Train services between Marina Bay & Toa Payoh resume after fire

SINGAPORE: SMRT said full train services between Marina Bay and Toa Payoh stations resumed at 11:20am.

In a tweet by SMRT, it said free bus services have ceased.

This came after a cable caught fire in the tunnel at Newton MRT station, causing train services on the North South Line to be disrupted on Wednesday morning.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the small localised fire involved some electrical wiring.

In a statement, SMRT said the fire that broke out at about 9:05am has since been put out, adding that its technicians have verified that the track is safe for operations.

SMRT said the incident was caused by a cable that caught fire in the tunnel.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was informed of the incident at 9:04am and despatched two red rhinos, two fire engines, two fire bikes, two support vehicles and an ambulance to the station.

SCDF added that the fire occurred about five metres away from the platform of the station.

The fire was extinguished at about 10am using fire extinguishers and a small quantity of foam.

Services from Marina Bay to Toa Payoh MRT station were stopped at about 10am so the damaged cable could be removed.

SMRT said all northbound trains were turned around at Newton station. Southbound train services towards Marina Bay were not affected.

No injuries were reported.

SMRT said 59 buses provided transport between the affected areas. Some commuters said everything went smoothly.

SMRT said passengers who could not continue with their journey because of the disruption, or had to exit an SMRT train station without taking a trip but had their fares deducted can get a refund at the Passenger Service Centre in any of SMRT’s 83 stations within the next 14 days.

— CNA/ck/xq

[View the story "Newton MRT Fire" on Storify]

Newton MRT Fire

A fire has broken out at the Newton MRT station & train services on the North South Line are affected

Storified by channelnewsasia Tue, Feb 12 2013 18:14:41