SINGAPORE - Revellers on New Year's Eve need not cut short their celebrations, with selected bus and train services extended on Dec 31 to allow commuters to return home, said SBS Transit on Friday (Dec 17). Train services on the Downtown Line (DTL) and North East Line (NEL) will be extended by about an hour. The last train on the DTL leaving Bukit Panjang station for Expo station will depart at 12.37am, while the last train in the other direction will leave at 12.41am. The last train on the NEL towards Punggol will depart from HarbourFront station at 1am, while the last train in the other direction will leave at 12.32am. The Sengkang-Punggol Light Rail Transit service will also run later until after the last NEL trains arrive at the town centre stations. To complement the extension of train operational hours, the last bus timings will also be extended for several services. This applies to 24 bus services under SBS, namely 60A, 63M, 114A, 181, 222, 225G, 228, 229, 232, 238, 240, 241, 243G, 261, 269, 291, 292, 293, 315, 325, 410W, 804, 812 and 974A.
SINGAPORE - A man who pressed an emergency stop plunger to halt an MRT train at Buona Vista station before assaulting a security officer was on Tuesday (Nov 9) fined $5,600. Clement Joshua Tan Teck Kim's antics caused delay to commuters as the train remained stopped for about two minutes. The Singaporean, now 49, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count each of being a public nuisance, assault and using criminal force on another man. Tan had dropped his mobile phone on the tracks as he was boarding a train at Buona Vista MRT station around 11am on Feb 29 last year. When he sought assistance, an SMRT station manager said he could only retrieve the phone the following day as train services could not be disrupted. Tan insisted that the services be stopped and the station manager alerted the police. Tan left the station when officers arrived, only to return around 3.50pm that day. He told SMRT employees that he needed his phone urgently as his baby had a fever and he had to speak to his girlfriend about the matter. They replied that train services could not be disrupted and that his situation was not an emergency. Despite this, Tan marched towards a station platform where the plunger is located and shoved an SMRT assistant manager, 56, who tried to stop him. Tan then pressed the plunger, causing a train that was approaching the platform to stop. An argument later erupted between Tan and two SMRT employees, including the assistant manager. A 62-year-old security officer spotted the commotion and noticed that Tan was behaving in an aggressive manner. Tan was heading out of the station when the security officer tried to stop him by grabbing his shirt. Tan punched the man's face and left the scene. He was arrested about four hours later. Offenders convicted of being a public nuisance can be jailed for up to three months and a fined up to $2,000. For assault, an offender can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000. More on this topic Related Story Man arrested after climbing over screen door onto track at Jurong East MRT to retrieve phone Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories
SINGAPORE - At 5.15am on Saturday (Aug 28), minutes before the Thomson-East Coast Line gantry at Caldecott MRT station officially opened to the public, a middle-aged man in a blue shirt and shorts walked to station personnel and said: "I want to take the first train." It was also a nostalgic trip for the school teacher, Mr Yap Siew Meng, 49, because in the 1980s, he was among the first to ride an MRT train when services for the mass rapid transit started and stations opened. On Saturday, Mr Yap joined at least three other passengers who were the first to be travel along the newly opened extended stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line, spanning six stations from Caldecott to Springleaf. The first train at Caldecott MRT station departed at 5.50am, at the crack of dawn. At around 7am, trains were starting to fill up slowly, with about four passengers scattered around each car. The highly anticipated six-station stretch, named TEL2, connects the new Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson and Caldecott stations. The line's first three stations - Woodlands North, Woodlands and Woodlands South, collectively called TEL1 - opened in January last year. Mr Yap, who lives in Bedok, woke up at 4.45am and took a cab to Caldecott station to catch the first train. He works in a school in Bishan and said he is likely to take the Thomson-East Coast Line more frequently in the coming years when the line extends to the east. "I saw many reports on (TEL2). It is brand new and I was excited. I wanted to be the first in Singapore to take the train." The Saturday MRT ride from the newly opened station was also a symbolic one for the teacher. In 1987, Mr Yap - then 15 years old - was one of the first to board an MRT train when operations began with just five stations on the North-South Line, from Toa Payoh to Yio Chu Kang. "I still have the train ticket from 1987, a golden-coloured ticket," he said. Mr Yap also has a hobby of making YouTube videos of bus, train and cable car rides, including trips to attractions such as Marina Bay Sands. He plans to upload his video of the first TEL2 train later in the day. Mr Yap Siew Meng, who lives in Bedok, woke up at 4.45am and took a cab to Caldecott MRT station to catch the first train. