SINGAPORE - 3D-printing technology has found a surprising application in customised shoes that protect birds of prey in Singapore from a potentially fatal foot disease. The silicone-made bird shoes have been refined over two years by Jurong Bird Park's avian veterinary team and the Keio-NUS CUTE Center at the National University of Singapore (NUS). In a joint statement on Thursday (Nov 25), Jurong Bird Park and NUS said the shoes, which were cast from 3D-printed moulds of the feet of the park's birds, have been used to treat a medical condition of the birds known as pododermatitis, or 'bumblefoot'. Pododermatitis results in pressure sores, tissue swelling and callouses. If left untreated, it can become disabling and even fatal, the statement said. The shoes are designed to redistribute pressure on the weight-bearing surface of the patient's feet, as well as aid in the recovery from the degenerative condition. While the condition can be treated with bandages, 3D-printed technology provided a more precise way of protecting bird feet, said Dr Xie Shangzhe, conservation research and veterinary acting deputy vice president at Mandai Wildlife Group. The parks' first patient with pododermatitis was Walter, a 21-year-old female hooded vulture, who recovered 17 weeks after its first shoe treatment in 2019. But love caused Walter's affliction to return. After the vulture was released to the Birds of Prey aviary, she started displaying courtship behaviour with a male and preparing a nesting area on a hard high rock ledge. Extended periods of perching on the ledge caused the bumblefoot condition to recur and Walter had to be fitted with shoes and observed from August to October. The bird's symptoms improved dramatically and Walter's shoes have since been removed. "She will be discharged from her observation ward into a special aviary for retirees of the park's Kings of the Skies Show where another hooded vulture resides," the statement said. "If she's in the mood for love again and nesting behaviours are observed, Walter will be provided with a suitable nesting area to prevent reoccurrences of the condition." The parks' first patient with pododermatitis was hooded vulture Walter, who recovered 17 weeks after its first shoe treatment in 2019. PHOTO: JURONG BIRD PARK Associate Professor Yen Ching Chiuan, co-director of the Keio-NUS CUTE Center, noted that another advantage of 3D printing is the flexibility to customise shoes according to the varying sizes, shapes and conditions of each bird's feet. The team at the Keio-NUS CUTE Center worked closely with Jurong Bird Park to create a shoe that was appropriate in terms of measurement, material and usability according to the bird type and its unique usage behaviours, he said. Designing for bird feet was no easy feat, however, as the shoes had to be comfortable for the bird yet easily removable for cleaning and durable as the patients may peck at them with their sharp beaks. In August, the bespoke shoes also helped Miguel, a 31-year-old male Southern caracara. Miguel, who developed pododermatitis as a result of arthritis in his old age, saw remarkable improvement after two and a half months of wearing the shoes, the statement said. Miguel's shoes have since been removed and he has been discharged into the retirement aviary to spend his golden years with fellow retiree birds of prey. This marks the second time Jurong Bird Park has worked together with the Keio-NUS CUTE centre to use 3D-printing technology for veterinary care. In 2018, the Keio-NUS CUTE Center designed and fitted a 3D-printed prosthetic casque for Jary, the great pied hornbill, who had his casque removed due to cancer. Jary has since made a full recovery and no longer needs his prosthesis, the statement said. More on this topic Related Story Leaving the limelight, Jurong Bird Park's senior birds retire in style Related Story Jurong Bird Park is first wildlife park to successfully breed endangered Solomon Islands bird
SINGAPORE - One person was found dead in a bedroom after a fire broke out in a Housing Board flat in Jurong West, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Friday (Oct 8). Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was of electrical origin from a personal mobility device (PMD). The SCDF were alerted to a fire on the fifth storey in Block 978 Jurong West Street 93 at 2.25am on Friday. Two people were seen standing on a ledge outside a unit. The firefighters broke into a bedroom of the flat to rescue the two people. The fire, which involved the contents in another bedroom, was extinguished with one water jet. A person was found in that bedroom and pronounced dead at the scene by a SCDF paramedic. Another occupant had evacuated the unit before the SCDF arrived. About 60 residents from neighbouring units were evacuated by the police. Two firefighters were assessed by paramedics to have experienced heat exhaustion and sent to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. They have since been discharged. In the Facebook post, SCDF reminded the public on the prevention of PMD fires with safety tips in an infographic. SCDF added that non-UL2272 PMDs pose a fire risk and owners are strongly encouraged to dispose of their devices at recyclers. Visit this website to find out the disposal locations. Only UL2272 motorised PMDs are allowed on cycling paths. More on this topic Related Story Residents rushed to douse flames on man who died after PMD caught fire in lift Related Story Charging PMD battery suspected to be origin of fire at Sengkang flat
