Partial Suspension of Tuas West Extension Train Services

Tuas West Extension Suspension of Train Service (Nov 2017) - Screen
Tuas West Extension Suspension of Train Service (Nov 2017) – Screen

In the morning of 15 November 2017 at around 8:20 am, a moving train collided into the rear of a stationary train at the westbound platform of Joo Koon MRT Station, leaving at least 36 people injured. Preliminary investigations found the new CBTC signalling system to be at fault. (More incident details contained within this article)

Following the incident, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & SMRT Trains made arrangements to suspend train services between Joo Koon & Gul Circle to avoid complications involved with operating two signalling systems concurrently on the EWL.

Main Incident Article: MRT Trains Collide at Joo Koon MRT Station


Content Sections:

  1. No Train Service between Joo Koon & Gul Circle from 20 Nov 2017
  2. No Train Service between Joo Koon & Tuas Link from 16 -19 Nov 2017
  3. Planned Reduction of NSL Train Services on 16 Nov 2017 (Not carried out)
  4. Resumption of Train Service on 27 May 2018

No Train Service between Joo Koon & Gul Circle from 20 Nov 2017

Tuas West Extension Bridging Bus at Joo Koon
Tuas West Extension Bridging Bus at Joo Koon

To enable engineers to carry out further assurance checks on the new signalling system, train services between EW29 Joo Koon and EW30 Gul Circle will be suspended from Monday, 20 November 2017 till June 2018. However, train services between Tuas Link and Gul Circle continue to operate as per normal.

This arrangement is done to separate the old signalling system-equipped section between Pasir Ris and Joo Koon from the new signalling system-equipped section between Joo Koon and Tuas Link, hence no longer requiring trains to switch signalling systems at Pioneer (Tracks between Pioneer and Joo Koon can be operated on either the old or new signalling system).

From Monday, 20 November 2017 until further notice, bridging bus services were available between Joo Koon and Gul Circle MRT stations. Refer to Joo Koon—Gul Circle Free Shuttle Bus Service for further details on the Shuttle Service. The LTA added on 21 November that the arrangement is expected to continue until the East West Line re-signalling works are completed in 2018, when the entire EWL, including the TWE, can be operated on the new CBTC signalling system.

Shuttle Services are initially operated by Tower Transit, SBS Transit & a minority of SMRT Buses. In December 2017, the SMRT Buses became the anchor operator of the Shuttle Bus Service, under service “JKGC” as reflected in bus timetables. SBS Transit & Tower Transit also operates the Shuttle Service during peak hours on Weekdays.

EWL Rail Bridging Service – 20 Nov onwards
Westbound Towards EW30 Gul Circle
Eastbound Towards EW29 Joo Koon
  • Joo Koon Circle
    – Joo Koon Stn Exit B EW29
  • Tuas Rd
    – Gul Circle Stn Exit A EW30
  • Tuas Road
    – Gul Circle Stn Exit B EW30
  • Joo Koon Circle
    – Joo Koon Stn Exit B EW29

Commuters may alternatively rely on existing bus services at Joo Koon to reach the Tuas Industrial Area. Refer to Joo Koon—Gul Circle Free Shuttle Bus Service for further details on the Shuttle Service.


No Train Service between Joo Koon & Tuas Link from 16 -19 Nov 2017

Train Service between Joo Koon & Tuas Link were suspended entirely from Thursday, 16 November 2017 to Sunday, 19 November 2017 for Thales engineers to carry out detailed assurance checks on the new signalling system. As such, all Westbound trains terminated at Joo Koon and no trains proceeded towards Tuas Link.

Details (Click to expand)

Under normal operating conditions, trains operate with CBTC Signalling System between Pioneer and Tuas Link. With the suspended train service, trains will operate on the legacy fixed-block Westinghouse signalling system between Pioneer and Joo Koon.

