A signalling fault at Orchard station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) caused a disruption of train services between Napier and Great World stations on the morning of 1 July, significantly affecting early morning commuters heading towards the city area.
According to SMRT’s series of Facebook updates, the issue began before 6.17am. At that time, SMRT announced that due to a signal fault, commuters should allow for an additional 30 minutes of travelling time from Caldecott to Bayshore stations. There was also no train service operating between Napier and Great World stations.
At 6.40am, SMRT updated that the additional travel time advisory applied specifically to the stretch between Caldecott and Gardens by the Bay stations. The operator confirmed that free regular bus services and bridging buses were available at both Caldecott and Gardens by the Bay stations to help manage commuter flow.
By 6.59am, SMRT further advised passengers to consider using alternate MRT lines to reach the city area, reiterating the availability of free buses between Caldecott and Gardens by the Bay.
At 7.23am, SMRT maintained its advisory for commuters to allow for an additional 30 minutes of travel time between Caldecott and Gardens by the Bay. It also confirmed that train services remained unavailable between Napier and Great World stations and that the free bus services were still in place.
Orchard station, located strategically between Napier and Great World stations, serves as an important node for commuters travelling to Singapore’s central areas. The disruption came at the start of the morning peak period, likely affecting many workers and students.
The Thomson-East Coast Line, operated by SMRT, has been progressively opened since 2020. It serves as a major connector from the northern and eastern regions to the central business district and other key city locations.
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