Investigations Underway for 3 Thomson-East Coast Line Disruptions
Singapore authorities are currently conducting detailed investigations into three recent disruptions that have plagued the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) over the past week. Transport operator SMRT, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and French train manufacturer Alstom are working together to determine the root causes of these incidents, which occurred on December 27, December 29, and January 2, respectively.
Deciphering the Root Causes
The disruptions on the TEL have caused significant inconvenience to commuters, prompting engineers to delve into the specifics of each incident. On December 27, a signalling fault triggered multiple trains to receive stop commands, leading to manual operation at a reduced speed of 18kph after system resets. This resulted in intermittent stoppages lasting over 2.5 hours and causing delays of up to 15 minutes for passengers.
The following incident on December 29 involved a train experiencing intermittent brake faults upon departure from a station. This issue necessitated the manual operation of the train at a reduced speed of 18kph, causing a 15-minute delay for commuters traveling from Bayshore to Woodlands North.
The most recent disruption on January 2 saw a train activating the emergency brake system as it approached Orchard MRT station, requiring manual operation. Passengers were advised to allocate an additional 10 minutes for their journey between Caldecott and Bayshore MRT stations due to a train fault, which was resolved within 30 minutes.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Plans
Despite the challenges posed by these disruptions, SMRT has assured the public that train services continued to operate in both directions throughout all three incidents. Investigations into the root causes of these disruptions are still ongoing, with the possibility of component faults being explored in the preliminary findings.
Looking ahead, the completion of the fifth stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line – connecting Bayshore and Sungei Bedok – is slated for 2026. Additionally, plans are in place for an extension to link the TEL to Changi Airport, expected to be completed in the mid-2030s alongside the opening of Terminal 5.
Stay tuned for further updates as authorities work diligently to address and prevent future disruptions on the Thomson-East Coast Line.