Commuters rethink weekend plans due to EWL disruption

Ms Felicitas Ng may have to forgo her usual church routine this weekend, as the disruption of train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations on the EastWest Line continues for the third day.

- Shermaine Ang and Fatmah Khan

The 20-year-old, who was travelling to Tiong Bahru, where she tutors students, was shocked to discover there was no train service between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations on Sept 27, when she arrived at Jurong East, having taken the North-South Line.

"I usually travel to Commonwealth for church. This means that my weekend plans have to change, especially now that I need to take the bridging bus to Buona Vista and then continue to Commonwealth," she added.

Meanwhile, Mr Joshua Chitty, 32, is relieved that he can avoid the area over the weekend after being more than 20 minutes late for a meeting on Sept 27 with a client in Boon Lay due to the disruption.

"I travel everywhere, rarely here in the west, but today was one of these days. I live in Bedok and I don't have to see anyone in the area this week, so I don't need to deal with this whole thing," said the self-employed distributor and marketer.

Singapore's second-longest rail disruption affected about 874,000 passengers over the first two days - some 358,000 passengers on Sept 25, and an estimated 516,000 on Sept 26. Rail operator SMRT said it aims to restore services fully on Sept 30.

On Sept 25, a faulty train that was withdrawn from service and on its way back to a depot had caused extensive damage to tracks and trackside equipment near Clementi and Dover stations.

The support for commuters provided so far, including bridging buses and ground staff to help them, will continue into the weekend, SMRT said at about 6pm on Sept 27.

About 80 double-decker buses have been deployed to provide free bridging services for affected passengers between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations.