Yes fellow Singaporeans, they finally did it. On the 50th birthday of the nation, thousands stood united (and in darkness) regardless of race, language and religion yesterday evening as both the North-South and East-West lines broke down at the same time, disrupting everyone’s lives forever.
In what must be the worst train service disruption in Singapore’s history (here’s one for the record books), the two main SMRT lines were shut down around 7.30pm due to a power fault. Commuters speaking to Coconuts Singapore reported that the train they were on came to an abrupt halt before the lights went out. There was even one alarmed commuter who was heard screaming following the blackout. Some took a bohemian rhapsodic approach to the troubles, while someone elese took the opportunity to shit on the train.
Any other day, it would have just been another case of technical buffoonery and folks would trudge their way to the free bus services waiting outside MRT stations.
Un un un believable queue at Yewtee #smrt #breakdown pic.twitter.com/BkYr3wQDh2
— Ajim (@LOLAZIMXD) July 7, 2015
But nay, this was once in a lifetime event where both the red and green lines were wiped off the operational map for almost three hours yesterday. As renowned blogger Mr Brown had graciously pointed out, the only lines that commuters could utilise was the Circle, Northeast and Downtown lines, as well as the three LRT services.
It was especially hard on Muslim commuters who were fasting, and the train service disruption threw their plans to break their fast in a disarray.
i see all the malays rushing to 7 eleven just to buy snacks cuz they were stuck and couldnt break fast OMG SMRT
— ♡ (@mhlnx) July 7, 2015
Though it was a pretty dispiriting moment for the thousands of people stuck in a rut waiting for their buses to come, some folks took the opportunity to show some love for their fellow man. Some McDonald’s staff decided to give out free drinks to the people waiting for their alternative transport.
The only real winners yesterday were none other than third party taxi-booking apps — especially Uber, whose charges multiplied almost five times the normal fare, probably the highest rate we’ve ever seen. Someone even got charged $124 for her ride. Oh Uber, you card.
Train services on the East West line from Pasir Ris to Joo Koon eventually resumed at 9.20pm, and at much, much slower speeds, while services on both lines went on as usual this morning. Singapore however, will never be the same.
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