Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) has blamed a signaling error near Marina Bay station for the delay in southbound train service on the North-South line on Thursday.

An SMRT spokesperson said that it was a signaling slipup near Marina Bay station at around 7.50 am on Thursday that caused a general delay of around eight minutes in journey time on the North-South Line.

The glitch also affected returning northbound train service as the trains consumed more time to turn around after Marina Bay station.

The spokesperson claimed that the signaling error was resolved in thirteen minutes.

SMRT also apologized for the delays that troubled commuters on Thursday morning.

The recent breakdowns in SMRT services have revealed the vulnerabilities of depending on monopoly for an essential service.

Angry commuters complained that SMRT was slow to inform them about the disruptions. They added that that even those who stuck on trains were not informed about what was being done to help them.