2011 Singapore MRT disruptions
A window broken by a commuter due to a lack of ventilation during the 15 December 2011 MRT breakdown.
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| Duration | Ongoing, spasmodic |
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| Date | 15 December 2011 – present (5 years, 5 months, 1 week and 1 day) |
| Location | Singapore |
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| Participants | Singaporeans |
For many years, Singapore's public transport system, especially its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), has been recognized internationally for its efficiency and convenience. However, since December 2011, frequent and severe disruptions to the MRT services have become a prominent national and international issue, the Singapore MRT quandary. The quandary has been marked by numerous incidents, issues and problems pertaining to the maintenance, quality and reliability of Singapore's MRT system.
The quandary began on 15 December 2011, when the North-South Line experienced its first major breakdown. The incident quickly became national headlines. Two days later, on 17 December 2011, the North-South Line experienced a second major breakdown. These two MRT disruption incidents affected a sizable part of the population and prompted the Singapore government to respond. Investigations of the two breakdowns by a government-formed Committee of Inquiry revealed shortcomings in SMRT's maintenance regime. On 7 July 2015, a power fault regarding the third rail insulation of the MRT resulted in the disruption of the entire East-West Line and North-South Line. An investigation by the LTA found lapses in maintenance by SMRT.
The two train services that disrupted on the North South Line that took place on 15 and 17 December 2011 were the worst breakdowns in SMRT's history (surpassed by the 2015 disruption that happened later). All MRT stations on the North South Line and East West Line were further closed due to checks on all trains and tracks to be carried out. Train services started at 10 am instead. Free parallel bus services were also available from 5.30 am to 10 am. However, as the checks were not completed, train services were delayed up to two hours. Train service on the East West Line resumed at 11 am while North South Line resumed fully at 12.08 pm.
In December 2011, the government commissioned a Committee of Inquiry into the state of breakdowns and disruptions of the train services. The committee is headed by Tan Siong Thye, Chief District Judge of the Subordinate Courts and the two other committee members are Professor Lim Mong King from the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University and Soh Wai Wah, Director of Prisons. On July 3, 2012, the Committee of Inquiry submitted its report to Transport Minister, Lui Tuck Yew. A response is expected to be given by the Transport Minister to the COI report at a parliament sitting which held on July 9, 2012. On July 4, 2012, the 358-page COI report made available to the public, cited shortcomings in SMRT's maintenance regime and checks done.
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