Long queue for bridging service during TEL disruption, SMRT president apologises twice in 5 hours
A commuter lamented that no one was around to guide him and other commuters to the bridging bus service at Woodlands during the Thomson-East Coast Line disruption on the morning of Sept 17.
Stomper Daniel shared a brief video of the long queue for the bridging service at a bus stop some time after 8am.
"The bridging service from Woodlands had no one to guide us. No one to share what time the bus would come," said the Stomper.
"I went back to the control station and the staff also didn't know if there was no bus or no one there."
SMRT first posted on social media about the disruption at 7.29am, advising commuters to allow for an additional 15 minutes travelling time between Woodlands North and Bayshore in both directions due to a signal fault.
At 8.35am, the public transport operator posted: "Commuters looking for free regular and bridging bus services may want to look out for the yellow directional signage in the stations to the bus boarding point
"Approach our station staff if you need further assistance."
About 20 minutes later, SMRT updated that train services had resumed and the free bus services had ended.
SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai laster said in an SMRT post at 9.07am that a signalling fault had affected train services.
"To reset the system, services were suspended for about 30 minutes," added Mr Lam.
"We apologise for the disruption to your morning journey and thank you for your patience and understanding."
This was the second apology posted by Mr Lam in less than five hours.
He said in an earlier SMRT post at 4.35am on the same morning: "On Sept 16 at around 11pm, a fault in the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system caused a signalling failure, resulting in a disruption to train services between Aljunied and Tanah Merah stations on the East-West Line.
"Our staff were immediately deployed to assist commuters, and engineers were on-site to carry out rectification works.
"In-train and station announcements were made to keep commuters informed. Free regular bus services and bridging bus services were provided at designated bus stops along the affected stretch, and commuters were advised to use alternative lines where possible to continue their journeys.
"We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience and understanding."
