When midnight strikes on Lunar New Year’s Eve, and families gather for reunion dinners, Singapore’s MRT network winds down for the night.
But for the essential workers who keep it running, the shift is far from over.
Across over 100 stations, the last trains pull in around midnight—then another shift begins: tracks are inspected, equipment serviced, and systems checked, readying everything for the first train at dawn.
By day, platforms stay busy, and passenger-facing staff remain on duty, ensuring that 3.49 million daily trips run smoothly.
Meet three of the people behind Singapore’s rail network whose commitment to service means choosing duty over celebration, year after year.
For Siti Amirah Abdul Rahaman, every shift begins long before passengers step onto the platform.
“I have to ensure that the circuit breaker is not tripped, make sure all the cabinets are closed, and ensure that the fire extinguisher is placed properly,” said the 32-year-old train captain, who has been operating trains on SMRT for nearly eight years.
In a profession dominated by men, with around 400 male train captains compared to just 11 women in the company, Siti is a rare presence. And an unlikely one, at that.
She joined after her husband, who was then a train captain himself, introduced her to the job. What started as curiosity quickly became a calling.
“What’s going through my mind is that I want to make sure that everyone boarding the train has a safe trip to their destination,” she shared.
During Lunar New Year, the stakes are higher. Train services are increased to accommodate the surge in travellers, and Siti embraces the busyness with quiet pride.
“On the eve of public holidays like Chinese New Year, they extend the train timings. That’s where it gets busy. We have to focus on ensuring that families and the elderly have a safe and smooth journey,” she said.
And when children spot her train pulling into the station and wave from the platform? “That’s what makes me happy — to look at them smiling and comfortable on the train.”
Steven Mark Sevenshadow has spent 25 years at SMRT, working his way up to Station Manager at City Hall, one of Singapore’s busiest stations.
His team of 12 handles everything from equipment checks to passenger emergencies, all while keeping the platform running smoothly across three rotating shifts.
“My job is to lead a group of assistant station managers and service ambassadors to ensure station operations run smoothly — and that everything runs safely for passengers to alight and depart,” he explained.
What many commuters do not realise is that the night shift is often the most demanding.
Between 1am and 4am, maintenance teams move in for track work, rail grinding, and structural repairs. By 5.30am, the station must be ready to receive the first train of the day. The margin for error is slim.
Train disruptions remain his greatest test during operating hours: “That’s when your customer service comes in. Your knowledge. Your procedures. And that’s where you have to be calm, lead your team, and give passengers alternatives to ensure they can continue their journey smoothly,” Steven said.
During festive periods like Lunar New Year, City Hall station sees an influx of tourists alongside its usual commuter crowd. Chinese colleagues take leave, hours are extended, and the remaining team pulls together.
“That’s the period where, as a team, we come to a complete understanding — today, we are here to ensure everything runs smoothly,” he shared.
His most memorable moment was when a passenger fainted from low blood sugar on a train. His team brought her to the welfare room, gave her Milo and biscuits, and called her husband, who arrived in thirty minutes. The passenger now regularly greets the staff as she passes through the station.
For Steven, moments like these are the reason he keeps showing up.
“That smile from the passenger and the thank you — when you go back home, you can sleep peacefully. I always feel I’m serving the nation.
“I’m part of the system moving millions of people around Singapore,” he said.
Most commuters never think about what keeps their train running smoothly. Soh Jun Long does — at all hours of the day and night.
As Deputy Engineering Maintenance Manager, Jun Long oversees back-end operations most passengers never see.
While trains stop running around midnight, his team’s work is far from over. The quiet hours between the last train and the first are precisely when maintenance crews move in — checking tracks, servicing critical systems, and ensuring everything is ready for the morning rush.
“Behind the scenes, we are doing preventive maintenance throughout normal hours and engineering hours,” he explained.
Emergency calls at 2am are part of the job.
“If my bosses call, we rush to the station to rectify the issue as soon as possible,” he said matter-of-factly. The stakes are high — a malfunctioning air-conditioning system, for instance, can trigger a server shutdown that brings train services to a standstill the next morning.
During festive seasons, Jun Long’s team steps up monitoring and inspections, with standby teams ready for emergencies.
But he also makes time to check on his ground staff, personally visiting stations and bringing snacks to keep morale high during the long festive shifts.
What keeps him going through the demanding hours? “Seeing trains running smoothly and preventing any disruption — that’s quite worthwhile for me,” said Jun Long.
Together, Siti, Steven, and Jun Long represent the thousands of SMRT workers who keep Singapore’s rail network running through every festival, every public holiday, every celebration — whether on the platforms, in the control rooms, or deep in the depots when the city sleeps.
As Steven puts it: “Every journey you take, there’s a big team of unsung heroes, from station staff to maintenance, to the people planning for everything to run smoothly. There’s always a team at SMRT, always ready.”
This Lunar New Year, as families across Singapore reunite, spare a thought for those on duty, on track—in keeping Singapore moving.
