Train Breakdowns in Singapore. What to do and what NOT to do

Read all about today's breakdown here and here.

I was caught in the midst of it sadly.
And... it is really bad that both of the most heavily utilised lines were affected. The Red North South Line and the Green East West line..




Which means, NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST ALL AFFECTED LIKE WOW
If you're familiar with Singapore news... yes this happens once in a while. How often? It really depends but yes it has happened quite a number of times.

This is the first time I was badly affected and in the thick of the action
So this post is dedicated for such train breakdowns, and I will recap how I got through the breakdown today

[Breakdown at City Area]
I am at Raffles City, City Hall mrt area. Both red and green lines are down. City hall mrt is now uselesss! What should I do?!

Check and understand the current situation! 

1. Check @ltasg on twitter to know exactly why is going on. Check SMRT's facebook page where they will update if services has resume.
2. If you can't access these, ask a friendly local for help, wherever you are
3. If you are already at the mrt, there are volunteers with pamplets and suggestions on alternative routes

Know your options, and change your plans if necessary!

1. I strongly recommend going to the next available line that is working fine.
   
   This was what I did. I walked a long distance from City Hall to Dhoby Ghaut Mrt, which had both the Purple North East line and the Yellow Circle line that were still working. Ask locals for directions! (but pls, if the local appears not to have a good sense of direction... just say thanks then move on and ask someone else!!!)


2. I then recommend taking the train service again if it resumes


3. Last option... take a bus to your destinations
   
   The free shuttle bus services that run along the mrt lines tend to be crowded, filled to the brim and very slow. I don't recommend taking the free shuttle bus at all to be honest.
   
   For myself, who tried to take a normal bus, this was a very bad first decision. Buses were at a standstill in the city area. In 10 minutes, I covered about 600-800m by foot. However, the bus I saw at Raffles City was still stuck at the exact same position while I have already traveled to a bus stop further down.
   
   The problem with the city is that each bus stop has many buses, up to 13 even. Imagine all 13 buses need to now alight the numerous passengers who can no longer use the mrt and are queuing up in a single row to enter the bus stop. Add all the cars who have been summoned to the city to fetch people home in order to avoid the mrt. Now add in all the taxis that are being used up to send people where they need to go.
   
   you get one massive traffic jam.
   
   In fact, it was so bad that after 30 minutes of staring at buses that could not move, I then gave up my original plan of taking a direct bus home and walked to Dhoby Ghaut mrt station. I took the train and then SOS my dad to pick me nearer to home.


4. Not even an option... taking a cab
   If you are stuck in the traffic jam I mentioned above.... be prepare for your money to fly. Every minute your vehicle is stationary, the meter in the cab would continue running. So you are MUCH BETTER OFF taking the public transport (and the inconvenience).
   
   Remember the bus I left 800m behind? There were also about 9 cabs trying to turn right into the cross junction but to no avail as traffic was absolutely at a standstill. 

I really hope this post might help you in the event the train breaks down again. I refused to take pictures of the crowds and standstills as I wanted to save my phone battery. Click the two news reports at the top of this post to see all the details if you want!

Ez-link, the transportation card for Singapore

I think most tourists would already know that they have to get an Ez-link card in order to make use of the public system of Singapore.



I'm here to quickly break down to you the costs of your transport.

Travel Cards

Img Source: here

These paper cards are dispensed when you buy a standard ticket for a single trip.
It is commonly used by tourists and those silly enough to leave their cards at home. But did you know, this amazing paper card can be REUSED up to 6 times.

However, you have to constantly go to the top up machine and pay for your next trip.
Unlike the usual EZ-link card, which simply stores a sum of money for you to use up, you need to pay exact for each trip using this card.

When you buy a standard ticket for the first time, this card would be dispensed to you.
For the second trip using that same ticket, all you need to do is place that ticket on the card holder and then select your next trip.

This is the general ticketing machine! And long queue of people buying tickets

Convenience: 2/5 
There are usually long queues at the General Ticketing Machines, and sometimes the machine would state that they are unable to give you sufficient change. Please read the screen carefully before inserting money!

Price: 5/5
You're not paying much more for the use of that paper card after all.

Ez-Link Cards
The common ones used by all locals.

Img Source: google search

From memory, such cards are purchased for $12. $5 for the card itself, $7 for its stored value.
If you are going to be heavily reliant on public transport (meaning at least 4 trips in a day), perhaps getting this card would be most convenient

Convenience: 4/5
You still have to queue at the GTMachines often, since you would top up only $10 at a time (the minimum amount for the adult card). Please note that the stored value in the card in non-refundable! You have to use it all up, or keep it for your next trip to Singapore.

Price: 3/5
I am not sure if $5 deposit that you pay for the card is worth that convenience, especially if you need one for every family member and if you are not travelling that often.

Singapore Tourist Pass

All the information you would need is found here.

http://ezlink.com.sg/singapore-tourist-pass.
Image source: the above site

I am not sure myself whether it is value-for-money, because it truly depends on how much you would spend on public transport.

If you stay at orchard road and only want to shop in the area, and maybe make a trip to the Singapore Zoo... then no, it is not worth it to get the pass.

If you are familiar with Singapore and would take buses up and down orchard road, or take the mrt to explore places like Chinatown, Tiong Bahru, Somerset and Marina Bay all within the same day, then perhaps it is a good idea to get that pass :)

IN CONCLUSION
Get someone else who has been to Singapore to lend you their card!
If not, the standard ticket/travel card/paper card should be sufficient for your travels :)

P.S If you're super hardworking, consider using this fare calculator to calculate your expenses!

Getting to Bugis Street

Alrighty! You've probably heard of Bugis street as the one place teenagers go to for shopping and accessories buying. This place has improved a lot over the years especially by installing air conditioning!! 