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN More on this topic Related Story Thomson-East Coast Line stage two opens on Aug 28 When fully completed around 2025, the 43km Thomson-East Coast Line will run from Woodlands North to Sungei Budok in the east, covering 32 stations. Saturday was the second stage of the line's opening, with nine stations in operation. The rest of the stations will progressively open in three more stages over the next few years. For Madam Lim Guek Lin, who lives near Caldecott, the extended train line will save a lot of travel time as she can now take a single train line up to Woodlands, where she works in an electronics factory. The 63-year-old was also one of the passengers on the first train on Saturday. Previously, to get to work, she had to take a bus to Braddell MRT station on the North-South Line and ride up to Sembawang station, before taking a bus to her workplace. With the TEL2, not only is her travel route more straightforward, Madam Lim can also get to work earlier. On her old route, the first North-South Line train only reaches Braddell later at 6.05am. "It's very late for me because by the time the bus I take arrives, it is often very packed and I can't board it. With the new line, it's much more convenient for me," said Madam Lim in Mandarin. A train enthusiast taking photographs along the Caldecott to Springleaf section of the Thomson-East Coast Line on Aug 28, 2021. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN TEL2 will have two interchanges - Caldecott station on the Circle Line; and Bright Hill on the future Cross Island Line. Trains along the Thomson-East Coast Line will arrive at stations every five minutes during peak hours and every nine minutes off-peak. The first train on Saturday took about 30 minutes to reach Woodlands North station from Caldecott. TEL2 was initially set to roll out in the second half of last year, but was delayed due to the pandemic and a review of the rail system software because of a major signalling fault on TEL1 last December. The current stretch from Woodlands North to Caldecott will benefit about 100,000 households. Once completed, the entire 32-station line will cost more than $25 billion, and it will also link to the upcoming cross-border rapid transit line to Johor Baru. Other early birds on the first train at TEL2 on Saturday morning were two father-son pairs. Two of the first commuters on board the 5:50am TEL train out of Caldecott station on Aug 28, 2021. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN Eleven-year-old Eamon Kwong and his father, Mr Adrian Kwong, boarded the first train at Upper Thomson station. Eamon said: "I wanted to see the train all new and clean. It's like a once-in-a-lifetime moment." Watching his son excitedly bound to the front of the train and seeing it zip through the tunnel felt like a blast from the past for Mr Kwong, 47. It brought back memories of his first MRT ride in 1987, when the first 6km stretch of the North-South Line was opened. "I remember when I was a kid, in 1987, taking the very first MRT segment. I remembered how exciting it was, so I thought I would just let him come and see (TEL2), and remember this moment." As for the second father-son duo, train lover Shion Adachi, 14, asked his father, Mr Kazuhiko Adachi, to drive him to Caldecott station from their home in Clementi. "My son likes fast trains. He remembers his first train ride in Japan when he was three or four. His passion for trains has stuck with him ever since," said Mr Adachi, 49, who works in finance. The stations on the new stretch were designed to be pleasing to the eye, while keeping commuters' comfort in mind. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN Hailing from Japan, Shion and Mr Adachi have been living in Singapore for the past six years. Throughout the ride along the Thomson-East Coast Line, Shion and other commuters were busy taking videos of the ride and the train's interior. The stations on the new stretch were also designed to be pleasing to the eye, while keeping commuters' comfort in mind. Some benches at the six stations come with armrests and backrests. The signs at the stations also have larger fonts and simple icons so that they are easier to read. The exits are also indicated by numbers instead of letters. For the Thomson-East Coast Line trains, each train car has five doors, compared with four on other trains. This allows passengers to alight faster, and to avoid pushing through people when the train is crowded. For the Thomson-East Coast Line trains, each train car has five doors, compared with four on other trains. