EWL Train Disruption due to Power Fault (Sep 2024)

On 25 September 2024, a major train disruption occurred on the East West Line (EWL).

The disruption started at around 9.25am when train service between EW19 Queenstown & EW27 Boon Lay were disrupted due to a Power Fault.

Partial resumption of EWL train service started later that day at around 4.42pm, using shuttle trains along two sectors: between EW19 Queenstown & EW21CC22 Buona Vista, as well as between EW27 Boon Lay and EW24NS1 Jurong East.

[Latest Update – 2153hrs / 26 Sep 2024]

EWL train service between EW21CC22 Buona Vista & EW24NS1 Jurong East will continue to be disrupted on Friday, 27 September 2024. SMRT is aiming to restore full service on Monday 30 September.

Timeline – 25 September 2024

• Around 0900hrs – a first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train developed a fault while travelling eastbound on EWL near Clementi station. SMRT detrained passengers at Clementi station, and proceeded to withdraw the train towards Ulu Pandan depot.
  [As per LTA Facebook Post @ 1445hrs / 25 Sep 2024]
• At 0925hrs – a power trip was detected while the train was being withdrawn, causing trains on the EWL between Queenstown and Boon Lay stations to stall.
  This was later attributed to a defective train axle box on a first-generation train which dropped and caused the wheels of a bogie to come off the running rail and hit track equipment, including the third rail and point machines, leading to the power fault.
  [As per LTA Facebook Post @ 1445hrs / 25 Sep 2024]
  
• 0928hrs – free regular bus services activated at affected stations between Boon Lay and Queenstown.
• 0946hrs – free bridging bus services activated at affected stations between Boon Lay and Queenstown.
• 0952hrs – SMRT informs commuters via its official social media platforms (Facebook / X, formerly Twitter) that there is no train service between Boon Lay and Queenstown due to a traction power fault and that free regular bus services are available between Boon Lay and Queenstown.
• 0956hrs – SMRT informs commuters via its official social media platforms that free bridging bus services & free regular bus services are available between Boon Lay and Queenstown.
• 1443hrs – Announcement on SMRT official social media platforms that shuttle train services at 10 mins interval between Queenstown and Buona Vista as well as between Boon Lay and Jurong East will begin at 5pm till end of service
• 1642hrs – Train service disruption revised to be between Jurong East and Buona Vista
• 2000hrs – Free bridging bus services revised to operated only between Jurong East and Buona Vista
• 2120hrs – Announcement on SMRT official social media platforms that train service between Jurong East and Buona Vista will continue to be disrupted on 26 Sep 2024 as engineers will be working through the night and throughout the next day (26 Sep) to restore service on the affected sector where point machines and the third rail have been damaged.

The affected train was trainset 065/066, a first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151 train. One bogie of Car 2065 had derailed near Ulu Pandan Train Depot.

LTA & SMRT Update (26 Sep 2024)

LTA and SMRT have also conducted thorough checks, and all Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains put in service on 26 Sep have passed the Axle Box functionality checks.

They initially were working towards partial restoration of train services on Friday, 27 September 2024 with a single line train shuttle service at 20 minutes intervals between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations.

However, in an update by SMRT at 9:53pm that night, train service will not be resumed between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations on 27 September 2024. SMRT had tried their best to make the single line train shuttle service option work by expediting the repairs on one of the tracks. They have since determined that it can be done, but it would mean slowing down the repairs on the parallel damaged rail as repairs cannot be done when the shuttle train service is in operation.

On balance, SMRT said it is better to prioritise repair and expedite restoring full service earlier, rather than run a 20-minute shuttle between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations.
SMRT is aiming to restore full service on Monday 30 September, and running the shuttle train could risk delaying full restoration by at least a few days.

Affected MRT Stations

• EW19 Queenstown
• EW20 Commonwealth
• EW21CC22 Buona Vista
• EW22 Dover
• EW23 Clementi
• EW24NS1 Jurong East
• EW25 Chinese Garden
• EW26 Lakeside
• EW27 Boon Lay

Modified EWL Train Services

Wed 25 Sep 2024

From around 9:25am to before 5:00pm:

• No EWL train service between EW19 Queenstown & EW27 Boon Lay

After 5:00pm to end of service:

• No EWL train service between EW21CC22 Buona Vista & EW24NS1 Jurong East
• Shuttle train service commenced at about 5:00pm, operating at 10 mins interval between:
  EW27 Boon Lay – EW24NS1 Jurong East &
  EW21CC22 Buona Vista – EW19 Queenstown
  (Last shuttle train from Boon Lay connecting to last eastbound train at Queenstown departs at 2249hrs;
  Last shuttle train from Queenstown connecting to last westbound train at Boon Lay departs at 2325hrs)
  

Thu 26 Sep 2024 & Fri 27 Sep 2024

From start of service to end of service:

• No EWL train service between EW21CC22 Buona Vista & EW24NS1 Jurong East
• Shuttle train service, operating at 10 mins interval between:
  EW27 Boon Lay – EW24NS1 Jurong East &
  EW21CC22 Buona Vista – EW19 Queenstown

Bridging Buses & Free Regular Buses

Wed 25 Sep 2024

Free Regular Bus Services & EWL Bridging Buses were activated between EW19 Queenstown and EW27 Boon Lay stations at 0928hrs & 0946hrs respectively.

Bridging buses were operated by Tower Transit between Boon Lay & Buona Vista, while SBS Transit operated between Boon Lay & Queenstown. Later in the evening, Tower Transit bridging buses were no longer observed to be running, while SMRT Buses also operated the bridging bus service between Boon Lay & Queenstown.

At 2000hrs, the free bridging bus service was revised to operate only between EW24NS1 Jurong East & EW21CC22 Buona Vista.

Thu 26 Sep 2024 & Fri 27 Sep 2024

For Thursday, 26 September 2024 & Friday, 27 September 2024

• Free Regular Bus Services will be available between EW19 Queenstown and EW27 Boon Lay
• Free Bridging Bus Services (EWL Bridging Buses) will be available between EW24NS1 Jurong East & EW21CC22 Buona Vista

Gallery

References

• Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & SMRT – Update on East-West Line Recovery Works – Land Transport Authority
• LTA Facebook Posts – [1], [2]
• SMRT Facebook Posts – [1], [2], [3], [4]
• Shuttle MRT services from 5pm between Buona Vista and Queenstown, Jurong East and Boon Lay – The Straits Times
• No train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations in both directions on Sept 26: SMRT – The Straits Times