1. LTA and SMRT engineers have worked through the night, and found extensive damage to the track and trackside equipment. Investigations revealed that a defective train axle box on the train dropped, causing one bogie to come off the running rail between Dover and Clementi stations. From the overnight checks, we found a total of 34 rail breaks across 1.6km of tracks between Clementi and Dover stations, and damage to three point machines which are used to divert the train to different tracks; the third rail which supplies power; as well as power cables and rail clips.
2. SMRT engineers and technicians have worked continuously since yesterday to restore and replace the track and trackside equipment; and works are ongoing (see Annex for pictures). LTA and SMRT have also conducted thorough checks, and all Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains put in service today have passed the Axle Box functionality checks.
3. Our priority is to ensure that commuters can continue their journeys. SMRT will continue to operate shuttle train services between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations; and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations. We also operated 80 double-deck buses on free bridging services from Buona Vista to Jurong East, both bounds. About 620 ground staff from LTA, SMRT, SBST, Tower Transit, and Police Officers from TransCom, Traffic Police and Land Divisions, are managing the crowd onsite since this morning peak. For this morning’s peak hour commute, we have observed orderly queuing and boarding of the buses. We thank commuters for your patience and understanding.
4. We are still unable to resume train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations in both directions today. LTA and SMRT are working towards partial restoration of train services on 27 Sep, Friday. Single line train shuttle service will run every 20 minutes between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations. LTA and SMRT’s priority is to resume train service as soon as possible, and we will provide further updates.
Annex: Damage to track and trackside equipment