Circle Line

Watt's Going On? Circle Line Outage Shocks Commuters!

Last Tuesday, a pesky power fault had Circle Line commuters feeling more like a captive audience than the rush hour crowd! Find out how they coped (with free buses, of course)!

SINGAPORE: Last Tuesday (Sep 17), commuters on the Circle Line faced an unexpected jolt to their evening journeys as a power fault caused significant delays during peak hour. Like a scene out of a comedy show, hundreds found themselves sandwiched between impatience and confusion, with frantic announcements echoing in the air. Reports began circulating as early as 5 PM that the Circle Line (CCL) had temporarily halted services, leaving many stranded and staring at their phones for updates that seemed light-years away.

For those at Bishan station, the scene felt like a bizarre game of musical chairs. Initially, passengers were not allowed access to the Circle Line platform, creating a growing crowd of grumpy commuters with nowhere to go. After a short five-minute hiatus, this restriction was lifted, but not without a cacophony of disgruntled voices rising from the depths of the waiting area, turning frustration into an impromptu social media fest.

As commuters took to SMRT’s Facebook page to vent their emotions, they echoed sentiments of confusion and irritation. “Didn’t they check the weather for power faults or something?” quipped one user. Others insisted they were tired of vague messages; they wanted real-time updates—not cryptic warnings. Meanwhile, train service resumed approximately 30 minutes later, but not without a slew of dramatic tales of electric EQ’s, stranded souls, and a little bit of moral support through nearby snack stalls.

In light of this outage, SMRT made some of the best of a bad situation by offering free regular bus services to all Circle Line stations affected. A small consolation perhaps, but worth much more than a hundred tweets when you’re stuck in transit. Did you know that the Circle Line, with its iconic loop, is also noted as one of Singapore’s most integrated MRT lines? Despite its hiccups, it continues to connect commuters to key hotspots! But here’s a fun fact - transport incidents can often lead to increased support from local businesses, proving that even the worst bumps in the journey can lead to something sweet!