Train Service Resumes on Thomson-East Coast Line after 3-hour Disruption

“Thomson-East Coast Line – Due to a signaling fault, there is no train service between Woodlands North and Caldecott stations. Free public bus services are available at the designated bus stops between Woodlands and Caldecott stations.” (Images: Screengrab from Train Service Status page on SGTrains.com & SGTrains File)

Train services on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) were disrupted for over three hours on Wednesday morning (Jul 6).

Signalling Fault affected entire Thomson-East Coast Line

No train service in both directions during morning peak hours

“15 minutes additional travelling time to Caldecott and Woodlands North” shown on Mayflower MRT station platform screens. (Image: Naima Khing/Facebook)

SMRT said there were no train services in both directions between Woodlands North and Caldecott MRT stations on the TEL due to a signalling system fault.

The signalling system is an integral part of any train line as it is used to route rail traffic to the correct tracks and platforms and to keep trains at a safe distance from each other.

The disruption in train services began at around 8:05am, and engineers from SMRT, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Alstom, which supplied TEL’s signalling system, were activated “within five minutes”.

19 trains were affected, with six trains stalled in-between stations

Image: Louis Cross/Facebook via Complaint Singapore

Commuters on board 13 of the 19 affected MRT trains were safely disembarked within 10 minutes, whereas commuters on the six trains in-between stations were disembarked by 8:50am at their nearest stations.

The rail operator said the affected trains had full lighting and ventilation available and added that no commuters required medical assistance.

“Our staff were on the stalled trains to assist affected commuters,” the rail operator added, despite the fact that the TEL trains are capable of fully automated operations and can run without any train attendant on board.

Free regular and bridging bus services were available, commuters advised to use alternative modes of transport

A free bridging bus deployed at Upper Thomson Exit 2 bus stop. (Image: SMRT/Facebook)

SMRT said commuters were advised through in-train and station announcements to take alternative modes of transport.

It includes travelling along the North-South Line (NSL) and the Circle Line (CCL).

Free regular and bridging bus services were available between the nine-station stretch of Woodlands North and Caldecott MRT stations.

“Our staff was also at hand to help affected passengers at all stations,” SMRT said.

Investigation into the cause of the incident is currently underway

Engineers restored the signalling system to its operational state, and train services progressively resumed from 11:20am, around three hours later.

SMRT, together with LTA and the signalling system supplier Alstom, are investigating the root cause of the incident.

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Related Links
Signalling Systems – SGTrains
Thomson-East Coast Line – SGTrains
Train Service Status – SGTrains

External Links
“At about 8.05am today, due to a signal-related fault, there were no train services in both directions between Woodlands North and Caldecott MRT station.” – SMRT/Facebook [Accessed 06 Jul 2022]
Train services resume on Thomson-East Coast Line after more than 3-hour disruption – CNA [Accessed 06 Jul 2022]
Train service resumes on Thomson-East Coast Line after 3½ hour disruption – ST [Accessed 06 Jul 2022]

Images by Screengrab from Train Service Status page on SGTrains.com, SGTrains File, Naima Khing/Facebook, Louis Cross/Facebook via Complaint Singapore and SMRT/Facebook
This article first appeared on SGTrains.