28-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) The East-West Line (EWL) train service disruption, which has plagued the city-state for four days, appears to be nearing its conclusion. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT have reported substantial progress in their round-the-clock efforts to restore normal operations, potentially ending the disruption within the initially projected five-day timeframe.
As of Saturday evening, SMRT announced via social media that the restoration work on the damaged rails has been “fully completed”. This crucial milestone involved the successful recovery and functionality testing of three track point machines and associated trackside equipment. Additionally, the power rails, which had sustained damage, have been entirely replaced.
The favourable weather conditions on Saturday allowed work teams to make significant strides in replacing the cracked rails. SMRT and LTA crews have been working tirelessly between Clementi and Dover stations to replace a staggering 1.6km of damaged track. The LTA confirmed that heavy rail delivery work has been completed, marking a pivotal step towards full service restoration.
Despite the completion of physical repairs, SMRT has emphasised the need for a full day of comprehensive system functional and safety tests on Sunday. These rigorous checks will encompass tracks, power supply, and train signalling systems. Test runs at varying speeds will also be conducted to ensure smooth operations across all affected areas.
SMRT maintains its aim to restore full service by Monday, 30 September, pending the successful completion of these safety protocols. The transport operator has expressed gratitude for the public’s patience during this challenging period.
To mitigate the inconvenience caused by the disruption, free regular and bridging bus services will continue to operate between Jurong East and Buona Vista in both directions throughout Sunday. These services will be supplemented by shuttle train services running at 10-minute intervals from Boon Lay to Jurong East and from Buona Vista to Queenstown.
It’s worth noting that the initially planned shuttle train service between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations has been cancelled to avoid potential delays in restoring full service.
This disruption, which began on Wednesday morning due to a defective train causing a power fault near Clementi station, has been one of Singapore’s longest MRT breakdowns in recent memory. The incident resulted in extensive damage to the tracks, necessitating this large-scale repair operation.
