NE Line Breakdown - 21 Apr

[Bystander50]

 

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/...421-211579.html

 

Lack of information during NEL breakdown?

 

 

Wed, Apr 21, 2010

AsiaOne

 

 

 

By Tony Ng

 

SCORES of commuters were left stranded this morning as the trains on the Northeast Line, managed by SBS Transit, grounded to a halt.

 

Click on thumbnails below to view more photos. Story continues after photos.

(Photos: Stomp, Alina Tan)

 

 

 

The service interruption occurred at around 8.30am during the morning rush hour. The Northeast Line covers a total of 17 stations - from Harbourfront to Punggol.

 

 

"Beanie", stranded at Punggol Station, told citizen-journalism website Stomp, that trains at Punggol came to a "total standstill since 8.30am."

 

Others were lucky they managed to avoid the NEL altogether.

 

Communications executive Mr Raymond Poon told AsiaOne that he was lucky to hear an announcement about the service breakdown. It claimed that train service would be restored in 10 minutes, Mr Poon said.

 

But "I had serious doubts about that and decided to take a taxi to work," he added.

 

Was SBS Transit -- operator of the NEL Line -- slow to inform commuters of NEL breakdown?

 

According to comments received from readers, it was.

 

Stranded commuters were annoyed that the transport operator did not make an announcement on the breakdown or put up notices.

 

"Anonymous" posted his question on citizen-journalism website, Stomp, asking for more information about the NEL line.

 

No notices iinforming commuters of the breakdown were put up at the entrance of stations, said "Gossip gal".

 

Except for a waiver of fares, there were no other transport alternatives provided, "Beanie" said.

 

"Sure the Circle Line is great but that doesn't mean you can drop the ball on other Lines," Twitter user @BhavnaVK commented in her tweet.

 

 

 

[Bystander50]

"First" world transport system, but third world information broadcast.

 

If everyone had indeed heeded the call to go public transport, how many tens of thousands more would be affected by this breakdown.

 

A technical fault happending right in the morning when maintenance was supposingly completed hours earlier.

 

 

[Hiphiphoray]

Non-existance contingency plan.......yet die die wana be a profitable company.

 

KNN.....only know how to adjust the fares UP nia!!!

 

Beh pai say aaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Edited April 21, 2010 by Hiphiphoray

[MadDog70]

As usual, SMRT is weak in handling the commuters stuck in the stations.

This time, angry commuters are complaining no free buses to help disperse them.

I ever came across same situation, they just could not put up sign boards early to avoid bigger crowds rushing to the stations.

Why SMRT never learn ah?

[Ahhuat]

As usual, SMRT is weak in handling the commuters stuck in the stations.

This time, angry commuters are complaining no free buses to help disperse them.

I ever came across same situation, they just could not put up sign boards early to avoid bigger crowds rushing to the stations.

Why SMRT never learn ah?

??? read first..

[Nlatio]

Non-existance contingency plan.......yet die die wana be a profitable company.

 

KNN.....only know how to adjust the fares UP nia!!!

 

Beh pai say aaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

 

Totally agree...... the question is not why got technical fault, when it want to happen, it happen, they can only try to minimise as much..... guess commuter cannot blame them for that....... the question is, they must know such things will and can happen, why is there no contingency plan???? Have they not learn from the past experience from SMRT......

 

As usual, SMRT is weak in handling the commuters stuck in the stations.

This time, angry commuters are complaining no free buses to help disperse them.

I ever came across same situation, they just could not put up sign boards early to avoid bigger crowds rushing to the stations.

Why SMRT never learn ah?

 

Bro, I think this NEL is run by SBS, not SMRT....... but anyway, they should have learn from past experience from SMRT...... initially they open the station kok up already.... they only have signboard in England????...... no budget ......... dont know if they have ractify it already...........

 

BUT WHY NO CONTINGENCY PLAN??? This is totally unacceptable.......

[Babyt]

30 mins disruption also need free transport meh...by the time sbs buses come, the trains are back for service LOL.

[MadDog70]

Who can predict it's 30mins disruption?

What if it's 3 hrs???

 

Any transport company should have contingency plan.

Be it SBS or SMRT, they are BIG enough to know any technical fault may happen.