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‘More could have been done’ to inform commuters of test

SINGAPORE — The trial of the new signalling system on Tuesday night saw trains halted for about eight minutes during the switchover, and commuters generally took the interruption in their stride. Some said they wished that SMRT had done more to inform commuters beforehand, even though reports about the switchover had been carried by the media.

SINGAPORE — The trial of the new signalling system on Tuesday night saw trains halted for about eight minutes during the switchover, and commuters generally took the interruption in their stride. Some said they wished that SMRT had done more to inform commuters beforehand, even though reports about the switchover had been carried by the media.

Nevertheless, announcements were made in the stations when the trial started, and SMRT staff were also on hand to explain to commuters what was happening.

Mr Juan Ebreo, a 29-year-old assistant restaurant manager, who was waiting to get on a train at Bishan, was among those caught in between stations during the trial.

“I’m rushing home, and would have appreciated being informed in advance. But it’s good that vouchers were being given out,” he said, referring to the free-ride vouchers that were handed out by SMRT staff.

Accountant Lam Yi Yong, who was waiting for the train at Yew Tee MRT Station during the switchover, also said he had not been aware of the trial.

The 26-year-old had met his girlfriend earlier in the evening at Yew Tee, and was on his way home to Sengkang, via Woodlands.

“I always try to catch the last bus home from Woodlands. As to whether this inconveniences me, as long as I can catch my last bus at 11.33pm, it’s fine,” said Mr Lam, who takes the route about three times a week.

Polytechnic student Petrina Tan, who was making her way home from Yew Tee to Woodlands, said that the train delay had caused her some inconvenience, since she had to wake up for school early on Wednesday.

Over at Bishan, 36-year-old Vianne Isabelle, who is self-employed, added that signs should have been put up at the entrance of the station to alert commuters to the trial of the new system.

A 22-year-old undergraduate, who wanted to be known only as Joel, said: “I guess at this late hour, even a 10-minute delay would still cause some amount of inconvenience. They should have done a better job of informing us that this was happening.”

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