Train services on NS-EW lines fully resume - Channel NewsAsia

Train services on NS-EW lines fully resume - Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: Train services on the East-West (EW) and North-South (NS) Lines have resumed fully, after a delay of up to two hours.

Services on the East-West Line resumed at 11am while those on the North-South Line only resumed fully at 12.08pm.

Train frequency is being stepped up to shorten waiting time.

MRT shuttle bus services have been withdrawn following the resumption of services on the NS-EW lines.

Train services on both lines were scheduled to resume at 10.00 am on Sunday.

But these were delayed as SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) needed more time to conduct a full inspection of the tracks and trains and rectify the problems to ensure safe operations.

SMRT and LTA have apologised for the inconvenience caused.

On the North-South Line, services between Jurong East and Ang Mo Kio station resumed at 11.09am, while the north-bound service between Raffles Place and Jurong East resumed at 11.25 am.

The services southbound between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations resumed at about noon.

The shutdown follows Saturday's seven-hour breakdown on the North-South Line, caused by problems with the power rail system.

It was the third service disruption this week - with the first hitting the Circle Line during morning peak hours on Wednesday and the second on Thursday night on the North-South Line, causing commuter chaos.

Separately, shuttle buses were deployed at various locations, ferrying people for free. But some felt the bridging services were not timely.

A commuter at Bishan earlier said: "I (went) to Ang Mo Kio and asked the control room. They (told) me (at) 5.30am, there will be shuttle bus. The shuttle bus (just) came. What are they going to say?"

Another waiting commuter earlier said: "We (were) waiting, then the staff said: "Got bus, got bus." After 5am, 5.30am, and 6am, the bus just (arrived). What happen(ed)?"

However, there were others who were more forgiving of SMRT's alternative arrangements.

A man on the street said: "So far I'm quite satisfied."

A female passenger who shared similar sentiments said: "At least there's a way to go to the place where we wanted to go. That's it only. At least they care about the passengers."

- CNA/cc/ck