Hougang MRT Delay Sparks Frustration Among Commuters
Yet Another MRT Delay
Commuters on the North-East Line (NEL) had a rough start to their morning as a train delay at Hougang MRT on 17 March 2025 led to overcrowding and longer waiting times. The issue, first reported on r/SingaporeRaw, quickly gained traction as affected passengers took to Reddit to vent their frustrations.
How Bad Was It?
Those traveling from Punggol, Sengkang, and Buangkok experienced significant hold-ups before even reaching Hougang.
"I boarded the train at Punggol this morning. I knew the trains were not operating as per usual because it took damn long to move off from Punggol. Then at Sengkang and Buangkok, the train also remained there for a while."
— u/Ettoleo
By the time the train reached Hougang, it was already completely packed, making it nearly impossible for waiting commuters to board.
"By the time it reached Hougang, cabins were full and packed. I saw the long queues to enter the train and I felt sooooo bad for everyone outside."
— u/Ettoleo
For those at Kovan or Serangoon, it was essentially game over:
"Buangkok already need to squeeze and fight to get onboard. Any stop after Buangkok is by default ggwp."
— u/Shdwfalcon
Delayed, But Not Acknowledged?
What frustrated many was the lack of official communication about the issue. While commuters struggled to get to work, there was no real-time update from SMRT or LTA.
"The platform TVs displayed '3-minute train interval'. Intervals were NOT 3 minutes. Too bad this kind of fake news cannot POFMA."
— u/BOTHoods
"Reddit updates faster than LTA updates on Twitter. Or rather, LTA doesn’t want to update."
— u/BOTHoods
This lack of transparency has led many to believe that delays like these are happening more frequently but aren’t being officially acknowledged.
"Quite a few unreported ones. Good thing the internet is the great informer."
— u/SolidInstance9945
Overcrowding Concerns
Many Redditors pointed out that overcrowding has been an ongoing issue, even on normal days.
"Frankly, when reach HOUGANG, MRT already full even on NORMAL DAY."
— u/Clear-Today-900
"Worse at Kovan MRT."
— u/SkywalkerNeo
This brings up concerns about whether Singapore’s transport infrastructure can handle its growing population.
"We have too many people. MRTs are packed. Maintenance cannot keep up with breakdowns. Roads are jammed despite high COE. Houses getting smaller despite rising prices. When will the government admit we need to put a cap on the population here?"
— u/SignificanceWitty654
A Sign of Bigger Problems?
Some users believe that train delays are just the beginning, suggesting that Singapore’s infrastructure struggles might extend beyond public transport.
"The problem is this type of infrastructure failure will soon affect water and electricity."
— u/SolidInstance9945
Others pointed fingers at larger policy issues, questioning whether expansion is prioritized over sustainability.
"Why should they? Their performance bonuses depend on GDP, median income etc., and immigration allows them to easily pad those statistics."
— u/wristss
Final Thoughts
MRT breakdowns and delays aren’t new in Singapore, but the frustration stems from a lack of real-time updates, worsening overcrowding, and the perception that these issues aren’t being properly addressed.
With population growth and infrastructure stress becoming recurring themes in public discourse, the question remains: At what point will these delays become unacceptable?
