'LRT got (deflated) tyre meh?' asks netizen after train breakdown in Bukit Panjang
Train service between Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang LRT stations resumed on Oct 23 morning after overnight repairs.
SMRT said in a Facebook post on 22 Oct at about 5.20pm, a train was immobilised near Teck Whye station.
"All commuters in the defective train were safely disembarked at Teck Whye station platform," said the public transport operator.
"To move the faulty train, a rescue train had to be deployed to move it to the depot. However, the rescue train was unable to successfully move the faulty train."
SMRT later explained what happened.
"While en route, a tyre on the faulty train deflated, causing the train to sag on one end. This led to a bar underneath the carriage to make contact with the power rail," said the company.
"To prevent further damage to both the train and the power rail, we will jack up the train, replace the deflated tyre, and restore the train to its correct height before hauling it back to the depot tonight."
SMRT updated in the morning: "During the overnight recovery, our engineers conducted investigations and found that the rescue train was a good functioning train. It was unable to move because of the deflated tyre from the faulty train."
This led to someone on Reddit to ask: "LRT got (deflated) tyre meh?"
The Redditor said he thought LRT train run on metal wheels similar to "proper trains"?
Another Redditor replied: "If you've taken LRT before, it's quite obvious they are rubber tyres since they're even viewable from the sides and not hidden like MRT."
Someone else said: "They aren't real trains that run on tracks. If you go and see any LRT rail, there won't even be the actual railroad tracks. It's just two concrete paths for the tyres to run on."
Opened in 1999, the Bukit Panjang LRT line runs on a rubber-tyre system to minimise operating noise in the built-up area.
