The North-South Line was hit by a platform screen door fault that lasted more than two hours on Thursday (17th May) during the evening peak hour, with train operator SMRT advising commuters to add up to 45 minutes to their travel time. Earlier, at 6:00pm, train operator SMRT tweeted that commuters should expect additional 15-minute travel time from Ang Mo Kio to Dhoby Ghaut stations towards Marina South Pier.
By around 7:40pm, it was further extended to 45 minutes. In a follow-up tweet, SMRT added that free regular bus services are available between Novena and Marina South Pier stations.
The platform screen door fault was resolved at around 8:10pm, according to SMRT's official Twitter account. The operator added that train service was progressively being restored and additional travel time has been reduced to 25 minutes. Student Martin Ho was among one of the commuters affected. The 15-year old, who boarded from Bishan station at around 5:55pm, said the train has been stopping and moving at least three or four times between stations.
"At this rate, I will be late for my family dinner and my mother will scold me," he told The Straits Times. Another commuter, Mr. Marcus Teo, said he took about 20 minutes to travel from Toa Payoh to Somerset station, where he alighted at about 6:30pm. He said the commute usually takes him about 10 minutes.
"Even at Toa Payoh, the train was stopping in between stations," said the 27-year old primary school teacher. He added the train kept stopping before the next station for an interval of three to four minutes each time. Announcements over the train PA system were also made, saying the platform screen door fault was at Dhoby Ghaut station, said Mr. Teo.
Another train passenger, Nur Afiqah, 24, said her commute from Braddell to Dhoby Ghaut station took nearly 45 minutes. "It was inconvenient," said the secretary, "but at least you don't see train faults so often these days."
