NEL service disrupted second time in a month

[SINGAPORE] Trains on the North-East line partially resumed service after halting on Monday morning, the second time this month due to a power fault.

SBS Transit Ltd, the operator, is offering free bus rides at designated stops along the North-East line, according to Twitter posts. Rides between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport has resumed after a track fault, SMRT Corp, the main train operator which runs the North-South, East-West and Circle lines, said in a Twitter update.

The service suspensions ahead of the morning rush hour adds to disruptions in recent years which led some voters to call for the former Transport Minister's resignation.

Trains on the line operated by SBS Transit were halted on Oct 13 during the morning rush hour because of a power fault.

Hours before today's disruption, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan wrote in a blog post: "Sexy or not, maintenance is the most valuable work we need to do well, to keep a complex system humming."

Lui Tuck Yew, the former transport minister, oversaw an expansion of the public-transportation network and dealt with increased train breakdowns. He didn't seek re-election in September, two months after thousands of people were stranded across more than 50 stations on two main train lines. Mr Lui passed up on the premier's offer to stay in the cabinet if he was re- elected.

SBS Transit also operates the Downtown line.

BLOOMBERG