SINGAPORE: Commuters were confronted with a daunting sight this Monday morning, September 30, as reports surfaced of a long queue snaking from the Boon Lay MRT station into the adjoining bus interchange. One concerned local Reddit user took to social media to alert fellow commuters, suggesting they reconsider using the rail system due to the extensive waiting times.

According to this user, those hoping to catch their trains faced a wait of at least one hour, with a picture illustrating the lengthy line making its rounds online, drawing attention to how this situation sharply contrasts with recent days.

"The queue starts at the MRT and extends into the bus interchange. Expect to wait between 1 to 1.5 hours to reach the gantry. It’s best to avoid the MRT for now; conditions will worsen during peak hours," the user cautioned.

With disruptions beginning last Wednesday on the East-West Line—triggered by a malfunction in a KHI train that had been in service for over 35 years—commuters have faced increasing difficulties. The incident, which caused smoke to be emitted and resulted in damage to power cables, led to significant service interruptions and necessitated shuttle trains and bus services to assist stranded passengers.

Although initial reports indicated that train services would resume fully this morning, SMRT announced that additional time was required to ensure passenger safety. As a result, the resumption has been rescheduled for October 1 (Tuesday).

Frustration was palpable among commuters. One Reddit user, stuck in the lengthy queue, lamented, "I’m here. The queue is really insane. I don’t understand why the train frequency is only once every 7 minutes," while another shared a similar plight, indicating that the line had looped around the bus interchange, extending outside the MRT station.

With rain adding to the chaos, it's no wonder discontent is growing. “I took the bus but got stuck at Beauty World,” noted one user, demonstrating how even alternative transportation methods are now affected.

Citizens are urged to remain patient as the transportation authority works to resolve these issues. This situation serves as a wake-up call for improvements in public transport efficiency, especially for major routes like the East-West Line, which is crucial for many commuters in the region.