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN More on this topic Related Story Unique designs, seats with backrest among features at new Thomson-East Coast Line stations Related Story Treading a fine line in building Thomson-East Coast Line stations Various pieces of art - including drawings and artwork along the walls and station platforms, and art installations - have been installed at the six stations. While waiting for their train in Upper Thomson station, commuters can entertain themselves by looking for 88 drawings of animals hidden all over the station. At Mayflower station, passengers can snap pictures of tiny bird sculptures perched on different parts of the station. With numerous green spaces and nature trails such as MacRitchie Reservoir and Springleaf Nature Park located nearby, the TEL2 stations will make travelling more convenient for fitness enthusiasts and nature lovers. At the line's opening ceremony on Friday, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said TEL2 may well become a "makan corridor", referencing the eateries near the stations. For example, Springleaf Prata Place - a stone's throw away from Springleaf MRT station - is a household name for roti prata, briyani, thosai and murtabak. Mr Kwong said: "A lot of people may get off at Upper Thomson station today because of the various ways it has been advertised - dining options and nature." More on this topic Related Story Good eats near 6 new MRT stations on Thomson-East Coast Line 2 Related Story 9 calorie-burning walks around Thomson-East Coast Line 2
SINGAPORE - A man caught on video not wearing a mask on an MRT train in May will be claiming trial to his charges next month. Benjamin Glynn, 40, whose pre-trial conference took place on Friday (July 23), is expected to appear before District Judge Eddy Tham for a two-day trial on Aug 5 and 6. The Briton faces two charges under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, as well as one count each of harassment and being a public nuisance. He allegedly failed to wear a mask while travelling on an MRT train from Raffles Place station to Holland Village station between 11.06pm and 11.31pm on May 7. He is then said to have caused annoyance to the public during the trip by declaring: "I will never wear a mask." In a video that was circulated on social media, the Briton is seen telling the other commuters: "I'm very religious... I hate seeing uncles, granddads with a mask on." He then rejects a mask when a fellow commuter offers him one. The video also shows a commuter leaving her seat when he sits down next to her. On May 9, Glynn was at the ground-level lift lobby of Allsworth Park condominium in Holland Road at around 12.30am when he allegedly used threatening words while addressing two police officers - Assistant Superintendent Alvin Quek Chin Han and Inspector Chee Xiu Quan. The Briton is said to have hurled an obscene word at them when he said: "I'm going to... drop you." He is also alleged to have adopted a "boxing stance". Glynn first appeared in the State Courts on July 2 and was not wearing a mask when he arrived at the main entrance of the building. Covid-19: Benjamin Glynn leaving State Courts building without a mask He put one on after a security officer asked him to do so. He was walking outside the State Courts building after his court proceedings later that day when he was caught on video with his mask off. More on this topic Related Story Jail, fine for man who verbally abused and assaulted bus driver who told him to wear mask properly Related Story More charges expected for woman caught not wearing a mask at MBS and other places For each charge under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, an offender can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000. If convicted of harassment, an offender can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000. Those convicted of being a public nuisance can be jailed for up to three months and fined up to $2,000. More on this topic Related Story Briton charged over failure to wear mask on MRT train now accused of same offence outside State Courts Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories
SINGAPORE - A man who was filmed not wearing a mask on an MRT train in May appeared in a district court on Friday (July 2) and was handed three charges for offences including harassment. Briton Benjamin Glynn, 39, also faces one charge of being a public nuisance and another for an offence under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act. Glynn is accused of failing to wear a mask while travelling in an MRT train from Raffles Place to Holland Village stations between 11.06pm and 11.31pm on May 7. He allegedly caused annoyance to the public during the trip by declaring: "I will never wear a mask." In a video circulating on social media, the Briton is seen telling the other commuters: "I'm very religious... I hate seeing uncles, granddads with a mask on." He then rejects a mask when a fellow commuter offers him one. The video also shows a commuter leaving her seat when he takes the one next to her. On May 9, Glynn was at the ground floor lift lobby of the Allsworth Park condominium in Holland Road at around 12.30am when he allegedly used threatening words while addressing Assistant Superintendent Alvin Quek Chin Han. The Briton is said to have hurled an obscene word at the police officer and said: "I'm going to...drop you." Glynn was not wearing a mask when he arrived at the State Courts building on Friday morning but put one on when a security officer asked him to do so. Casually dressed in a blue shirt and pink bermuda shorts, he later stood in the dock before District