One caller, Jeannie said that at about 6.50 am, she and other passengers who were in a train near City Hall MRT were asked to evacuate the train and had to walk along the tunnel after "the doors got stuck".
Another caller said at 7.21 am that when service on the North-South Line broke down towards Marina Bay, an announcement was made about the breakdown but no reason was given.
On Wednesday, parts of the Circle Line were affected by a technical glitch during morning peak hours.
A day later, a service breakdown on the North-South Line caused commuter chaos during evening peak hours.
Callers told Channel NewsAsia on Saturday that they saw the SMS alert to taxi drivers informing them of the breakdown.
One caller said the alert was more "diplomatic", stating "FYI: train breakdown both directions".
She was referring to a similar message sent on Thursday night to inform SMRT drivers of an "income opportunity" following the train disruption.
The message was posted online by a passenger and went viral instantly, drawing heavy criticism.
SMRT had admitted that the alert was "insensitive" and a "very bad mistake".
The breakdown came a day after SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa apologised for Thursday's glitch which affected 127,000 passengers, including 1,000 trapped in each of the four stalled trains.
It was the worst breakdown in 24 years.
- CNA/cc
North-South Line service resumes after 7-hour disruption
Posted: 17 December 2011 1411 hrs
SINGAPORE: Services on the entire North-South Line resumed at 1.48pm on Saturday, about seven hours after they were disrupted due to a fault with the power rail system.
SMRT said the disruption started near Orchard Station on the North-South Line between Orchard and Marina Bay stations.
One train, with about 500 passengers on board, stalled between Orchard and Somerset stations at about 6.50am.
SMRT said its first priority was to minimise discomfort to passengers.
It got the passengers to walk along the tunnel at 7.20am.
They were safely guided to Somerset station by 7.33am.
Preliminary investigations show that the cause of the disruption is similar to the problem on Thursday.
In the service breakdown on Thursday, a misalignment between the special components - the train track and 'collector shoes' - that trains draw power from, had caused the fault.
Currently, there is a defective train parked at Ang Mo Kio station.
It'll be withdrawn to the depot after service hours on Saturday.
SMRT is working round-the-clock to replace the damaged third rail and collector shoes.
It's also conducting a full inspection of the system and all the trains.
SMRT activated more than 300 staff on the ground to assist passengers and attend to the fault.
To provide alternative transport to passengers, it activated 80 buses at 7.18am for bus bridging services between Ang Mo Kio and Raffles Place, and Marina Bay and City Hall stations.
The first bus arrived at around 7.30am at Newton MRT station and 7.35am at Raffles Place station.
Since 8.40am, SMRT also ran Circle Line train services at an average frequency of three minutes to cater to the influx of passengers affected by the service disruption on the North-South Line.
Announcements in English and Mandarin were made in all stations and trains, via radio stations, Channel News Asia's tickertape, SMRT's corporate website and also on Twitter @smrt_singapore.
Passengers who were unable to complete their journeys due to the disruption can get a refund at the Passenger Service Centre in any of the 81 SMRT stations.
SMRT has apologised for the inconvenience caused.
SMRT also gave a timeline of the train services affected from 6.50am to 1.48pm.
As at 7.55am, no train services were available between Newton and Marina Bay stations in both directions.
As at 8.25am, no southbound train service was available from Toa Payoh to Marina Bay stations.
And as at 8.50am, no train service was available between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations.
At about 9am, northbound train service from Raffles Place to Jurong East stations became available.
At around 10.55am, southbound train services from Toa Payoh to Newton became available.
As at around 1.18pm, southbound train service from Toa Payoh to Raffles Place became available.
Full service on the North-South Line resumed at 1.48pm, with SMRT gradually improving frequency.
Calls to the Channel NewsAsia hotline on Saturday's service disruption started coming in at about 7am.
One caller, Jeannie said that about 6.50am, she and other passengers who were in a train near City Hall MRT were asked to evacuate the train and had to walk along the tunnel after "the doors got stuck".
Another caller said at 7.21am that when service on the North-South Line towards Marina Bay broke down, an announcement was made about the breakdown but no reason was given.
This is a third service breakdown this week for the train operator.
On Wednesday, parts of the Circle Line were affected by a technical glitch during morning peak hours.
On Thursday, service breakdown on the North-South Line caused commuter chaos during evening peak hours.
Callers told Channel NewsAsia on Saturday that they saw the SMS alert to taxi drivers informing them of the breakdown.
One caller said: "They were more diplomatic; just said FYI: train breakdown both directions ...." one between Marina Bay and Newton."
She was referring to a similar message sent on Thursday night to inform SMRT drivers of the "income opportunity".
The message was posted online by a passenger and went viral instantly, drawing heavy criticisms.
SMRT had admitted that it was a "very bad mistake" to send out an "insensitive" message alert about the train disruption on Thursday night.
The breakdown came a day after SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa apologised for Thursday's glitch which affected 127,000 passengers, including 1,000 trapped in each of the four stalled trains.
It was the worst breakdown in 24 years.
- CNA/ck
NS-EW MRT lines to start 10am on Sunday
Posted: 17 December 2011 1606 hrs
SINGAPORE: MRT service on Sunday for the North-South and East-West lines will start later - at 10am instead of 5.30am - after checks have been completed on all trains and tracks.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew told a media conference on Saturday afternoon that the checks may not be completed in time for normal service to begin at 5.30am.
SMRT will run free parallel bus services from 5.30am to 10am.
Services for the Circle Line and North-East Line will not be affected.
Mr Lui also said it's not necessary to conduct "thorough health checks" on the Circle Line and North East Line.
At the media conference, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew also said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be involved in thorough checks of the entire rail system.
Mr Lui said: "We would have a higher degree of confidence and assurance if LTA were to partner SMRT because we also need the full weight of resources from both organisations to do this check."
The LTA will comb through the North South and East West lines for "visual anomalies", after a seven-hour breakdown on Saturday, which is its third this week.
The two organisations will work with the Committee of Inquiry for a detailed investigation of Singapore's rail system.
The disruption from 7.09am to 1.48pm happened after a third rail cover dislodged between Novena and Newton stations.
Three trains were immobilised at Dhoby Ghaut Station.
The fault is similar to the cause of the breakdown that led to commuter chaos on Thursday night.
In the service breakdown on Thursday, a misalignment between the special components - the train track and 'collector shoes' - that trains draw power from, had caused the fault.
Transport Minister Lui said there is some instability in the system and that the investigation will take time to complete.
He said this week's disruptions and tomorrow's change in schedule will cause inconvenience to commuters but stressed the need to conduct more thorough checks and pick up any incident that could be waiting to happen.
Mr Lui believed the recent disruptions could be related to the opening of stages 4 and 5 of the Circle Line on October 8.
He said commuters have to expect that it'll take months of stabilisation each time a new section of rail is opened.
Mr Lui also shared his observations of the way SMRT handled the breakdown on Saturday.
He said he took the train to Toa Payoh Station to see if the signages for affected passengers were adequate.
Mr Lui said the signs were good, while staff were helpful in giving information to those who needed help with the bus bridging services.
He also saw six buses in the queue for passengers.
Mr Lui also went to Newton Station and informed SMRT staff that more buses were needed.
He said the staff appeared "less prepared" at Newton and suggested that they plan ahead for an expected buildup so that they can quickly activate and clear the crowds.
Overall, Mr Lui noted an improvement, compared with the situation on Thursday night.
- CNA/cc/ck
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