Tuas West Extension Bridging Bus at Joo Koon
Tuas West Extension Bridging Bus at Joo Koon

The following MRT Stations are affected by the suspended train service:

A free Bus Bridging service was provided at the following Bus Stops, serving the affected MRT Stations:

EWL Rail Bridging Service: 16 – 19 Nov 2017
Westbound Towards EW33 Tuas Link Eastbound Towards EW29 Joo Koon
  • Joo Koon Circle
    – Joo Koon Stn Exit B EW29
  • Tuas Rd
    – Gul Circle Stn Exit A EW30
  • Pioneer Rd
    – Tuas Cres Stn Exit A EW31
    – Tuas West Rd Stn Exit A EW32
  • Tuas West Dr
    – Tuas Lk Stn EW33
  • Tuas West Dr
    – Opp Tuas Lk Stn EW33
  • Pioneer Rd
    – Tuas West Rd Stn Exit B EW32
    – Tuas Cres Stn Exit B EW31
  • Tuas Road
    – Gul Circle Stn Exit B EW30
  • Joo Koon Circle
    – Joo Koon Stn Exit B EW29

This free bridging bus service was reflected as Service 602 in the Trapeze CFMS System.

The LTA announced that 33 buses from SMRT Buses, SBS Transit and Tower Transit were deployed on the Free Bridging Bus service on 16 November. This is the first occasion where Tower Transit contributed resources to running a Rail Bridging Service under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM). In addition, several bus trips were added to key trunk services in Tuas to better serve commuters in the area.

See also: East West Line Rail Bridging Bus Service


Planned Reduction of NSL Train Services on 16 Nov 2017

As a precautionary measure, there were plans to operate the North South Line (NSL) with a reduced number of trains on 16 November 2017 for safety reasons. Commuters were advised of potential delays and a bus bridging service to supplement the NSL was planned. These arrangements were never carried out.

Details (Click to expand)

In the wake of the 15 November 2017 train collision, there were plans to operate the NSL with a reduced number of trains on 16 November 2017. This was a precautionary measure to prevent a similar incident on the NSL, as it is operated using the new CBTC signalling system.

However, at 0444hrs, SMRT posted a tweet on their official Twitter account, stating that the North South Line is operating normally. As such, the following free bus boarding and free bus bridging services were not activated on 16 Nov 2017.

Commuters were advised to expect 40 minutes additional travelling time. Free one-way Bus Bridging services and free two-way regular bus services were planned to be provided at the following Bus Stops near the following NSL Stations.

NSL Rail Bridging Service (Planned) – 16 Nov 2017 from Yishun to Marina South Pier
Southbound towards NS28 Marina South Pier
NS13 Yishun Yishun Ctrl 59009 – Yishun Temp Int
(Berth 4)
NS14 Khatib Yishun Ave 2 59049 – Opp Khatib Stn
NS15 Yio Chu Kang Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 55189 – Yio Chu Kang Stn
NS16 Ang Mo Kio Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 54399 – Ang Mo Kio Stn
NS17CC15 Bishan Bishan Rd 53231 – Bishan Stn
NS18 Braddell Lor 1 Toa Payoh 52179 – Braddell Stn/Blk 106
NS19 Toa Payoh Lor 2 Toa Payoh 52189 – Toa Payoh Stn
NS20 Novena Thomson Rd 50037 – Novena Stn Exit B
NS21DT11 Newton Scotts Rd 40189 – Newton Stn Exit B
NS22 Orchard Orchard Rd 09047 – Orchard Stn/Tang Plaza
NS23 Somerset Orchard Rd 09038 – Opp Somerset Stn
NS24NE6CC1 Dhoby Ghaut Orchard Rd 08057 – Dhoby Ghaut Stn
NS25EW13 City Hall North Bridge Rd 04167 – City Hall Stn Exit B
NS26EW14 Raffles Place Collyer Quay 03019 – OUE Bayfront
NS27CE2 Marina Bay Marina Blvd 03391 – Marina Bay Financial Ctr
NS28 Marina South Pier Marina Coastal Dr 03419 – Marina South Pier

See also: North South Line Rail Bridging Bus Service


Resumption of Train Service from 27 May 2018

As part of the East West Line CBTC Signalling Trials in 2018, train service between Joo Koon and Tuas Link will resume on Sundays between 29 April 2018 and 27 May 2018, during which the Free Shuttle Service will not operate.

On 28 May 2018, weekday trials for the new signalling system began, in which the Shuttle Service ceased to operate as train service between Joo Koon and Gul Circle had resumed.


Gallery


External Links & References:

One thought on “Partial Suspension of Tuas West Extension Train Services

  • 19 November 2017 at 11:46 PM
    Permalink

    They should continue having free bus services from Tuas Link to Joo Koon Stations from 20 November 2017. Going to be so inconvenient just to get to work in Tuas. Need transfer from train to bus at Joo Koon, then back to train at Gul Circle, then bus again at Tuas West Road Station and Tuas Crescent Station.

    Reply

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