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SINGAPORE: A signalling fault which caused delays along the North East Line on Friday was discovered at 2.45pm. It has since been fixed, but train operator SBS Transit said it will commence repair work after all train services end tonight.
SBS Transit announced on Twitter at 5.48pm that the evening rush hour would be 7.5 minutes to 8 minutes, and the journey from Punggol to Harbourfront station will take an estimated 33 to 35 minutes.
The Straits Times reported that goodwill ambassadors have been deployed at stations that are expected to be more crowded, such as Harbourfront and Dhoby Ghaut.
People were redirected to free shuttle bus services thatstop at every station from Harbourfront to Punggol and run at intervals of about 4 minutes.
On Friday morning, thousands of commuters were affected when the service along NEL was delayed due to a power trip at Harbourfront station.
Passengers were told that their journeys might be delayed up to 20 minutes and was extended to 30 minutes after a new fault was found in the signalling system.
Announcements were made at regular intervals at each station, informing passengers about the delay. However, The Straits Times reported that it took them an hour to complete an 11-minute journey from Serangoon to Dhoby Ghaut station at 10am.
They noticed that no station staff was present although TransComm officers were at Dhoby Ghaut's NEL platform.
Station staff told The Straits Times that the others were "patrolling the station".
No connecting bus was arranged to transport passengers from each station but signs detailing available bus services to various MRT stations were put up.
SBS Transit could have handled the situation better, said commuters to The Straits Times.
Madam Irene Goh, 61, said in Mandarin: "They should have a staff member at the entrance of each station telling people about the delays, before they decide whether to get on the train or not.
Their announcements are all in English, which I don't understand. I got into the train without knowing anything and now I'm late for work."
The sales assistant was travelling from Woodleigh to Chinatown for work.
"I can't get off the train now because I'm scared I'll be even later."
klim@sph.com.sg
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