Unexpectedly Tardy Trains on Singapore’s Thomson‑East Coast Line
The morning rush at Woodlands North and Caldecott on the Thomson‑East Coast Line (TEL) took on a whole new meaning yesterday (April 27). A track‑signal glitch nudged trains into slow‑motion, forcing commuters to end up in what felt more like a time warp than a commuter journey.
What Went Wrong?
SMRT, the operator, got the first tweet up at 7:31 am: “Due to a track signal fault, trains are moving slower between Woodlands North and Caldecott in both directions.” The fault, localized between the two stations, sparked a domino effect.
Morning Mayhem
- At 8:45 am, Woodlands North’s gantries shut down, leaving the station a bit more exclusive than usual.
- Passengers were directed to hop onto the free bus bridge to Caldecott, with a shout‑out to add roughly 25 minutes to their trip.
- One weary commuter told The Straits Times she spent a full 30 minutes traveling from Woodlands to Woodlands North—a trip that typically clocks in at a mere two minutes. Talk about taking a scenic route!
Recovery Efforts
SMRT kept the tweets coming. By 9:01 am, they announced that the service was “progressively recovering.” A quick update later at 9:09 am welcomed everyone back to “normal” speeds. On Facebook, the operator clarified the issue began around 6:30 am, noting, “Our engineers were immediately activated and working to rectify the fault.”
Stuck in the Train Circus
About 50 passengers found themselves aboard a stalled train between the stations. They disembarked safely at Woodlands at around 8:10 am. SMRT reassured that full lighting and ventilation were on hand—turning what could have felt like a skid into a relatively comfortable detour.
Apology Overload
The company issued several apologies across social media: “We are sorry for affecting your commute.” You can still view the original tweet here, but we’re all about keeping the story in beautiful plain English.
Disclaimer: The original story was first released by The Straits Times. Reproduction of the text itself requires permission.
