DTL2, NSL disrupted by 2 separate incidents on Tuesday

SINGAPORE - Two separate incidents on MRT lines operated by SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation caused disruptions and delays for commuters today (May 3).

Earlier this morning, services on Downtown Line 2 (DTL2) were interrupted after a train applied its emergency brakes, The Straits Times reported.

The disruption is DTL2's first major breakdown since it was launched four months ago.

According to The Straits Times, a train had applied its emergency brakes at 11am, but the brakes could not be disengaged.

It took around half an hour to resolve the problem, the news website added.

SBS Transit, which operates DTL2, said that it was still investigating why the emergency brakes were applied, The Straits Times reported.

The affected train caused delays for commuters between the Bukit Panjang and Sixth Ave stations, and was eventually removed.

Affected commuters were given the option to take specially deployed buses to get to their intended destinations.

On Tuesday evening, SMRT Corporation also said that a train fault had been reported on the North South Line (NSL) at Toa Payoh station.

[embed]https://twitter.com/SMRT_Singapore/status/727434000910839808[/embed]

It said in a tweet at 5.45pm that trains were moving slower in the direction of Jurong East.

SMRT later warned commuters at 6.03pm to expect an additional traveling time of 25 minutes from Marina South Pier to Toa Payoh.

[embed]https://twitter.com/SMRT_Singapore/status/727438434608930816[/embed]

Minutes later, an update added that train services had resumed but that trains on the NSL were still "traveling at a slower speed due to earlier fault".

ljessica@sph.com.sg