SINGAPORE - Transmission via contaminated surfaces at the Jurong Fishery Port was possible, though unlikely to be the dominant route of Covid-19 spread, said experts here. The largest active cluster in Singapore, which has more than 1,000 cases linked to it, began after a number of fishmongers who had visited the fishery port tested positive. Singapore's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, said at a July 20 press conference of the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 that the infection was likely introduced from Indonesian or other fishing boats. However, the exact mechanism of transmission from the fishing boats to stall operators at the port "isn't entirely clear", he had noted then. Still, fomite transmission, which refers to objects or materials likely carrying infection, through contaminated surfaces and at the stalls, remains a strong possibility. Professor Paul Tambyah, president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, said the outbreaks in the fishery port are a throwback to what happened at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China, where the Sars-CoV-2 virus was first detected. However, Prof Tambyah noted that while there was extensive environmental contamination detected in the market there, no data is currently available on the environmental samples from the Jurong fishery port. "If the environmental samples (taken from the Jurong fishery port) were all negative, that would make person to person contact the most likely mode of transmission," he said. "If, on the other hand, there was extensive environmental contamination like in Wuhan, then surfaces are likely to be more important (in facilitating transmission of the virus)." The Straits Times has contacted the Ministry of Health on whether environmental samples were taken at the fishery port. However, Associate Professor Raymond Lin, director of the National Public Health Laboratory at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, said there is still no conclusive evidence on the relative importance of human contact, airborne spread and surface transmission as modes of transmission. "In the same way, there has been no consensus among experts on the mode of transmission associated with Wuhan seafood market in 2020," he said. Pointing to studies done on previous clusters, Prof Tambyah noted that fomite transmission had also been postulated as a possible route of transmission in Singapore's first church cluster. An infected couple from Wuhan who had attended a service at the Life Church and Missions Singapore in January last year were thought to have sat in the same seats as those who were subsequently infected, thereby seeding the cluster. Similarly, a study looking at a cluster in a Tampines Housing Board block in July last year did not rule out the possibility of fomite transmission, after two households which had no contact at all, were both infected, he noted. More on this topic Related Story How phylogenetic testing helps experts establish links between Covid-19 cases Related Story 4 in 5 tenants and workers at Jurong Fishery Port fully vaccinated against Covid-19 Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital, said that while surface transmission is plausible, it is not the most likely in this instance. Rather, markets are "very favourable sites for amplification" once the virus has been introduced there. The reasons for this could include crowding, cold surfaces which favour virus survival in the environment, and the possibility of people removing their masks when lifting heavy crates, for instance. Some may not have acted early if they started exhibiting mild symptoms, he noted. Assoc Prof Mak had acknowledged during the press conference on July 20 that it is challenging to maintain safe distancing measures due to the port's hot and humid environment and the nature of activities like the carrying of heavy barrels of fish and ice. Some mask-off activities and close interactions between people would likely have taken place too, he added. More on this topic Related Story Links to KTV cluster, lax mask wearing behind Covid-19 spread at Jurong Fishery Port: Workers Related Story Gaps in Covid-19 safe management measures at Jurong Fishery Port to be rectified: Grace Fu Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said the increased infectivity of the Delta variant could also help to facilitate fomite transmission. "An individual infected with the Delta variant actually has a much higher viral load in the body, and he is effectively expelling much more virus particles (by)... talking, coughing, or sneezing, thus people nearby are exposed to a much higher viral load," he said. "Because an infected person is effectively expelling higher amount of viruses, surfaces could now be contaminated with a higher amount of viruses, and thus that facilitates people being exposed through fomite transmission." Prof Teo also noted that the incubation period of the Delta variant is much more variable and could sometimes be as short as one to two days, compared with the five to 10 days typically observed for the original Sars-CoV-2 virus. This led to a more aggressive spread in a shorter time frame, he added. So, while the likelihood of Covid-19 transmission through frozen fish or its packaging cannot be ruled out, the experts concurred that the risk of such infection remains relatively low. "Ultimately, the risk can be made negligible if the person frequenting wet markets or preparing food practises proper hand hygiene," said Prof Teo. 