How To Avoid The EWL Train Disruptions – Alternative Public Transport Routes & Shuttle Buses

East West Line Train Disruptions

“I was late because the MRT broke down” is a viable excuse a lot of us wished we had in our pockets when rushing to work. Well, since 25th September 2024, it is, with the East West Line (EWL) stopping services between Jurong East and Boon Lay MRT stations until further notice.

Here’s all you need to know if your commute is affected, including alternative routes and free bus shuttles:

What happened to the East West Line?

Image credit: Kezia Tan

On the morning of 25th September 2024, a faulty train caused cracked tracks and damaged power lines. As of time of writing, the train service between Jurong East and Bouna Vista MRT is still on pause, and this is expected to last several days. SMRT is aiming to restore full service on 30th September 2024.

You can catch up on the news with these links:

Free bus services & shuttle trains available

“Means I can skip work?” Sadly for you, no. There are alternative routes offered by SMRT during this period of time.

Image credit: SMRT Facebook

Free shuttle buses between Jurong East & Bouna Vista MRT

Image credit: SMRT Facebook

You can find free shuttle buses at the affected train stations, with the words “Bridging Bus” displayed at the front. These buses are said to run approximately every 3 minutes.

Take these exits to get to the bridging bus:

Buona Vista – Jurong East: Exit D & B
Jurong East – Bouna Vista: Exit A
Clementi – Jurong East: Exit A
Dover – Jurong East: Exit A
Celemnti – Bouna Vista: Exit B
Dover – Bouna Vista: Exit B

Information from SMRT Facebook on 27th September 2024.

Free regular bus services between Boon Lay & Queenstown MRT

Regular buses will also run free of charge within an extended area. Beyond the affected train stations, there will be free regular bus services between Boon Lay and Queesntown to ease commuter traffic.

Those using these buses can simply board without tapping their fare cards. You can click the links below to find more information about the free buses from each station.

You can click the links here:

Shuttle train services

In addition, there will also be shuttle trains running on either side of the disrupted stations along the East West Line to speed up human traffic flow. Expect shuttle trains running at 10-minute intervals between Boon Lay and Jurong East MRT stations, and between Queenstown and Buona Vista MRT stations.

Best alternative routes to take

If the crowds during peak hour over the last 2 days are anything to go by, you can expect some level of crowding at the affected areas. For those commuting during rush hour, we’ll suggest changing your route home and taking other MRT lines and buses where possible.

Common routes and the suggested alternative, with travel time:

Orchard to Jurong East.

City Hall to Jurong East.

Dhoby Ghaut to Jurong East.

Chinatown to Jurong East.

Tip: Some of the quickest alternative routes require a bit of walking. If it’s raining or you have trouble walking, select “least walking” when picking out your route on Google Maps for the next-best alternative.

Navigating the disruptions in the East West Line

Things are bound to be a bit chaotic between Jurong East and Bouna Vista, but do remember to be nice to the staff who are working hard to divert the crowds. It’ll also be a good idea to plan extra time into your commute and opt to work from home if it’s an option for you.

And Westies, our hearts are with you. You can bet we’ll most definitely not use this in the next East vs West debate. Sincerely, an Eastie.

Reads to keep you company on your longer commute:

Cover image adapted from SMRT Facebook, Kezia Tan

Kezia Tan