Power fault disrupts train services between Hougang and Dhoby Ghaut

SINGAPORE — Train services along the North East Line (NEL) between Hougang and Dhoby Ghaut were disrupted for over 30 minutes yesterday afternoon due to a power fault, affecting about 5,900 passengers.

The fault, which occurred at 3.54pm, was caused by a power trip at Potong Pasir Station, said operator SBS Transit. Engineers were despatched there to reset the power system.

The power fault also caused a train heading towards Punggol to come to a stop just as it entered Potong Pasir Station, leading to a misalignment between the station’s platform screen doors and the train doors.

“As a result, passengers had to be detrained from the last door and guided by station staff to the nearby station,” said SBS Transit.

The cause of the power fault is still being investigated.

SBS Transit said it activated 13 shuttle buses and 80 staff to assist commuters at the nine affected stations. Full train services resumed at 4.33pm.

However, some commuters claimed that train services were disrupted again at about 5.30pm.

IT analyst Priya Chhatwal, 33, said she heard a loud boom when a train travelling in the direction towards HarbourFront was approaching Serangoon Station.

“It was a really loud noise and definitely not normal. Some people got off but others stayed in the train until two staff came to tell them to get off,” she said.

Based on its CCTV recordings, SBS Transit said there was no “boom”, but it would look into the claims.