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SINGAPORE - The Jurong Fishery Port remained quiet on Saturday (July 31), despite reopening for tenants after a two-week closure due to a Covid-19 outbreak on its premises. The Straits Times observed that only nine workers - employees of the port's tenants - turned up at the port's entrance between 6am and 10am. Most came in their own vehicles, which they parked outside the entrance, while others arrived in taxis. Those who spoke to ST said they had returned to open their companies' offices for disinfection, as instructed by their bosses. Friday was the last day of their quarantine. They also said they had not yet been instructed to prepare for Monday, when unloading and wholesale activities are allowed to resume in the port. But the workers were not allowed entry until about 9.40am. By then, five of them had left after asking another worker to open their offices on their behalf. The remaining workers had to don protective clothing and were subsequently escorted by a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) officer into the port. Three other visitors, believed to be staff tasked with disinfecting the premises, were seen entering the port between 9.15am and 9.25am. ST understands that there are no other arrangements made for the tenants to return on Saturday. The Jurong Fishery Port closed on July 17, after multiple Covid-19 infections were detected there - as well as at Hong Lim market and Food Centre - the previous day. The cases involved fishmongers and stall assistants, who unwittingly transmitted the virus to more people in the markets and communities where they ply their trade. As at Friday, the cluster had a total of 999 cases. More on this topic Related Story Enhanced Covid-19 measures at two fishery ports in wake of Jurong Fishery Port outbreak Related Story Jurong Fishery Port situation stabilising; more cases isolated before turning Covid-19 positive: Ong Ye Kung In a statement on Wednesday, SFA said it will be enhancing Covid-19 measures at the port. These include testing all authorised entry pass holders - consisting mainly of tenants, workers and traders - before they enter the port. Thereafter, they will be placed under a seven-day rostered routine testing regime. Those who are not tested or do not have a negative test result will not be allowed to enter the fishery ports. These measures come on top of requirements such as temperature checks and TraceTogether SafeEntry check-in that have been in place for entry pass holders since March last year. SFA also said it had conducted two rounds of deep cleaning of the entire site, including disinfecting the tenants' offices. It added that it will continue to clean common areas and crates when the port reopens. The agency will be working with trade associations to refine the enhanced measures and adapt them if necessary to the unique working conditions of Singapore's two fishery ports, it said. More on this topic Related Story Over 225,000 Covid-19 self-test kits distributed following Jurong Fishery Port cluster Related Story All markets and hawker centres now require TraceTogether check-in Related Stories: Related Story Covid-19 Delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox, says CDC internal report Related Story Covid-19 vaccine in a tablet - the next leap in the battle against deadly virus Related Story Flawed scientific papers fuelling Covid-19 misinformation Related Story 'Photos of bodies stacked at hospitals are real': Malaysia undertakers struggle as Covid-19 deaths soar Related Story S'pore to review Covid-19 rules in early August, may ease measures for vaccinated people Related Story Three people attending Olympics from overseas hospitalised for Covid-19 in Tokyo; one discharged Related Story 'Culture police' help in the battle to contain Covid-19 in Bali Related Story An unusually fatal Covid-19 outbreak in Taiwan driven by complacency Related Story Amid disparate efforts to curb Covid-19 pandemic, Yangon residents hang yellow flags to call for aid Related Story Five pandemic truths that defy intuition
Construction of two JRL stations to start in May, will shorten travel time to Jurong industrial area
SINGAPORE - Commuters to the Jurong industrial area will enjoy shorter travel time with two more stations on the Jurong Region Line (JRL) expected to open in eight years. Construction work on the stations along Jalan Boon Lay will start this month. In a statement on Wednesday (May 12), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said a contract for the stations in the area of Enterprise Road and Jalan Tukang has been awarded to China Harbour (Singapore) Engineering Company for $241 million. The firm has been operating in Singapore for more than 35 years, and has completed rail projects in Macau and Thailand. It is also currently involved in the construction of Siglap station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. As part of the contract, the company will design and construct the stations and their 1.5km viaduct over Jurong Central Park and Jalan Boon Lay. Once completed as part of the JRL's third phase, the new stations will shorten travel time. For example, with the JRL, travelling between Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 and the Jurong industrial area near Tractor Road will take 25 minutes instead of the current 50. The JRL, first announced in 2013, is expected to improve connectivity in the western part of Singapore by serving areas such as the Nanyang Technological University, Jurong Innovation District and the future Tengah area. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, construction was delayed by about a year and it will open in phases from 2027 to 2029. An artist's impression of the future Tukang station along Jalan Boon Lay. PHOTO: LTA More on this topic Related Story Work on 4 MRT stations serving NTU, Jurong industrial area to start by June Related Story Six Thomson-East Coast Line stations handed over to SMRT, to open in 3rd quarter When completed, there will be 24 stations, and three interchanges - Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and Jurong East stations. The 24km fully elevated line will be Singapore's seventh MRT line. LTA said the stations in Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and the Jurong area are expected to add more than 60,000 households within a 10-minute walk from a train station.