Judge Lorraine Ho with his mask covering only his mouth. The judge then told him to put the mask on properly and he complied. Judge Ho asked Glynn if he would plead guilty or claim trial to his charges. The Briton replied: "I don't understand the options." More on this topic Related Story Man arrested after he refused to wear mask on MRT Related Story More charges expected for woman caught not wearing a mask at MBS and other places He also said that he had a "legal counsel" who was seated in the gallery. Glynn was later spotted walking out of the courtroom accompanied by a man dressed in a striped short-sleeved polo T-shirt and trousers. Lawyers handling cases in courtrooms usually wear dark-coloured suits. Glynn removed his mask as he stepped out of the State Courts building minutes later and the pair walked away. Benjamin Glynn leaving State Courts building without a mask Glynn's pretrial conference will be held on July 23. He is now out on bail of $5,000. If convicted of an offence under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, he can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000. And if convicted of harassment, he can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000. Offenders convicted of being a public nuisance can be jailed for up to three months and fined up to $2,000. More on this topic Related Story 'Sovereign' woman pleads guilty to breaching Covid-19 rules, gets 2 weeks' jail and fine Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories
SINGAPORE - A signalling fault along the North-South Line that lasted nearly five hours caused delays for commuters on Monday (March 29) morning. Rail operator SMRT told commuters in a tweet at around 7.30am to add 45 minutes of travelling time between Raffles Place and Bishan stations. The fault had occurred between Newton and City Hall stations at the start of train service. SMRT alerted commuters about the delay on its Twitter page at 5.47am, and deployed free and bridging bus services. Preliminary investigations show that a software issue with the signalling system had caused the fault, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a statement. SMRT and system provider Thales rebooted the system as a precaution to fix the fault, it added. There were no train services between Toa Payoh and Marina South Pier for about 10 minutes after SMRT and Thales engineers reset the system at about 10am. The operator said it had wanted to "keep train services moving during the morning peak and fix the technical fault after the peak". In an update at 11.30am, SMRT said the fault was cleared at 10.10am and train services resumed. Mr Daniel Chan, 47, who was on his way to work in the MacPherson area, had boarded a train at Khatib station at 6.55am. The business development manager said commuters on the train were abruptly told that the train service would be terminating at Ang Mo Kio station and there were no announcements about the signalling fault that was affecting the rest of the line. The trains were packed and social distancing was "non-existent", he added. Mr Chan got on another train at Ang Mo Kio but as he neared Bishan station, there was another announcement that the train was terminating at Bishan. "We alighted again and waited for the next train. It was only then that we heard the announcement about the signalling fault." He took 40 minutes, instead of the usual 15 minutes, to get from Khatib to Toa Payoh station, where he alighted to take a bus. It was much smoother there, he said, as there were SMRT staff around to guide commuters and control the crowd. Mr Chan, who was also affected by a train fault two weeks ago during morning peak hour, lamented the lack of communication by SMRT. "Not everyone follows SMRT on Twitter or Facebook, especially aunties and uncles. (There needs to be) better and more prompt announcements. Guidance for commuters needs to be improved. "If we were told at the start of our journey at Khatib (about the fault), we would have opted for an alternative mode of transport." Commuters changing lines from the North South Line to Circle Line on March 29 More on this topic Related Story MRT delay on North-South Line during peak hour due to platform door fault Related Story Downtown Line hit by signalling fault during evening peak hour: SBS Transit Safety officer Arjun Nair, 26, boarded a train at 7.30am, also at Khatib station, but had to alight at Ang Mo Kio 10 minutes later. The platforms at the station were packed with commuters, he said. It took more than 30 minutes for Mr Nair to reach Toa Payoh station and he said it was "chaotic" when he alighted at Novena. "I tried looking for the shuttle bus service but there was none. There were no representatives from SMRT at the bus stop." He added: "It was very, very crowded. There were a lot of people waiting for taxis and ride-hailing services." Mr Nair ended up taking a regular bus to Bugis, where he said he planned to take a private-hire car to his workplace in Tanjong Pagar. In its initial tweet at 5.47am, SMRT said commuters travelling between Raffles Place and Toa Payoh should add 25 minutes time to their journey. At 6.40am, SMRT advised commuters to avoid taking trains between Bishan and Marina South Pier stations. Commuters travelling to the city should take the East-West Line, Circle Line, North East Line and Downtown Line instead, it added. [NSL] UPDATE: Train services have resumed. Free regular bus and bridging bus services have ceased. We apologise to commuters who were inconvenienced with longer journeys.— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) March 29, 2021 Commuters changing lines from the North South Line to Circle Line on March 29 Free regular and bridging buses between Toa Payoh and Marina South Pier would continue until further notice, it said. “Our engineers are working to rectify the fault. Trains are moving at a slower speed. Longer train travel time is expected... We are sorry for affecting your morning commute,” said SMRT. Announcements were made in stations and on trains throughout the five-hour incident to inform commuters to make alternative travel arrangements, SMRT later added. It deployed more than 150 SMRT staff to help affected commuters and manage peak-hour crowds. The signalling fault on Monday is the second MRT fault in two days. On Sunday morning, train services between Punggol and Serangoon stations on the North East Line (NEL) - run by SBS Transit - came to a halt for about three hours due to a power fault. LTA on Monday said the cause of the NEL disruption has been traced to a faulty insulator. This led to the overhead catenary system at Buangkok station, which supplies power to the trains, to fail. The faulty insulator has been replaced and LTA is working with SBS Transit to accelerate an ongoing programme to replace insulators along the NEL with ones that have a better design. These replacement works will be completed by June. To have two MRT faults occur over two days is "very unfortunate and frustrating", LTA said, noting that the faults happened on two separate lines, each for different reasons. "We apologise for the inconveniences caused," LTA added. "We will have to continue to dive into root causes whenever incidents like these happen and take firm actions. Maintaining rail reliability will be a continuous task." Bridging buses activated at Toa Payoh MRT station on March 29
Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, March 24. Muslim leaders told last August that position on nurses wearing tudung under review, likely to change: Shanmugam The Govt was discussing this internally as it could see good reasons to make this change, he said. READ MORE HERE Singapore's temperatures rising despite cooling effects of La Nina: Climate report Last year was the eighth warmest year on record. READ MORE HERE At least 70 police reports filed against Singaporean-run crypto trading platform Torque Investors are claiming millions lost in cryptocurrencies on the platform, run by S'porean businessman Bernard Ong. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Store workers, gun rights supporter, grandfather-to-be among Colorado shooting victims For 51-year-old Teri Leiker, who had worked at the store for 30 years, it had long been a happy place, said a friend. READ MORE HERE Malaysia's police chief causes ripples with claims of corruption in senior ranks of force Abdul Hamid Bador said he knew of former police chiefs using serving police officers to do their bidding. READ MORE HERE New centre aims to lift standard of palliative care in Singapore It also seeks to train more professionals in it and, in the process, help to normalise death and dying. READ MORE HERE Economy Watch: CapitaLand restructuring unlocks value for shareholders They will receive shares in a new and potentially more vibrant entity, says associate editor Ven Sreenivasan. READ MORE HERE Get help for low libido: Testosterone deficiency part of ageing, but treatable Testosterone levels generally naturally fall about 1% each year after the age of 30, said a consultant urologist. READ MORE HERE Rain, stars and Louis Vuitton glamour at first physical fashion show in S'pore since Covid-19 pandemic 112 guests got a first-hand look at the luxury house's newest collection - an industry first in the new normal. READ MORE HERE Singaporean woman who tested negative for Covid-19 during SHN later tests positive She is likely to be shedding minute fragments of the virus RNA, which are no longer transmissible, MOH said. READ MORE HERE
SINGAPORE - Trains heading towards Marina South Pier on the North-South MRT Line were delayed by a screen door fault during peak hours on Friday morning (March 19). At 8.28am, operator SMRT told commuters on Twitter to add 10 minutes of travel time from Ang Mo Kio to Braddell due to a platform screen door fault. Mr Arjun Nair was on his way to work from Khatib MRT station to Tanjong Pagar MRT station when an automated announcement informed him around 8.20am that his train would be delayed because of the fault at Bishan. "The train slowed down at Yio Chu Kang station, where it started to jerk as it moved," said the 26-year-old health and safety officer. He alighted at Ang Mo Kio MRT station and waited for close to 20 minutes. He watched two "packed" trains go by before boarding one. "A lot of people were looking at the time," he added. "Some tried to jump the queue and board the train." Other commuters said on Twitter that the delays were longer than 10 minutes, with several lamenting that they were late for work. Twitter user yzfanggg said at 8.44am: "It took me 30 minutes travel time from AMK to Bishan and I'm late for work, it would be great if y'all don't lie about the travel time??" At 9.01 am, another user vaayadii said that the train was moving slowly and it took nearly 30 minutes to board the train. Another user travellingjes said at 9.21am that the train "took a good 30 min". In a tweet at 9.53 am, SMRT reduced the additional travel time from Ang Mo Kio to Braddell to 5 minutes. [NSL]: Due to a platform screen door fault, pls add 5mins train travel time from #AngMoKio to #Braddell towards #MarinaSouthPier.