No train service from Farrer Park to Punggol Coast due to disruption on North East line

Train services on the North East MRT line are disrupted due to a power fault on Aug 12. SBS Transit, in a post on social media platform X, said that the disruption runs from Farrer Park to Punggol Coast, a stretch of 11 stations.

It added that free regular bus and bridging bus services are available between Dhoby Ghaut and Punggol Coast stations.

Sengkang-Punggol LRT services are also unavailable, SBS Transit said in an update on X.

When The Straits Times arrived at Serangoon MRT station at about 11.50am, power on the North East Line side seemed to be off, though lights remained on.

Trains bound for both directions on the NEL were still at the platform.

Staff members could also be seen guiding commuters towards the street level, where they could take free bridging bus services.

Commuter Shawn Tan, 17, said he found out about train services being down only when he arrived at the station.

The second-year polytechnic student was on his way home to Sengkang from classes at Singapore Polytechnic in Dover.

He said that this was the first time such an incident had happened to him, but noted that "it was bound to happen one day".

Mdm Sandra Sim, 70, was heading to Woodleigh station from her home in Serangoon North.

She had tapped in and was ready to board the NEL train before staff informed her that the service was not operational.

Mdm Sim added that she noticed that the station was darker than usual.

The homemaker said more directions could have been given by the staff, as she only realised that there were no NEL train services after tapping in and attempting to walk towards the platform.

The Straits Times has reached out to SBS Transit for more information.