SINGAPORE - Urban and infrastructure consulting firm Surbana Jurong will partner with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to set up high-tech labs for built environment students and professionals. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday (May 10) to advance the built environment industry by upskilling the workforce with the latest technology. The proposed ITE-Surbana Jurong Living Learning Labs will be equipped with the latest smart technologies for students to gain real-world experience in the built environment sector. For example, the lab at ITE College East will be equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) devices to monitor lift performances for diagnostic and predictive maintenance. Meanwhile, ITE College Central's facility will explore the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage for video analytics to enhance campus security and management of visitors. ITE chief executive Low Khah Gek said: "All these state-of-the-art equipment and systems would greatly enhance the learning for our students and inspire them to join the sector as they gain a deeper understanding of the job roles." The partnership reinforces national efforts to transform the built environment sector as outlined by the Building and Construction Authority's Construction Industry Transformation Map in 2017. More than half of the buildings in Singapore will be 30 years or older by 2025, said Surbana Jurong's group chief executive officer Wong Heang Fine. He added that the task of maintaining building infrastructure, such as lifts and escalators, will only become more challenging as facility management is labour-intensive. "To meet the challenge head on, we need smart facility management," said Mr Wong. "Implementing smart facility management increases the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of buildings and improves the well-being of occupants." Besides setting up the labs, Surbana Jurong will also be offering students internships and sponsoring ITE Work-Study Diplomas and course medals. Employees in the built environment sector can also look forward to training courses co-developed by Surbana Jurong and ITE. "Through these initiatives, we hope ITE students will acquire the relevant industry skills and step forward boldly to create a productive, innovative and sustainable built environment," said Mr Wong. More on this topic Related Story Public sustainability-linked bond by Surbana Jurong more than 6 times oversubscribed Related Story New scheme to spur alliances aims to boost transformation of S'pore's built environment sector
SINGAPORE - Construction of four more Jurong Region Line (JRL) MRT stations that will serve Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Jurong Town Corporation industrial area is set to begin this quarter. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) awarded two civil contracts valued at $263 million each for this on Tuesday (April 6). The contracts are for the design and construction of the four stations and associated viaducts. The stations are part of the JRL's third phase, which is expected to be completed in 2029. Once completed, the new stations will help commuters save up to 30 minutes in travelling time. For example, NTU students travelling from Choa Chu Kang need an hour to get to Lee Wee Nam Library on the campus. The journey involves transferring from the North-South Line to the East-West Line and then taking a bus. With the JRL, the same trip would take only 35 minutes. The first contract covering Jurong Hill and Jurong Pier stations, as well as a 1.1km viaduct between the two along Jurong Pier Road, went to a joint venture between local firm SCB Building Construction and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Singapore Branch) (CCECC). LTA said SCB was previously involved in the upgrading of Tuas Depot. It has also done addition and alteration works to the Thomson-East Coast Line rail facility building, and was a sub-contractor for the construction of Tuas Crescent Station and viaducts on the Tuas West Extension. CCECC is building the Pasir Ris railway turnback and a viaduct between Sungei Seletar and Yishun Avenue 5 on the North-South Corridor. It is also working on tracks for Stage 6 of the Circle Line 6 and an extension of the North-East Line. The second contract covers Nanyang Gateway and Nanyang Crescent stations and a 1.4km viaduct between them. It was awarded to Hwa Seng Builder, a local construction firm previously involved in multiple road and expressway projects, including the widening of Woodlands Road, Choa Chu Kang Link, Stagmont Ring and Bukit Batok East Avenue 3, as well as improvement works for the Pan-Island Expressway slip road between Clementi North Flyover and Toh Tuck Flyover. Construction of the JRL was delayed by about a year by the Covid-19 pandemic and it will open in phases from 2027 to 2029. Once completed, the new stations will help commuters save up to 30 minutes in travelling time. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY First announced as part of the Land Transport Master Plan in 2013, the 24km-long JRL will be Singapore's seventh MRT line and the first fully elevated line, without any underground stations. When completed, it will have 24 stations and three interchanges - Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and Jurong East stations. It is expected to improve connectivity in the western part of Singapore by serving areas that currently do not have direct links to the rail network such as NTU, Jurong Industrial Estate and the future Tengah area. LTA said the stations at Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and in the Jurong area are expected to add more than 60,000 additional households within a 10-minute walk from a train station. More on this topic Related Story LTA awards $604m contract for Cross Island Line's Hougang interchange station Related Story LTA awards four contracts totalling $682.5 million for the Jurong Region Line
SINGAPORE - The Jurong Innovation District will create some 1,200 new jobs in industries such as urban mobility and urban solutions over the next 18 months. With another 3,300 jobs that are "relocated" from factories that move their operations into the area, the district will account for a total of 4,500 jobs in that time period. Urban and infrastructure consulting firm Surbana Jurong and manufacturing plant Shimano are among the companies that are moving into the district. Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng gave these details to the media on Wednesday morning (March 31), on the sidelines of a visit to Sodick Singapore Technology Centre located in the Jurong Innovation District. During his visit, Dr Tan also launched a set of new industry guidelines for the safe set-up, operations and maintenance of additive manufacturing facilities. The guidelines are laid out in technical reference 87 on Safety of Additive Manufacturing Facilities. One area it covers is how such facilities can manage hazardous materials such as fine metal powders, which can pose a health hazard to workers, and are also toxic to the environment. Risk management systems recommended in the technical reference will further support the safe use, handling and storage of metal powders and additive manufacturing equipment in a controlled environment. The technical reference also details the necessary safety measures to protect workers from direct exposure to metal powders, as well as high-power and high-heat energy sources and systems. Said Dr Tan: "These guidelines will go a long way... JTC will work with the different agencies to encourage (companies) to look at these guidelines and adopt them, and we will also continue to develop other guidelines as the needs of the industry evolve." More on this topic Related Story New manufacturing training office to be set up in Jurong Innovation District Related Story S'pore to grow manufacturing base, attract top industry players: Chan Chun Sing
SINGAPORE - A 35-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a woman in Jurong East had purportedly hurt her with a penknife in November last year. Zheng Xianfeng, a Chinese national, was facing two charges, including for last year's alleged offence, before he was charged on Thursday (Feb 18) with murdering Tham Mee Yoke. Tham, 34, was found lying motionless with multiple stab wounds at the void deck of Block 308 Jurong East Street 32 by the police, after they were alerted on Tuesday at 11.55pm. She was unconscious when taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and pronounced dead at about 1.30am the next day. On Wednesday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force received a call for help at 12.05am and said that two people were taken to the hospital. The police said on Wednesday that Zheng and Tham know each other. According to court documents, Zheng is said to have voluntarily caused hurt to Tham using a penknife on Nov 17 last year at the open space carpark next to Block 349 Jurong East Avenue 1. He is also accused of causing annoyance on Jan 16 this year by lying down on the carpark near Block 316 Jurong East Street 32, and shouting while drunk. Zheng's case is expected to be heard again on March 11. Police officers at the void deck of Block 308 Jurong East Street 32 near where a woman was found lying motionless with multiple stab wounds. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO More on this topic Related Story Man arrested for alleged murder of woman found with multiple stab wounds in Jurong Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories
