On the morning of 23 April 2025, Singapore’s East-West Line (EWL) experienced a disruption following a track point failure between Pasir Ris and Tampines stations.
The fault, which occurred at around 6.20am, caused a delay of over two hours before train services returned to normal by 9am, according to train operator SMRT.
A track point is a crucial component of the railway system, helping to control train movements at rail junctions.
When a point machine fails, it impacts the safe switching of trains between tracks, making it essential for such systems to operate smoothly to avoid delays.
SMRT said the team responded swiftly to resolve the issue.
Despite the fault, train services on other parts of the East-West Line continued as scheduled.
To support commuters affected by the disruption, SMRT deployed shuttle trains between Pasir Ris and Tampines, adding around 10 minutes to travel time.
Free regular bus services were also arranged to help alleviate congestion between the two stations.
At 8.57am, SMRT confirmed that the fault had been cleared and that train services were progressively returning to normal.
The free bus services were discontinued, and no further delays were reported.
Commuters had already been advised earlier on to expect up to 10 minutes of additional travel time between the two stations.
Social media and online platforms saw several commuters sharing their experiences of the morning’s chaos.
Some reported long wait times at stations, with one commuter mentioning they had to wait from 6.28am to 6.45am at Tampines before boarding a westbound train.
There was also confusion at Pasir Ris Station, where commuters were initially informed of shuttle bus services, only to later be told there were no buses available. This led to frustration, with some passengers venting their dissatisfaction on SMRT’s Facebook page.
One user criticised the inconsistency of service information, claiming that announcements were confusing and contradictory.
Initially, trains were said to arrive in a few minutes, only for subsequent announcements to extend the wait time. The commuter expressed frustration at the lack of clear communication and urged SMRT to improve their contingency plans, particularly in deploying shuttle buses to minimise delays.
In response, SMRT apologised for the inconvenience caused and assured commuters that steps would be taken to improve communication in the future.
This is not the first instance of disruptions affecting the East-West Line, which remains one of Singapore’s oldest and busiest MRT lines.
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