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Early closures of 19 MRT stations get off to undramatic start

SINGAPORE — Early closures of MRT stations on the western half of the rail network got off to smooth, uneventful start on Friday night (Dec 8), with commuters directed to the steady stream of shuttle buses that operated in the absence of train services.

A sign displaying the route of travel for the pictured shuttle bus is seen plastered to the windscreen as commuters wait to board it at Outram Park MRT station, Dec 8, 2017. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

A sign displaying the route of travel for the pictured shuttle bus is seen plastered to the windscreen as commuters wait to board it at Outram Park MRT station, Dec 8, 2017. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Early closures of MRT stations on the western half of the rail network got off to smooth, uneventful start on Friday night (Dec 8), with commuters directed to the steady stream of shuttle buses that operated in the absence of train services.

Marshalls seen directing commuters on a EWL train at Outram Park MRT station on Friday (Dec 8). Some passengers appeared confused as they were asked to disembark. It was the first night of early MRT station closures.

Not all commuters were aware that the early closures for re-signalling works and extra rail maintenance hours were kicking in at 11pm that night, and were surprised by the orderly manner in which the exercise unfolded.

Crowd marshals are seen getting ready before the early closure of Outram Park MRT station, Dec 8, 2017. Photo: Kelly Ng/TODAY

Crowd marshals comprising mostly teenagers – one of whom told TODAY he was paid S$8.50 per hour – were seen stationing themselves at various exit points of Outram Park station at about 10.30pm.

A sign directs commuters to a shuttle bus bound for Jurong East station is seen at Outram Park MRT on Dec 8, 2017. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

Notices were plastered at train platforms and walkways in the MRT stations, as well as bus interchanges.

For the rest of the month, 17 stations on the East West Line from Tiong Bahru to Tuas Link, as well as Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak on the North South Line will close earlier at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, instead of the usual 12.30am, for maintenance works.

These stretches will open later, at 8am, on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the rest of December, and will close for two full Sundays on Dec 10 and 17.

An SMRT staff gives directions to commuters beside a shuttle bus bound for Jurong East interchange on Dec 8, 2017 at Outram Park MRT station. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

Commuters who arrived after west-bound services ceased at 11pm were directed to board frequent shuttle buses headed toward Jurong East. It was initially crowded and some commuters were seen clarifying directions with staff on duty, but there was little commotion.

Shuttle buses plying the route between Outram Park MRT station to Jurong East interchange are seen making the final turn to their end destination, early Dec 9, 2017, hours after the first night of early MRT station closures. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

More than 10 double-decker shuttle buses had left Outram Park by the time TODAY boarded one at 11.40pm. The journey to Jurong East took about 45 minutes, with the bus stopping outside every MRT station along the affected segment of the East West line.

Public relations executive Ho Jin Yee, who was making her way home to Bukit Batok, said she was “surprised at how orderly everything was”.

“I guess it is also because the roads are clear. It wouldn’t have been the case if this happened at 6pm,” said the 25-year-old, who learnt about the early closures only when she boarded the train at Tanjong Pagar MRT station after having drinks with her colleagues.

Another commuter, who wanted only to be known as Wilson, said the station managers and crowd marshals were helpful in directing him and responding to his queries.

The 30-year-old was travelling towards Boon Lay after sending his girlfriend back to her home in Tanah Merah. “I remember reading about early closures in the news but it slipped my mind that it would be today,” he said.

Commuters are seen on board a shuttle bus bound for Jurong East interchange on Dec 8, 2017. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

His journey home took about one-and-a-half hours, up from the usual hour.

Some commuters like Ms Amy Tan, however, felt the crowd marshals could be better trained in providing directions. The 27-year-old, who works at a Cold Storage supermarket in Lavender, had taken service 143 from Outram to Jurong East because she was unable to locate the correct shuttle bus stop.

The pamphlets given out to commuters were also “confusing”, she said. “It says closures at 11pm, and I had taken it to mean the last train would leave the eastern most stop, Pasir Ris, at 11pm... When I reached Lavender at 11pm, there was no more train back home.”

Ms Tan, who lives at Lakeside, took more than two hours to get home on Friday – a journey that would usually take about 50 minutes.

The shortened operating hours are expected to affect about 20,000 to 30,000 commuters each day. On a typical Sunday in December, about 580,000 train trips are made along the selected 19 stations.

Rail operator SMRT announced the significant changes to operating hours after two trains collided at Joo Koon station last month. One train had two software safety features (that applied to the new signalling system operating from Joo Koon to Tuas Link) disabled, causing the train behind to move forward and hit it. The Pioneer to Pasir Ris stretch of the East West Line operates on the old signalling system.

The early closures will allow re-signalling works on the East West Line to be completed faster -- in June 2018, instead of end-2018.

       

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