In retrospect, the collision – unfortunate as it was with 38 people injured – is a powerful lesson as signalling failures can have far more dire consequences.

Commuters travelling along the East-West Line and North-South Line will experience shorter operating hours over the weekend and full closures on some Sundays in December at 19 stations.

Commuters said the planned early closures of MRT stations next month would be an inconvenience, but worth it if the maintenance work to be done during that time paid off.