Train Disruption on East-West Line to Enter Third Day
The disruption of train services on Singapore’s East-West Line (EWL) between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations will extend into a third day, following extensive damage caused by a faulty train on September 25. Rail operator SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) have announced plans to partially restore services by September 27, running shuttle trains every 20 minutes along the affected stretch.
Faulty Train Causes Extensive Damage to Tracks
The disruption, which began when a first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train encountered a fault, affected around 358,000 passengers on September 25. The faulty train was being withdrawn to Ulu Pandan Depot when a defective axle box on the third carriage dropped onto the tracks near Dover station, causing one bogie to derail. This is the first time such an incident has occurred on Singapore’s rail network.
Impact on Commuters and Ongoing Repairs
With repairs still underway, the disruption is expected to affect another 516,000 commuters on September 26. SMRT and LTA are working to repair the damaged tracks and trackside equipment to fully restore services. In the meantime, alternative transport arrangements and shuttle services will be made available to minimize commuter inconvenience.
Second-Longest Rail Disruption in Singapore’s History
The ongoing disruption is now the second-longest rail service outage in Singapore’s history. As SMRT and LTA continue repair efforts, commuters are advised to plan their journeys ahead and use alternative modes of transport where possible.
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