Man trespasses on Bukit Panjang LRT track, disrupting morning services

Train services on the Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit (BPLRT) line were disrupted during the morning rush hour on Monday, 18 May 2026, after a man was seen trespassing on the track near Segar station.

Transport operator SMRT first flagged the incident at around 6am, describing it as a "major delay" on its Facebook page. It later confirmed that there was no train service between Senja and Bukit Panjang stations in both directions.

At around 6.52am, SMRT attributed the disruption to a "track intrusion", before providing further detail approximately 20 minutes later.

In a Facebook update posted at 7.08am, SMRT said the man had been seen falling onto the track at Segar station at approximately 5am. Train services between Petir and Senja stations were temporarily suspended in both directions to allow police safe access to the tracks for investigations.

Services partially maintained, buses deployed

Train services between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang stations remained operational throughout the incident. SMRT activated free bridging bus and regular bus services to support commuters affected by the disruption.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also issued a notice on the MyTransport.SG app at around 6am, advising commuters to consider free bus services at affected stations.

Commuters whose journeys were disrupted were directed to download an e-Travel Chit from the SMRT website as proof of travel. Live service updates were made available via the MyTransport.SG train status page.

Commuter frustration on the ground

Some commuters expressed frustration over the handling of the incident. One commenter on SMRT's Facebook post said there were no staff on the ground to provide clear directions, and that a bus driver had directed passengers towards a service that terminated at Choa Chu Kang rather than their intended destination. The commuter said the confusion cost approximately 20 minutes of travel time.

Another commuter noted that bus service 976 was not in operation at that early hour.

SMRT responded to both comments, apologising for the inconvenience and advising commuters to look out for bus stops marked with blinker lights where free bridging bus services were available.

About the BPLRT system

The BPLRT is an 8-kilometre automated light rail system connecting residential estates in Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang to the North-South and Downtown Lines.

The LTA announced in November 2024 that approximately 88 per cent of renewal works on the BPLRT system had been completed. The full programme of renewal works is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026.