It’s happened again — a track fault has caused a disruption to train service on a significant part of the North-South line on Saturday evening (Oct. 7).
The latest update from SMRT is that there is no train service from Bishan to Toa Payoh towards Marina South Pier.
And what's worse is that this issue is not linked to the new signalling project, which has also been the bane of commuters.
[NSL] Due to a track fault, there is no train svc from #Bishan to #ToaPayoh towards #MarinaSouthPier. (Not linked to new signalling project)
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) October 7, 2017
This latest disruption initially affected Bishan to Toa Payoh stations.
[NSL] Due to a track fault, there is no train svc from #Bishan to #ToaPayoh towards #MarinaSouthPier. (Not linked to new signalling project)
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) October 7, 2017
Then it widened to Ang Mo Kio to Toa Payoh.
[NSL] UPDATE: No train svc btwn #AngMoKio and #ToaPayoh due to a track fault at #Bishan.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) October 7, 2017
Then it became Ang Mo Kio to Marina South Pier.
[NSL] UPDATE: No train svc btwn #AngMoKio and #MarinaSouthPier. Pls consider alternative transport.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) October 7, 2017
And of course there are the usual free replacement bus services.
[NSL] UPDATE: Free regular bus & free bridging bus svcs btwn #AngMoKio and #MarinaSouthPier.
— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) October 7, 2017
Commuters react
We’ll let them speak for themselves:
https://twitter.com/wnaongniel/status/916636572870631424
2hrs and counting...
— sofia az-zahra (@s0fiaazzahra) October 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/desireelimjy/status/916637691608891393
https://twitter.com/CueJonQ/status/916638713249017856
When incompetency permeates throughout the organization, frequent disruptions are not surprising.
— gabby chris (@gbrlcheng) October 7, 2017
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And here's a picture of the situation on the ground for folks trying to take the free buses— perhaps reminiscent of the Pokémon Go craze not too long ago, just er, without the fun:
We hope the commuters who are stranded manage to find their way to their destinations soon.
Top image adapted from photo by Ilene Fong.
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