Service engineer Abdul Jalim, 48, and hordes of commuters showed up late for work this morning (Jan 10), after the trains they were in experienced "track problems".
He sent this photo in an MMS taken at about 7.30am at Boon Lay Station, one of several stations packed with flustered commuters who had been held up.
"The public annoucement said the train will be delayed due to track problems. It seemed that only one track was usuable and trains for both directions had to queue and take turns to move," he told STOMP.
The STOMPer boarded the train at Bedok Station at about 6.20am and normally arrives at Lakeside Station by 7.05am. Today, he arrived at 7.30am.
"I took half an hour just to get from Clementi Station to Lakeside Station, which is only four stations between them," he said, referring to the stations of Clementi, Jurong East, Chinese Garden and Lakeside.
STOMP contacted SMRT and a spokesman said: "Due to a track fault, the first eastbound train departing Boon Lay MRT station was delayed by about 25 minutes at 5.36am today.
"As a result, eastbound train service between Boon Lay and Pasir Ris MRT stations and westbound train service between Clementi and Boon Lay MRT stations trains were delayed.
"During the delay period, some westbound trains were turned around at Lakeside MRT station to maintain service on the East-West line.
"Normal train service resumed at 7.31am.
"SMRT apologises for the inconvenience caused."
Another STOMPer was also caught in the delay.
Late for work due to "MRT jam" 
