The Morning Train Delays on Singapore’s East-West Line After an Accident
On Wednesday morning, commuters on the East‑West Line were met with a surprise delay between Gul Circle and Boon Lay. The cause? A staff member lost his foot on a maintenance pass while working near Joo Koon MRT station.
Key facts
- Time of incident: ~4 : 10 am, Joo Koon station area.
- Immediate response: Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) dispatched an ambulance.
- Outcome: The employee, a man in his 50s, was conscious and taken to National University Hospital for treatment.
- Service resume: The line finally recommenced at 6 : 20 am after thorough track checks.
What Happened? (A Quick Timeline)
- 4 : 10 am – Foot injury during track maintenance.
- 4 : 20 am – SCDF arrival and ambulance transport.
- 4 : 59 am – SMRT first tweet announcing the disruption.
- 5 : 20 am – Additional tweet detailing the accident and offering bus services.
- 5 : 30 am – Engineers and ops teams perform full track inspection.
- 6 : 20 am – Trains back on track, service resumes.
SMRT’s Take
SMRT made it clear that workplace safety is paramount. They promised a full investigation and offered apologies to those affected by the morning delay.
Impact on Commute
The usual start times on the line were affected:
- From Boon Lay to Gul Circle (toward Tuas Link): normally 5 : 21 am on weekdays.
- From Gul Circle to Boon Lay (toward Pasir Ris): normally 5 : 26 am.
Passengers were advised to take free regular or bridging bus services while the tracks were inspected.
Note on Publication
This article was originally published in The Straits Times. Permission is required for reproduction. The rewrite is for educational / personal use only.
