Signalling issues cause delays on NSL and western part of EWL

Commuters heading home may want to avoid taking the trains. Train service on the North-South Line (NSL) is slow after a sudden and seemingly massive signalling flaw, and part of the East-West Line (EWL) is down - also because of signalling issues.

SMRT tweeted at around 5:30pm on Wednesday evening (28^th June) that signalling faults had affected the entire NSL as well as the EWL between Joo Koon and Tuas Link. The operator said it had suspended service on the NSL to fix a signalling issue, and that it would take about 30 minutes to do so. Then at around 5:40pm, it announced that service on the NSL was resuming but warned of 15-minute delays. And at 5:55pm, it said service on the Tuas West Extension - which opened just over a week ago - was returning to normal. "Free bus services are available throughout the NSL, and from Joo Koon to Tuas Link on the EWL," SMRT said. "Our engineering staff are investigating the matter. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."

Hours earlier during the morning peak, thousands of commuters were delayed because of a train fault at Pioneer station. The fault however, was not as severe as the one on Tuesday, which resulted in delays of over half an hour. The major disruption comes a day after SMRT and the Land Transport Authority warned of continuing glitches because of signalling tests. But The Straits Times understands Wednesday's breakdowns were not because of the trials.