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SINGAPORE: Delays on the Downtown Line 3 (DTL3) during its opening day were caused by a defective train as well as the activation of an emergency button, said SBS Transit on Saturday (Oct 21).

"This afternoon on the DTL, a defective train was withdrawn from service at the Tampines West Station which caused a delay of about five minutes," said SBS Transit in a statement.



"Following this, a passenger activated the emergency communication button on another train as it was approaching the Tampines East Station," SBS Transit added. "This added a further delay of about 15 minutes."



The transport operator added that it was investigating the cause of the train fault.



Commuters reported delays on the new line a few hours after it officially opened.

At around 2pm, commuters took to social media to complain, with Twitter user T.O.P_KING posting that the train he was on had stopped "at every station for a short while".





Delays were reported at various stations along the line including at Tan Kah Kee, Sixth Avenue, Tampines and Bedok North.

Netizens posted that the delays were due to a train fault, according to announcements made in the trains.

so finally the downtown line is officially open but why does the train stop at every station for a short while? 👎🏻@SBSTransit_Ltd pic.twitter.com/KdQWiSBY2w — T.O.P_KING (@LolliBingu_TOP) October 21, 2017

Facebook user Chunkeat Chan posted in a Facebook group saying that he was stuck at Bedok North Station for at least 10 minutes.

Others reported the train not moving for as long as 15 minutes.

Commuters had earlier reported smooth rides in the morning on the line's first official day of operation.



The estimated ridership for Saturday's opening day was 400,000 throughout the entire Downtown Line.

The delays come after train service was suspended between Bukit Panjang and Beauty World stations during the DTL3 open house last Sunday, due to a train fault.

Travel across the entire Downtown Line network is free on Saturday and Sunday to mark the official opening of DTL 3.