Train service between Jurong East, Buona Vista will not resume today

12 new cracks found on track damaged by faulty train; more stress tests to be done

- David Sun

Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations on the East-West Line will remain disrupted on Sept 30, after 12 new cracks were discovered along a stretch of rail damaged by a faulty train.

Rail operator SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Sept 29 that they are working towards restoring train services along the affected four-station stretch on Oct 1, subject to weather conditions and after thorough testing is done for passenger safety.

Stress tests on Sept 28 found 12 cracks that were previously not visible on unreplaced segments of rail.

This means that engineers needed more time on Sept 29 to replace another 10 segments along the westbound track from Clementi to Ulu Pandan Depot, they added in a statement.

After the rail segments are replaced, more stress tests will be done on Sept 30 to "ensure safety and rail integrity before resuming full passenger service", said LTA and SMRT.

The cracks arose after the rail segments were weakened by the damaged train when it was returning to the depot on Sept 25, they added.

SMRT had earlier aimed to restart services on Sept 30.