Six-day MRT shutdown traced to maintenance delays and outdated trains from the 1980s

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has fined SMRT S$3 million after a six-day disruption on the East-West Line in September 2024 affected millions of commuters. Investigations revealed preventable maintenance lapses involving ageing trains and a delayed overhaul schedule.

Root Cause: Old Trains, Overhaul Delays

On September 25, 2024, a major service disruption struck Singapore’s MRT East-West Line when a faulty axle box on an SMRT train dislodged and damaged tracks between Dover and Clementi stations. The bogie, a wheel assembly under the train, derailed and triggered shutdowns across nine stations—from Boon Lay to Queenstown.

The train involved was from SMRT’s first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) fleet, introduced in the 1980s. Though 66 new Movia trains were scheduled to replace the fleet by March 2024, COVID-19 delayed deliveries by over a year. As a result, SMRT extended the maintenance overhaul interval of the old trains—first from 500,000km to 575,000km, then again to 750,000km. The incident train had run 690,000km since its last overhaul in 2018.

Investigation Results and Public Response

On June 3, 2025, LTA confirmed in its report that SMRT had relied on internal performance data to justify the extended maintenance intervals, without conducting detailed engineering risk assessments. The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) also noted that a malfunctioning warning system failed to prevent the incident.

Despite the lapses, LTA acknowledged SMRT’s prompt response in activating free bridging buses and minimizing the disruption zone. The authority factored these efforts—and SMRT’s incurred S$10 million in repair and service costs—into the final S$3 million penalty.

SMRT and LTA Responses

SMRT Trains President Lam Sheau Kai described the event as an outcome of converging factors, including pandemic-induced supply chain delays and spare parts shortages. “In hindsight, we could perhaps have exercised greater caution in how we managed the transition and decommissioning of the older trains,” Lam said.

LTA echoed the sentiment, stating it will allow more time buffers in future procurement to guard against unexpected delays. The penalty will be directed to the Public Transport Fund to assist lower-income families with fare subsidies.

Impact on Commuters

An estimated 2.6 million passenger journeys were affected from September 25 to 30, 2024, with around 500,000 commuters impacted daily. The disruption also coincided with the PSLE period, affecting students across Singapore.

Train services resumed on October 1, 2024, after extensive track repairs. The incident is considered one of the most severe in the MRT system’s history and has prompted renewed scrutiny of maintenance protocols across the rail network.

The SMRT fine serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preventive maintenance and infrastructure renewal. For Singapore and neighboring regions, especially those investing in cross-border connectivity, the incident highlights the value of resilience planning in public transport systems—especially when balancing ageing assets with new transitions.

Sources: CNA (2025) , Mothership (2025)

Keywords: MRT Fine, MRT Disruption, East-West Line Breakdown, KHI Trains, Train Maintenance Lapse, LTA Penalty