Downtown Line 2 a relief for Bukit Panjang residents

There was a steady stream of people at Bukit Panjang MRT station yesterday morning - the first work day after the second phase (DTL2) of the Downtown Line opened officially on Sunday, reported The Straits Times.

Many people familiarised themselves with the route, leaving their cars at home or skipping the bus. Many Bukit Panjang residents, who have long complained about the lack of public transport options, were glad to be able to take the train instead of the bus to the city.

The 16.6km DTL2, comprising 12 stations, connects the estate to places such as Little India, Bukit Timah and Bugis. While there were no major hiccups, the train doors at the Botanic Gardens station did not open and some passengers had to go to the next station to return to Botanic Gardens. This happened just once, for a short while.

Until Jan 1^st, rides will be free on DTL2 and Downtown Line 1.

The Land Transport Authority said that over the next few days, there will be more than 320 volunteers, including residents and staff, helping commuters at the 12 new DTL2 stations.