Caught in a Commuter Crowd? The Near‑Stampede at Serangoon
It looks like a busy day at the subway, but for one unlucky traveler, the rush turned into a real-life drama‑thin moment. On the morning of Thursday, November 10, a commuter—aka WuyongZheng—shared a photo on Reddit that captured an almost sea of people on the platform at Serangoon MRT station.
The image sparked a chain of events the next day when SMRT pointed out that a fellow rider had already started the emergency stop signal at Bartley station. The shock? The train that morning stopped, creating a hustle and bustle that spilled over into the Platforms at nearby interchange stations.
What Went Wrong?
- Busier than normal: The morning rush was already packed, so any delay rippled across the network.
- Emergency plunger in play: The commuter who was Helping another rider who felt unwell pressed the stop lever—an action that inevitably halted the service.
- Quick but chaotic response: SMRT deployment moved from the unwell rider to crowd‑control duties to keep the platform from turning into a crush.
SMRT’s Take on the Incident
On Thursday night, the transit operator clarified, “While the staff attended to the health‑concerned commuter, we focused on directing passengers from the upper concourse to the platform level, all to prevent overcrowding.”
They also issued a friendly reminder:
“If you spot an incident on the platform, instead of pulling the stop plunger yourself, please approach the Passenger Service Centre at the concourse level. Our staff are ready to handle the situation without disrupting the train service.”
All in All…What Can Riders Do?
Besides the obvious safety steps, here are a few quick dos for the next rush hour:
- Stay calm, nobody likes a stampede.
- Use the Passenger Service Centre first.
- Keep updated through the SMRT app for real‑time train status.
In short, the bustling platform wasn’t a catastrophe, but a team effort and clear communication kept things from turning into chaos. So next time you’re squeezing onto the train, remember you’re not alone—SMRT’s got a crew on standby to keep the ride smooth!
‘A regular Thursday in Singapore’
Wuyongzheng’s Online Rant?
The Reality Check from Reddit
What Went Down at the Station
So, picture this: at a busy transit hub, an unexpected shutdown snuck up on the crew. Three minutes before the first train was slated to roll, the whole line hit a sudden brake.
The Explosion of the Front End
- The front car, the ghoul of the surge, detonated when it hit the ground.
- Everything that spun had to be dumped out fast—shifting from pure snacks to a full‑blown evacuation.
Inside the Blast
At the time, a hard cover from Fleetest gave the dash a quick glance and noticed that the force was too intense to keep the train’s driver in therapy. And guess what? The car’s power could never be fully restored even after a quick fix.
What the Staff Said
“Somebody sadly pressed the emergency stop,” one staff member later told, after talking to a redditor that claimed to be an SMRT employee. The intern said,
“Yes, perhaps we should’ve acted faster… but no one could have predicted this and pulled the lever in time.”
And that’s the update. We’re all still hoping for a smoother ride the next day.
Fined for pressing stop plunger
Train Stop Drama: One Man’s Phone Stole a Moment of Chaos
Picture this: It’s a sunny afternoon at Buona Vista MRT, commuters scrolling, earbuds on, and a phone sneaks off a hand into the track like a rogue ninja. The lucky owner, Clement Joshua Tan Teck Kim, only realized it after it sunk deep into the rails.
The Ticket to a Two‑Minute Standstill
- Kal’s phone slipped, click‑clack, into the track. He sprinted to the station staff, eyes wide, begging for help.
- Staff: “We can’t pull the train right now. We’ll pick it up tomorrow.”
- Kal: “Dad’s baby has a fever! I need to call my girlfriend now.”
- Against all advice, he shoved the emergency stop plunger.
Result? The train at Buona Vista came to a screeching halt, and commuters watched the platform freeze for two whole minutes.
When Calm Turns into a Brawl
But the chaos didn’t stop there. Kal’s frustration exploded when a security officer stepped in to keep him from causing a bigger mess. He didn’t just walk away—he punch‑faced the officer, and even gave an SMRT assistant manager a hard shove.
It’s a reminder that even small mishaps—like a lost phone—can trigger a domino effect of tension, especially when everyone’s stressed about public transport disruptions.
Keep Your Phones On Your Pocket
Lesson learned: keep your phone in your bag, not in the track. And if your baby’s fever and a mood‑boosting call are the freshest priorities, maybe avoid pressing the emergency stop. Trust us, your brochure of “do not use the emergency stop on public transport” is for a reason.
That’s the scoop. Stay tuned for next time: Power bank catches fire on a train—no safety net down at Somerset!