— SMRT Corporation (@SMRT_Singapore) March 19, 2021 More on this topic Related Story Platform screen doors malfunction at Braddell MRT station during evening peak hour Related Story 3-line MRT breakdown in October caused by cut in power cable insulation, rusted component
SINGAPORE - An engineer with a doctorate was on Tuesday (Feb 9) sentenced to 18 days' jail for molesting a 39-year-old woman on an MRT train. Shen Ruifu, who holds a PhD in geotech, a branch of civil engineering, committed the offence on a south-bound train as it was travelling from Ang Mo Kio to Bishan at around 7.45am on Dec 12, 2018. The 54-year-old previously worked at the National University of Singapore and had left in 2015. Defence lawyer Raphael Louis told District Judge Marvin Bay that his client committed the act of molestation at the spur of the moment and the offence did not involve skin-to-skin contact. The lawyer added that it was Shen's first brush with the law. For molestation, he could have been jailed for up to two years and fined or caned. More on this topic Related Story Two-week jail sentence for NUS student who molested woman on MRT Related Story Man, 55, jailed for rubbing against woman on MRT train
SINGAPORE - Finance executive Ryan Koh, 29, spent nearly three hours in a train after a power trip disrupted service along stretches of three MRT lines on Wednesday (Oct 14). He was heading home from Clementi to Yew Tee when the power fault occurred. The train he was on came to a halt inside the tunnel between Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak stations. "Some lights went out immediately and the train came to a stop slowly. I was expecting a minor delay but now I am stuck for almost three hours," he said. When The Straits Times spoke to him at around 9pm, he said the majority of people in the train had left after SMRT staff started evacuating commuters at around 8pm. Senior citizens were asked to move to the back of the train to disembark, he said, estimating that about 70 people opted to stay on the train. He decided to stay on board as "the queue was long and slow". Most commuters remained calm and informed family members about the delays, he added. However, SMRT staff stopped detraining passengers at around 9pm due to heavy rain and lightning risk, he said. At around 9.40pm, the staff told the commuters to be seated and confirmed that the train would be moving to Bukit Batok. Mr Koh, who received a complimentary train ride voucher for one ride, said he was tired and hungry. "I just want to go home as soon as possible." The power fault had disrupted service between Woodlands and Jurong East on the North-South Line, between Gul Circle and Queenstown on the East-West Line, and between HarbourFront and Serangoon on the Circle Line. A major breakdown during the Covid-19 pandemic raised fears among commuters like Mr R. Fong. The 28-year-old concept artist, who was stuck on the train at Kranji from 7.04pm to 8.24pm, said he was "definitely worried about Covid-19 because social distancing on the train is non-existent". Some commuters posted photos on social media of stations with the lights out, including at Yew Tee, Boon Lay and Joo Koon. Mr Leslie Lim, 23, was withdrawing money at an ATM at Boon Lay station when the power fault occurred. He walked to the station after the machine went off, but realised commuters were not being allowed into the station. The national serviceman then checked SMRT's Twitter page, which told commuters to expect additional travelling time. This confused him, he said, as station staff had informed commuters that services were not available. He then took a private-hire ride home to Sengkang - a journey that he said cost him $36 instead of the usual $24 due to surge pricing. There were 30 to 40 people around who were confused, he added. "There really wasn't any (safe distancing measures) and neither was it really being enforced because of the chaotic situation. Some of the staff were busy answering questions such as what buses to take, sometimes surrounded by two to three people." Shops on the ground floor of Jurong East MRT station were also affected by the power outage. While the lights outside the shops had come back on, staff at the darkened Mr Bean outlet were using their handphone torchlights to serve customers. At 9.30pm, one staff member who wanted to be known only as Madam Chang, 47, told ST that the electricity went off suddenly at about 7pm and had not been restored since. "This is the first time this happened... We might have to throw all the drinks inside the fridge and the pancakes are all cold already," she said.