Channel News Asia

A second MRT disruption in two days – this time along the North-South Line, affecting thousands of evening peak-hour commuters. Train services along both directions of the North-South Line were affected from Marina Bay to Braddell stations on Thursday evening. "Train services between Braddell and Marina Bay MRT stations are disrupted," said a SMRT statement. "Passengers should take alternative modes of transport or the bus bridging service available between Bishan and Marina Bay MRT stations." "Power rail problem" caused the breakdown, said an SMRT spokesperson.
Emergency services were spotted outside MRT stations, and peak-hour traffic was also affected, with traffic congestion reported on Orchard Road between Dhoby Gaut and City Hall MRT stations. Channel NewsAsia understands that limited services for SMRT’s southbound line resumed later in the night. Passengers described scenes of confusion, as they tried to make sense of the situation. Some even used a fire extinguisher to break the windows of a train stuck underground due to lack of ventilation. Channel NewsAsia viewer Nizam Rahim sent in a picture of his wife walking on the track in the tunnel at the Dhoby Gaut station. One commuter, Adam, said he and hundreds of passengers were stuck on the train travelling from Somerset to Orchard. The electricity appeared to have been cut off, as the train was in total darkness. Neither did the air-conditioner seem to be working. Adam said: