More train delays possible as NSL signalling tests intensify: LTA-SMRT

SINGAPORE – Following two consecutive evenings of rush-hour disruptions on the North-South Line (NSL), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and transport operator SMRT warned of more potential delays next week as they intensify tests on a new signalling system.

In a joint-statement on Friday (June 02), they explained that the faults behind the last two days' delays were unrelated.

"Signalling trials are part and parcel of new signaling systems, and are carried out to help train operators identify and resolve teething problems," their statement said.

"As we continue to intensify the testing of the new signaling system and until the system stabilises, there may potentially be more delays."

Since March, SMRT has progressively expanded its tests on a new signalling system for the NSL, Singapore's oldest MRT line. The latest tests fall on weekdays and involve the NSL's full fleet of 124 trains.

Thursday's evening peak-hour disruption lasted about 80 minutes, and was caused by a glitch in the computer server used to manage train schedules, according to the LTA-SMRT statement.

"This caused all trains on NSL to halt. Although the back-up server kicked in quickly, operations controllers needed 30 minutes to manually reassign train schedules," it added.

The delays on Friday lasted over 3 hours, and was triggered by a fault in a signalling equipment called the Movement Authority Unit (MAU).

"The MAU fault resulted in slower train movement between Kranji and Admiralty stations. Service recovery took some time as engineers needed to troubleshoot and replace components in the faulty MAU," said LTA-SMRT.

Commuters TODAY spoke to on Friday evening expressed frustration at the delays, and the inconvenience it brought.  

Mr Chris Anderson, a 22-year-old student from a private university, told TODAY he was stuck on a train for more than an hour on Friday. He boarded the train at Jurong East, headed towards Admiralty, at 5:20 pm but found himself making very slow progress as the train got stuck at the Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang stations.

Frustrated, he got out as soon as the doors opened at Kranji station at around 7:25pm. 

Sales executive Jolene Poh said she was hit by the delays on both days, resulting in a longer, and more circuitous route home. The 35-year-old resident of Marsiling, who works in Novena, had to take the train to Yishun before changing to a free shuttle service to Marsiling MRT station. She estimated that her travel time had doubled to more than an hour. 

An administrative assistant who only wanted to be known as Mdm Low said: "How is it that the delays occur back to back?" 

She said she had to wait out the delay at Toa Payoh, where she works, for almost an hour, before boarding the northbound train to Yishun, and changing to the bridging bus service to Admiralty, where she lives. 

LTA and SMRT apologised for the disruptions, saying: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused and we seek the patience of commuters."