Bukit Panjang LRT services affected due to train fault; ‘rescue’ train also stalled

SINGAPORE: Train services along the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (LRT) line were disrupted on Tuesday evening (Oct 22) due to a train fault. 
Transport operator SMRT said a train was “immobilised” near Teck Whye station at about 5.20pm. 
“All commuters in the defective train were safely disembarked at Teck Whye station platform,” it said in a Facebook post. 
“To move the faulty train, a rescue train had to be deployed to move it to the depot. While on its way back to the depot, the rescue train also stalled.”
In an update on Facebook at 9.55pm, SMRT said that had to end passenger service at 10pm for urgent repair works. 
“Our engineers have assessed the situation. We need to end passenger service earlier at 10pm between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang stations for urgent repair works.
“Train service on the loop side between Bukit Panjang and Senja stations remain available via Service B,” it said. 
Free regular bus services between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang will also be available throughout the rest of Tuesday evening, added SMRT. 
In an update on Facebook at about 11.45pm, SMRT said staff had begun operations to haul the faulty train back to the depot after all commuters safely got off at Teck Whye station.
“While en route, a tyre on the faulty train deflated, causing the train to sag on one end. This led to a bar underneath the carriage to make contact with the power rail,” it added.
“To prevent further damage to both the train and the power rail, we will jack up the train, replace the deflated tyre, and restore the train to its correct height before hauling it back to the depot tonight.”
It added that engineers and technicians will work through the night to restore services as soon as possible.
A CNA reader, who asked to be known only as Kannan, said he was near Teck Whye LRT station around 5.15pm when he heard a loud noise. 
Thinking it was a car accident initially, he later realised that an LRT train had stalled at the station. He said he saw passengers being evacuated from the train before workers attempted to move the four-car train.
SMRT had to deal with a major disruption in September when train services along a section of the East-West Line were unavailable after extensive damage to the tracks and other equipment, caused by a faulty train near Clementi MRT station. 
Normal train services along the line only resumed after six days. The Land Transport Authority launched a probe into the incident in early October and said the findings would be publicised. 
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