SINGAPORE: Commuters faced significant upheaval on the East-West Line on Wednesday, September 25, when MRT services were suspended between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations beginning at approximately 9:30 AM.

A total of nine stations were impacted: Boon Lay, Lakeside, Chinese Garden, Jurong East, Clementi, Dover, Buona Vista, Commonwealth, and Queenstown. Long queues formed as frustrated commuters awaited alternate transportation provided by bridging buses.

The disruption originated from a power trip caused by a train returning to the Ulu Pandan depot just before 9:30 AM. Eyewitness reports indicated smoke coming from a train arriving at Clementi station. Approximately 850 passengers were safely evacuated from the stalled train and led back to the station platform by staff members.

SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) first reported the service disruption at 9:52 AM, initially citing a "traction power fault," but later classified the incident as a "train fault." They advised commuters traveling to Jurong East to board connecting bus services available at Boon Lay and continue their journeys on the North-South Line.

Many passengers faced confusion as they attempted to navigate the situation. One commuter at Buona Vista MRT station found that there was no service to Pasir Ris, and passengers headed for Tuas Link were instructed to disembark and take shuttle buses instead.

SMRT personnel were present to answer inquiries, and loudspeakers announced bus arrivals, although the lack of clear communication led to visible frustration among passengers. One commuter expressed his anger vocally upon learning his shuttle bus would terminate unexpectedly, while another had a heated exchange with staff about finding an alternate route to Raffles Place.

Heavy rainfall added to the chaos, as shuttle buses departing from Buona Vista were overwhelmed with commuters, many standing due to the packed conditions. A 70-year-old commuter voiced his dismay about the situation, describing it as "totally unacceptable," especially considering his mobility challenges. This disruption was his first encounter with MRT service issues, and he criticized SMRT for not providing more direct shuttle services to nearby stations.

Reports of people being asked to alight at Queenstown station began circulating, further adding to the confusion. Iliyas Juanda, 27, was also caught in the disruption, as his train halted at 9:45 AM with no clear crowd control at Tanjong Pagar station. Although the situation improved with the arrival of Traffic Police, the persistent rain exacerbated the woes of commuters.

As the debacle continued, many commuters took to social media to voice their frustrations regarding the lack of bridging bus services, with some expressing that they waited too long for buses at specific stations. In response to complaints, SMRT clarified on Facebook that regular buses were available for free, yet several passengers reported confusion among bus operators regarding the disruption, leading to difficulties in communication about boarding procedures.

Officials from the Ministry of Transport are expected to provide further updates on the situation, with many commuters demanding better contingency measures and clearer communication to prevent such chaos in the future. As rush hour approached and rain continued to fall, the alertness of commuters became crucial in navigating the unprecedented disruption.