Smooth resumption of MRT service on EWL after track works

The resumption of MRT service on the East-West Line (EWL) from Bedok to Tampines and Tanah Merah to Expo got off to a smooth start on Dec 8, a day ahead of schedule after works were completed early.

- Esther Loi

Passengers whom The Straits Times spoke to were relieved that train service was back to normal.

They included Tampines resident Faye Wong, 38, who had to add 30 minutes to her commute to work in Orchard in the past week.

During the nine-day service suspension from Nov 29 to Dec 7, the human resources manager had to make a detour by bus from Tampines to Braddell, before switching to the North-South Line to get to work.

She found out that train service had resumed only on the morning of Dec 8, when her husband - who takes the Downtown Line (DTL) to work — saw signage at Tampines station and told her about it.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced in a Facebook post on the evening of Dec 7 that regular train operations would resume on Dec 8, following the completion of track works and comprehensive testing.

MRT service at the affected stations was suspended from Nov 29 to carry out works to connect the EWL to the new East Coast Integrated Depot, which is slated to begin operations in the second half of 2026, as well as to a new platform at Tanah Merah station.

The latest service suspension is the second of three planned, with the third and final one scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Ms Wong said the alternative route she had taken in the past week was “okay for a change”, though she preferred the more direct route via the MRT.