Longer wait for Circle Line passengers as closure of one platform at seven stations begins
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Commuters waiting for the shuttle service at Promenade station on the first day of partial closure at seven Circle Line stations.
ST PHOTO: YUGESH KANNAN
SINGAPORE - On Sunday night, administrator Peggie Nyam waited 20 minutes at Stadium MRT station for a train to Bishan.
Trains were arriving less frequently due to the closure of one platform at seven stations along the Circle Line (CCL) from 9pm on Sunday.
The 40-year-old, who went to the Singapore Sports Hub to watch the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championship, said she had heard about the partial closure but did not know when it started.
She added she would still have chosen to take the CCL despite the longer wait, as it was easier to get home by train than other modes of transport.
Like Ms Nyam, there were other confused passengers at Stadium station.
Many did not know about the partial closure, and asked SMRT marshals on the ground for help.
From June 11 to July 20, seven CCL stations – Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Promenade, Nicoll Highway, Marina Bay and Bayfront – have only one platform open on most days from 9pm till the end of service, to facilitate tunnel-strengthening works between Promenade and Nicoll Highway stations.
Top stories
Explore top stories from all sections in one place
Singapore
PM Wong to speak at May Day Rally on helping workers adapt to evolving roles due to AI, new tech
Singapore
Cross-border taxis can drop off passengers anywhere in S'pore, parts of Johor from May 4
Business
Oil soars past US$126 to new high on report Trump to be briefed on potential Iran strikes
Singapore
Judge overturns acquittal of three women who organised procession outside Istana, each fined $3k
Singapore
Why young Singaporeans see having kids as a loss, instead of something to be gained
Asia
‘Vehicle plate, not nationality’: Official says foreigners can still pump RON95
Business
Shorter waits at Asia ports, including Singapore, as ships use ‘slow steaming’ to cut fuel cost
Singapore
50% discounts on selected essentials at FairPrice for NTUC and Link members as part of May Day deals
Trains will run normally on June 16 to 18, 24, 28 and 29; and on July 1, 2, 7, 8, and 14 to 16.
There are two shuttle train services – one between Dhoby Ghaut and Promenade stations that will run at 15-minute intervals, and another between Marina Bay and Stadium stations, where trains will arrive every 20 minutes.
The longer waiting time did not deter cement-mixer truck driver Saravana Kumar, 33, from waiting for the train at Promenade.
He knew about the partial closure but still chose to take the MRT as there was no straight bus from Promenade to his home in Mountbatten.
However, he added that he did not expect to wait nearly 30 minutes in total for both shuttles.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic accountancy student Torsten See was surprised by the longer wait when he reached Promenade to take the train to Yishun.
The 18-year-old said: “If I were to go out this late in this area again, I might consider taking other forms of transport, especially on Sundays since I have school on Monday morning.”
