Public transport operator blamed “intermittent signal interference” for the delays and disruptions on Circle Line during the morning rush hour today (2 Nov). It explained that one train stalled in the direction of Dhoby Ghaut disrupting train service between Botanic Gardens and Serangoon stations.

SMRT first Tweeted about the incident at 7.37am. It told commuters to factor in 10 minutes’ additional travelling time between Pasir Panjang and One North stations due to a signalling fault. Two minutes later it Tweeted that the fault is cleared but advised commuters to expect delays as trains and stations were crowded.

At 8.04am however, SMRT Tweeted and asked commuters to factor in 10 mins additional travelling time from Botanic Gardens to Harbour Front. It attributed the delay to signalling fault. It later updated the commuters that the delay will be a 20 minutes ones, and a few minutes afterwards, updated that the delay will be for 30 minutes.

It finally said that service is disrupted between Botanic Gardens and Marymount stations and that commuters will be provided with free bus shuttle service at 9.06am. The disruption was later extended to between Botanic Gardens and Serangoon stations. SMRT said that its engineers were investigating the signalling problem.

Facebook user Tasha Altez chided SMRT for the disruption. She said that the train moved and suddenly stopped at the Caldecott station, for almost half an hour. She said that passengers were left restless as the train doors did not open and the aircon stopped working. She claimed that a woman almost fainted from the public transport operator’s failure this morning.