SINGAPORE - Jurong East bus interchange will be relocated from Dec 6 to facilitate the construction of the Jurong Region Line and the Jurong East integrated transport hub. The new interchange is located opposite the current interchange, along Jurong Gateway Road between the junctions of Jurong Gateway Road/Jurong East Street 12 and Jurong Gateway Road/ Jurong East Central 1. The relocated interchange will be in operation until the completion of the Jurong East integrated transport hub around 2027, the Land Transport Authority said Wednesday (Nov 11). A pedestrian overhead bridge, equipped with lifts and escalators, has been built across Jurong Gateway Road. This sheltered passage between the bus interchange and train station is to "ensure that commuters can continue to transfer conveniently between their bus and rail journeys", the authority said. Additionally, there will be a new bus stop opposite Jem (along Jurong Gateway Road) to provide commuters with an additional stopping point closer to Jurong East MRT station. Two bus stops outside Blk 131 and before Jurong East MRT station along Jurong Gateway Road have also been expanded to accommodate more commuters and buses. Full-day bus lanes will be implemented along Jurong Gateway Road. The LTA said most bus services will continue to operate directly from the relocated interchange. But adjustments have been made to their routing and stopping points to allow faster travel and minimise potential congestion in the vicinity of the bus interchange. Specifically, Service 97/97e and 197 will enter the bus interchange via Jurong East Street 12 and Jurong Gateway Road, while Service 333 will enter via Boon Lay Way and Jurong Gateway Road. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY The following services will also now start and end their operations outside the interchange: - Service 78 will start at the bus stop outside Blk 131 and end at the bus stop before Jurong East MRT station in the return direction without calling at the bus interchange. - Service 79 will not call at the bus interchange but loop around Jurong East town centre via Jurong East Street 12, Jurong Gateway Road, Jurong East Central and Jurong Town Hall Road. Commuters can board this service at the bus stop outside Blk 131 or outside Jurong Regional Library. - Cross Border 3 and Cross Border 4, which are currently not in operation, will have boarding and alighting at a bus pick-up and drop-off point in Venture Avenue instead of Jurong East Bus Interchange when services resume. The boarding berth at the relocated Jurong East Bus Interchange. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY More on this topic Related Story From industrial estate to bustling town: Jurong Lake area housing estate transformation completed Related Story The story of Jurong Lake District: From the boondocks to boom town - and beyond Information on these bus route changes will be available at locations such as the affected bus stops, existing and relocated bus interchanges, as well as on the online platforms of LTA, Tower Transit Singapore and SBS Transit. Additional service ambassadors will also be deployed at the bus interchange to provide assistance, the authority added. The LTA said the relocated interchange will have more spacious boarding points at each of the seven berths and graduated kerb edges to facilitate boarding for passengers in wheelchairs. There are priority queues with seats at the relocated Jurong East Bus Interchange. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY A bus berth availability system will also be installed near the bus park, signalling to bus captains when their berths are available. This will mitigate the risk of congestion within the smaller interchange space. In addition, high-volume low-speed fans have also been installed at the concourse area. The relocated Jurong East Bus Interchange features fans with high volume low speed, and a bus berth availability system. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY There will also be more facilities that cater to the needs of the elderly, less mobile and families with young children, including four barrier-free alighting areas, priority queue zones with seats, a nursing room and barrier-free toilets. There will be 64 bicycle parking lots. The interchange will also come with upgraded facilities for public transport workers such as an air-conditioned staff canteen, dedicated staff toilets and a staff lounge. The LTA said: "We seek commuters' understanding as our bus operators familiarise themselves with the new environment. The above changes are necessary to ensure safety and avoid congestion within the new bus interchange and surrounding areas. LTA will monitor the situation closely and make adjustments to the arrangements where necessary."
