SINGAPORE – A power fault on the East-West Line (EWL) brought train services between Boon Lay and Queenstown MRT stations to a standstill for a large part of Sept 25.
A faulty train damaged track equipment as it was being withdrawn from service, triggering a power trip at about 9.25am. This downed services along the nine-station stretch of the EWL, which has 35 stations.
In an update 12 hours later at 9.20pm, train operator SMRT said its engineers will be working through the night and throughout Sept 26 to restore service to the line.
It said there will be no regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations in both directions on Sept 26.
SMRT said the faulty train had been in service for more than 35 years.
Here is a timeline of events on Sept 25:
Around 9am: An eastbound train on the EWL develops a fault near Clementi MRT station. Passengers disembark at Clementi station and the train is withdrawn from service.
9.25am: A power trip occurs during the faulty train’s withdrawal to Ulu Pandan Depot. The power trip causes a train near Clementi station to stall.
There are about 850 people on board, who are later “safely detrained”, SMRT said. Guided by SMRT staff, the people walk on the tracks back to the Clementi station platform.
9.28am: Free regular buses begin operating between affected stations.
9.46am: Free bridging buses begin operating between affected stations.
9.52am: SMRT alerts the public to the disruption between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations on its Facebook page.
12.20pm: SMRT says the faulty train – made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries – has been in service for more than 35 years, and had emitted smoke while returning to Ulu Pandan Depot.
On its Facebook page, LTA says that based on an early assessment, the faulty train, while being withdrawn, “caused damage to the tracks, including the running rails and the third rail supplying power to the train”.
2.43pm: SMRT announces that shuttle train services will operate between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and Boon Lay and Jurong East stations, from 5pm to cater to travel during the evening peak period.
“The safety of our staff is our topmost priority. In view of the wet weather conditions near Clementi station, we are taking every measure to ensure the safety of our engineers when going on-site to assess and rectify the fault,” it says.