Train services fully resume on Circle Line after disruption caused by power fault

SINGAPORE: Train services on the Circle Line have fully resumed after a power fault caused a near two-hour disruption to scores of commuters during their evening peak hour journeys on Tuesday (Sep 17).
According to SMRT, a “momentary power fault” occurred at 5.50pm, disrupting train services in both directions. It added that the fault was resolved within 15 minutes.
“During this 15-minute period, the stalled trains did not have air-conditioning. The battery powers the ventilation fans and some lights, so it may not have been as bright,” it said.
“Our engineers restored power to the network. However, some segments of the network require trains to be safely reset. At 7.10pm, all trains were put back to service and train services are progressively resuming.”
Commuters were advised to take other lines and alternative means of transport to continue their journeys, and free regular bus services were activated. SMRT also advised commuters to add 30 minutes to their travel time.
In an update at about 7.40pm, it announced that train services had “fully resumed to normal”, and free regular buses at all Circle Line Stations had been stopped.
Describing the fault as a “traction power trip”, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement late Tuesday that 11 trains stalled in the Circle Line tunnels during the traction power outage. 
“After power was restored, SMRT staff had to manually recover these trains and all were driven to the next station by 6.30pm. Consequently, journeys were delayed by about 30 minutes,” said LTA.
It added that as part of standard operating procedure, SMRT had to manage the inflow of commuters to the stations as train services were progressively restored. This was to avoid over-crowding and ensure the safety of commuters.
“LTA will investigate into the cause of the traction power trip, and assess the adequacy of SMRT’s service recovery measures,” said the authority.
Large crowds were seen at Circle Line stations during the disruption, especially during the early stages. 
Just before 6pm, announcements were made at Circle Line stations, advising passengers to alight from trains and seek other transport options. Commuters were also stopped from tapping into the stations.
Passengers were allowed into some stations shortly after, but trains were still not moving.
A commuter at Pasir Panjang station told CNA that passengers were asked to alight from trains. 
At Holland Village station, staff announced that train services would be affected due to a power fault.
An X user also reported that the train travelling between one-north and Buona Vista had no lights and air-conditioning. A photo accompanying the post showed a packed train carriage with commuters in partial darkness.
At about 6.15pm, lights in the stationery trains at Pasir Panjang station came back on, with an announcement that services had resumed, according to a commuter.
An SMRT staff member at Buona Vista station was seen at about 6.40pm preventing commuters from heading down to the train platform, explaining that there was a train fault and “Circle Line is down”.
She directed commuters to take the East-West Line instead. Commuters were subsequently allowed to head down to the train platform about 10 minutes later.
Announcements were also made on the North-East Line at about 7pm, informing commuters that service on the Circle Line had resumed, although additional travel time could be expected.
The train disruption added about 20 minutes to Ms Felicia Ng’s daily commute home.
Ms Ng, who boarded the train at Buona Vista station at about 5.50pm, said lights on the train partially went out before passengers were told to alight at Pasir Panjang MRT station.
She waited for about 15 minutes at the station before being allowed to board the train again.
“The train stopped for a while at Labrador Park. I was worried it will be another delay. Luckily, (the train) started moving slowly after that,” said Ms Ng who eventually reached her destination – HarbourFront MRT station – at about 6.30pm.