Track point fault causes 25-minute delay on East-West MRT Line between Boon Lay and Buona Vista
Operator SMRT first posted on X at 6.03am that passengers should factor in an additional 15 minutes of travel time between Boon Lay and Clementi when travelling eastwards towards Pasir Ris.
In an updated post at 6.32am, the operator said the delay extended to Buona Vista station, meaning the affected stations also included Dover, Jurong East, Chinese Garden and Lakeside.
The delay was lengthened to 25 minutes, SMRT said at 7.17am, adding that free bus services are available between the affected stations.
Westbound trains are running normally, SMRT added.
The train operator advised travellers heading towards Jurong East station to transfer to the Thomson-East Coast Line and Circle Line at Woodlands and Bishan stations respectively.
Those travelling towards the city centre from Tuas Link are advised to switch to the North-South Line at Jurong East, before transferring to the Thomson-East Coast Line at Woodlands station.
SMRT President Lam Sheau Kai said that a point machine fault occurred near Jurong East station during the start of service on the morning of Aug 6, leading to trains driven slower for safe operations.
He explained that a point machine controls train movements at rail junctions when trains switch tracks, and that engineers are working to fix the issue.
Morning travellers on Facebook reported longer waiting times of up to 45 minutes at the stations, leading to them reporting to work late.
Some also reported having to wait longer at stations on the North-South Line, such as at Marsiling, Admiralty and Kranji.
Commuter Oon Siow Li questioned if passengers should still be allowed to enter the train platforms if there are delays during the morning rush hour.
"People board then notice there's train fault and stuck inside the train," she wrote in a comment on Facebook.
Multiple commuters, commenting on Facebook and X, said that the delays were longer than the suggested 25 minutes, with some asking for more realistic delay times to avoid offering "fake hope".
Traveller Zhao Jieshi, commenting on SMRT's social media updates, said it took around an hour to reach Clementi from Lakeside, a three-stop journey that would normally take around 10 minutes.
Some recalled flashbacks to the major breakdown in September 2024 between Jurong East and Buona Vista that saw services disrupted for six days.
In an updated post on Facebook at 6.15am, SMRT suggested alternative travel options via its website, including bus services.
As engineers work to recover train services, SMRT said travellers can download e-Travel chits at smrttravelchit.sg for evidence of their affected journeys.
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