But first, may I please emphasize that Singapore IMPORTS A LOT OF THINGS. Please don't be surprised if you're noticing clothes from your home country selling for a much higher price here in Bugis Street. Itzliddat. :/ So if you don't want to buy items made in China, made in Thailand, I don't recommend coming here, because a large number of shops sell these items!

Then again, I'm not complaining as a singaporean, there are good steals at Bugis Street, although I would avoid spending more than $20 for any single piece of clothing there..

Ok enough rambling, let's go!!!

Tap out of the station and you'll straight away see this sign.

Bugis street is not clearly mentioned, so just head right!

ah... our favourite guardian where everyone waits for everyone

After turning right, walk a little and then you'll see this are with two escalators again on your right. Take those escalators!

If you decide to go straight, you will see this instead, and this heads towards the basement of Bugis Junction the shopping mall. It's characterised by the staircase at the centre. 

You'll see the street after taking the escalators. Walk straight toward the nearest traffic light 

Cross the road, and you'll reach bugis street!

There is a side entrance to Bugis Street as well, on the left side facing Bugis+, another shopping mall

Some of the items sold here~

You'll find a number of nail parlors too

Haha hi luhan!

Do walk around and check out the items before buying them. But unless you're familiar with how the shops are organised, it can be really hard to go back to the shop where you found an item.

Try haggling and barganing a little once you see something you like, BUT do not bargain half price omigosh NO.

Asking for $2 off is quite common especially if you bought more than 1 item, but do it quietly at the counter and very likely the staff would give it to you. 

ALSO sometimes the third floor tends to sell their items more cheaply than the first 2 floors o.o 

Rough Price Guide (the max you should pay): 

Tote Bags $5

I Love SG shirts $10

Dresses $35

Cotton Shirts $10

Dressy Shirts $20

Caps $15

Most items are labelled with their prices, so that it really helpful!

There are some toilets within bugis street itself on the second and third floors.

If you're going back, go in the same direction as from how you came, and look out for this sign!

Enjoy shopping :]

and if you're hungry and looking for food, do head over to the top floors of Bugis+ for restaurants or to the food junction at Bugis Junction for local food!

Getting to HabourFront station/Sentosa via MRT

To be honest, majority of the mrt stations are easy to navigate... Except the monster station known as DHOBY GHAUT. Urgh

I'll update with pictures soon!
But for now if you're coming from orchard, take the red line to dhoby ghaut station.

After alighting, travel one floor up and look out for where everyone is heading towards. You should be able to see a travellator/ flat escalator.

Go to the end, and you would notice 5 escalators, some going up some going down.

Head down, and then head toward the north east line (purple line) on your right.

On your far left would be the circle line (yellow line) that also goes to HabourFront. 
DO NOT TAKE THAT LINE because that goes one whole round. DO NOT TAKE IT.

If all else fails, just ask a friendly looking Singaporean :3

Once you head down the escalator toward the purple line, you can then board the train toward HabourFront, which is just 4 stops away.

And yay! You've arrived.

Now go up one level and head toward exit E if you're going to VivoCity or Sentosa

You'll see many signages telling you where to go to take the sky train or walk through the broadwalk!


Here's a map of the area near the station in case you need it... You'll always find these useful maps at any of the MRT stations, so make use of it!

Now it's time to make your way up to ground level.

Go up these escalators next to candy empire

See? the blue signs are all so obvious

Once you head to the ground floor, look out for another blue sign that says SENTOSA BROADWALK

Sorry picture here isn't so clear.

If not, head up another 2 floors to the top floor and you would find the sentosa express.

Again, lots of signages for you

And here we are!

To get in, use your ez-link card or go and buy a ticket from these ticketing machines.
Cost of entry is $4 per ride, regardless of which station in sentosa you alight at. I'll explain more about this below.

I was given a ticket coz I was staying at one of the hotels, so I had 3 days of free train rides on the sentosa express! 

These are the train stations on the Sentosa Express!

Sentosa Station is the one you would board at Vivocity

Waterfront Station is where Resort World Sentosa, the Casino and Universal Studios are at

Imbiah Station is where the Merlion is

Beach station is where the... beach is yup..

This is how the long broad walk looks like from the sentosa express train (which I forgot to take a picture of ><)

Tip

In my opinion, $4 for a ride is NOT worth it unless you are with a lot of heavy baggage and stuff.

Look at the picture below and you'll notice that walking that 500 metre long bridge may be a much cheaper option than taking the sentosa express.

And did you know, once you enter sentosa, YOU CAN TAKE THE SENTOSA EXPRESS FOR FREE. This $4 is only an entrance fee.

Therefore, I'd much rather walk 10 minutes and enter free (or pay $1 on a weekday) and then go up the waterfront station and take the sentosa express to whatever other station I may want to go to (like beach station).

And when you want to return to mainland Singapore, IT IS FREE TOO.

Hence I would take the sentosa express from beach station all the way to Sentosa Station and I wouldn't have to pay a cent. Yay~

Alright here are some pictures I took at the beach :D

PICTURES ARE MINE DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION Beware of red ants near the grassy patches *ouch* they bite really hard
And please slather on sunscreen REGARDLESS of whether you really want that tan or not. The UV rays are bad for you. I put SPF 50 and still got darker O_O ok can

If you're looking for a cheap and good restaurant option at the end of the day, I recommend Astons, a western food restaurant where prices of a set meal ranges from $6.50 to $44.90 with 2 side dishes and affordable drinks.
Astons is located on the ground level at RWS, at the same level where the big USS globe is. It can be a bit hard to find, so do look at the location maps all around before finding it

That's all for now, hope this is helpful!
Please help me click on the ad banners at the side too x]