SINGAPORE - A day after one of the worst power-related disruptions in years that hit three MRT lines and left thousands stranded, train services on the lines resumed, with commuters saying that their morning rides were uneventful. At about 6.45am at Yew Tee MRT station on Thursday (Oct 15) morning, train services were running as usual, and commuters who spoke to The Straits Times said nothing was amiss when they took their daily morning rides to work, school and camp. A power fault shut down train service on parts of the North-South and East-West MRT lines at around 7pm on Wednesday, severely disrupting the evening rush-hour commute for many travellers. Half an hour later, the fault disrupted service along a 16-station stretch of the Circle Line. Preliminary investigations indicate that a faulty power cable had caused the breakdown, which is one of the most serious power-related incidents to hit the MRT network in recent years. Service resumed at all stations along the North-South and East-West lines at 10.35pm. On Thursday morning, some were unaware of the previous night's disruptions, as services were back to normal. Mr Muhammad Nur Nazrul, a full-time national serviceman, said that his commute from Hougang to Yew Tee went without a hitch. He arrived at the latter at about 6.45am. "I only found out about the disruptions this morning through the news. It was quite surprising to me, especially as so many stations were affected," said the 22-year-old. Commuter Suresh Kumar said he left the house about five minutes earlier. Business as usual at Buona Vista MRT station The project manager, who is in his 60s, said his ride to Jurong East from Yew Tee was without delay. Over at Jurong East MRT station at 7.40am, a steady stream of commuters made their way to and from the bus interchange and the train platform during the morning peak hour. More on this topic Related Story Train services restored on North-South, East-West, Circle lines after disruption due to power fault Related Story MRT power fault: I was stuck on train for 3 hours, says commuter Describing the situation that she experienced at Jurong East station the night before, Ms Jane Tan, a public servant, said on Thursday morning that the bus interchange had been packed as commuters streamed out of the MRT station after it was announced that there was no train service. She took a bus towards Serangoon where she lives, and got off at Clementi MRT station to see if she could hop onto Pasir Ris-bound train. But she was out of luck. "It was like a choked toilet," she said of the crowd that had formed around the station. The 26-year-old added that she had to forgo a dinner appointment at Nex with her friend, and instead had a meal at Clementi before heading home. However, she was not upset. Commuters at Jurong East MRT station at 7am on Oct 15, 2020. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH "It could have been a lot worse if the full workforce was out, so I'm thankful that I eventually got home okay," she said. Her commute from Serangoon to Jurong East on Thursday went smoothly. Ms Siti Hasna, a housewife, said she had heard about the disruptions on Wednesday night, but it did not bother her as she went about her plans on Thursday morning. "I take public transport pretty often, and things have been okay, so far so good… I guess I'm lucky," she said. The 34-year-old, who took the train from Choa Chu Kang to Jurong East on Wednesday, said the ride was without issue. "I guess breakdowns are inevitable. The trains are always moving and I'd expect them to breakdown… it's just matter of time." Commuters on an East-West Line MRT train on at 6.50am on Oct 15, 2020. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH One commuter who was affected by the disruptions on Wednesday night said he had to take a private-hire car home after trains stopped running from Jurong East. He got to the station at about 8pm. "I ended up taking a Grab car home to Sembawang, but it's not an issue. There's no need to get angry, it won't change anything," said Mr Alan Tan, 33, who works in the food distribution industry. When ST reached Serangoon MRT station at 7.30am on Thursday, crowds were seen streaming in at both the North East Line (NEL) and Circle Line exit points. A commuter, who wanted to be known only as Ms So, 24, said she felt as though the station was more packed on Thursday morning - following Wednesday's breakdown. She usually takes the NEL from her home to Serangoon, where she changes trains to get to Botanic Gardens, which is en route to her workplace. "I left at the same time, because I thought that everything would have been fixed by now, and I didn't think I'd be so unlucky twice," she said, half in jest. "There was a brief moment when the train suddenly stopped on the purple line (NEL), causing slight panic, but thankfully it was nothing," said Ms So, who works in operations. More on this topic Related Story 3 MRT lines hit by power fault: Other major train breakdowns in Singapore Her commute home the night before had been met with a disruption at Bishan station at around 7.30pm, when the train she was on stopped at the station. Fearing the worst, Ms So decided to search for alternative routes to get home, and managed to get a bus from Bishan to Woodleigh, which connected her to the NEL. Though the disruptions delayed her travel time by an hour, she was thankful that the delays she experienced were not as bad, compared to the ones on the East-West Line, which allowed her to get home at a reasonable time.