2011 MRT train disrputions

As of 18 December 2011, there are 26 disruptions, 8 of which disrupted Circle Line services, the other 18 is the North-South East-West Line services. Among the 2011 MRT train disrputions, 3 of them are the most recent and consecutive.
Circle Line disruption (14 December 2011)
Train services from Marymount to one-north stations were disrupted at 6a.m. on Wednesday, due to a communication network problem. The train delay lasted for more than 5 hours as a result of the disruption.
Train services resumed normal operations around 11.45a.m., however, 1,400 people were affected by the delay.
North South Line disruption (15 December 2011)
The most recent disruption was on 15 December 2011. A train service heading northbound had been stuck up by a damaged power rail at about 7 pm, causing a train disruption along both directions. Southbound services were turned around at Ang Mo Kio and passengers have to take a bus bridging service to continue their journey to Marina Bay. Southbound services resumed as per normal from 9 pm, but northbound services between Marina Bay and Bishan stations were closed for the night. SMRT staff are working around the clock to repair the damage and northbound trains were resumed at 11.40 pm. A 25-year-old woman was conveyed to the hospital from Orchard MRT station for breathing difficulties around 8 pm. About two hours later, a second 41-year-old woman was also sent to SGH in a semi-conscious state from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station.
The SMRT CEO apologised for the incident and SMRT will be reviewing its standard operating procedures and will be working to improve its communication strategies. 127,000 people were affected by this disruption, described as the largest shutdown since MRT services began in 1987. It is believed that this is the second consecutive train disruption in two days, the other is on the Circle Line on the morning of 14 December 2011 when services from Marymount to one-north stations were disrupted.
The disruption was made significant due to the following reasons -
# A 25-year-old woman was conveyed to the hospital from Orchard MRT station for breathing difficulties around 8 pm. About two hours later, a second 41-year-old woman was also sent to SGH in a semi-conscious state from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station.
# The faulty third rail damaged the collector shoes of four trains, causing them to stall - one train at Braddell station, one before Orchard station and two trains at Dhoby Ghaut station. 1000 passengers were trapped in the 4 trains.
# One of the 4 trains trapped in the tunnel saw its glass door smashed as passengers complained of a lack of ventilation. There was also no lighting at some of the stations and trains due to the power trip.
# A message sent out to SMRT cab drivers as "Income opportunity. Dear partners, there is a breakdown in our MRT train services from Bishan MRT to Marina Bay MRT stretch of stations." was photographed and uploaded on Twitter. SMRT apologised for the message the next day.
Two days after this disruption, another disruption took place along the North South Line on Dec 17 2011 from 7.09am to 1.48pm happened after a third rail cover dislodged between Novena and Newton stations, causing services to be disrupted between Marina Bay and Newton stations.
The Singapore media reported this as one of the worst train disruptions in Singapore's train history.
North South Line disruption (17 December 2011)
A disruption that stretched between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations from 6:50am to 1.48pm happened on Dec 17 2011 after a third rail cover dislodged between Novena and Newton stations. Three trains were immobilised at Dhoby Ghaut Station.
The fault is similar to the cause of the breakdown that led to commuter chaos on the night two days before due to a damaged power rail at City Hall Station at about 7 p.m., described as the largest in 24 years, and three days after another separate disruption along the Circle Line.
As a result, MRT service on the following day Dec 18 2011 for the North-South and East-West lines will start later - at 10am instead of 5.30am - after checks have been completed on all trains and tracks, train services starting at all terminus of the North-South East-West lines as well as the Changi Airport Extension.

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