Straits Times finds commuters who dismiss train disruptions as “not bad” amidst massive rail breakdown

After a flooded MRT tunnel and trackside fire caused a massive train disruption on the North-South Line (NSL) yesterday and today, the Straits Times interviewed commuters who dismissed the breakdown as “not bad.”

A commuter, Dr Jeremy Chan who was commuting from Braddell to Serangoon yesterday said that he was not upset and that it was usual to have delays.

Another commuter, 33-year-old commodity manager Tan Yean Shi told the newspaper that although the disruptions were “a bit troublesome,” she was not upset because it was normal to have delays. She said the situation was “not bad.”

Ms Tan also complimented the MRT staff who were assisting the affected commuters inside and outside the stations.

ST’s report of the incidents was also headlined “More rain expected in many areas today,” and did not highlight the failure of the train system. Other publications in contrast rightly pointed to the two incidents which caused the massive failure yesterday evening, which lasted until this morning.

SMRT reported yesterday that water got into a section of the tunnel from Bishan to Braddell MRT stations during the heavy downpour in the afternoon, and that as a result train services were stopped between Bishan and Toa Payoh stations at about 5.30pm as a precaution.

In a separate incident, a small fire was spotted trackside in the tunnel between Marina Bay and Raffles Place MRT stations at 5.55pm on the same day.

Commuters who commented about the incident on TODAY’s Facebook however contradicted the commuters interviewed by ST.

Mahesh Shelke commented on TODAY’s report of the incident in their Facebook and said: “I suffered as well due to this disruption and still have not reached halfway to my destination. Saw many commuters especially child and elders found difficulty at bus stop to board bus due to huge crowd. I strongly feel that alternative MRT system should b build up. As a developed nation how u feel the tourist and daily commuters stranded due to inability to foresee or plan the alternative rail network by our administrators?”

Other commuters vented their anger at Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

Mary Tan said: “Please sack the people action party transport minister khaw boon wan as he failed his ministry very badly until the world have looked down on singapore. Is that the main reason why china choose malacca instead of singapore to build a billion dollars harbour? If continue to breakdown ,will all investors start to leave singapore as they give up people action party minister failures with multiple breakdown in the future?”

Weng Zhe Yu: “Flooded tunnels considered part of signal testing right Mr Kbw? Very impressive to have this scenario covered in ur Testing as well. No wonder u r paid millions.”

Pictures of how flooding kept trains at bay is circulating in social media.

Train services along the North-South Line (NSL) from Ang Mo Kio to Newton resumed at 1.50pm today.