Lui Tuck Yew 'extremely concerned' about overnight Bukit Panjang LRT disruption

Despite having engineers working overnight, it will "take more time" before services on the Bukit Panjang LRT line can resume, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning (Mar 10).

At 8.07am, SMRT tweeted that LRT trains were being tested "to ensure safety and reliability". At 11.40am, he added: "Stress tests of both loops of BPLRT going well. Hope to resume full service soon."

"I am extremely concerned about the disruption of BPLRT services, which has resulted in significant inconvenience to residents," he wrote. "LTA and SMRT engineers have been working round the clock since yesterday evening to try to restore service. Unfortunately, it will take more time before service can resume."

He added that he has instructed the Land Transport Authority and public transport operator SMRT to deploy as many buses as is needed at affected stations, to provide an alternative means of transport for residents getting to school and work. More officers have also been deployed at the stations to assist commuters.

Preliminary investigations indicate that a tie-breaker overheated and caught fire on Monday, although SMRT is still investigating the cause of the incident. On Tuesday morning, Mr Lui posted a photo of the burnt tie-breaker, which affected the inner loop of the LRT line. "Incidentally, it was a new one just installed on Sunday night due to some arcing problems," he wrote.

The burnt tie-breaker for the inner loop of the Bukit Panjang LRT line (left). Pictured right is the unaffected tie-breaker for the outer loop. Photos: www.facebook.com/luituckyew

Free bus shuttle services are running along the LRT route, while public buses provided by SMRT and SBS Transit in the area are free.