Service disruptions abounded on the Downtown Line for most of the day today. If that’s not enough, disgruntled commuters also grew even more frustrated as network operator SBS Transit broadcast what commuters feel are misleading announcements on how much additional travel time they must include in their train journeys.
The disruptions began during rush hour this morning as a signal fault caused train service towards Expo and Bukit Panjang stations to be delayed. Later in the day, a signal fault disrupted services between Bugis and Chinatown in both directions.
SBS Transit deployed buses to help ferry inconvenienced customers between stations. It also informed commuters to add 15 minutes additional travel time to reach their destinations of they are travelling between the affected stations.
Commuters, however, found that there were delays of about 15 minutes at each station, instead of a total travel time delay of 15 minutes. Many reported reaching their destinations an hour later than expected, instead of 15 minutes later than usual:
It took me a grand total of 1h20min to reach Bugis from tamp today on the downtown line ?
— Iris Lim (@eye_ris13) March 1, 2018
https://theindependent.sg.sg/commuters-lash-out-at-smrt-for-remaining-conspicuously-silent-about-latest-train-service-disruption/
https://theindependent.sg.sg/14-ride-costs-42-grab-prices-surge-even-after-technical-glitch-causes-grabpay-credits-to-disappear-from-customers-accounts/