The Singapore MRT Ghost

In 2016, security camera footage from Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system appeared to show a ghostly figure emerging from the tracks at Bishan station. The footage went viral, causing widespread alarm in the superstition-conscious city-state. What followed was a mixture of supernatural speculation, official denial, and debate about what the cameras had actually captured.

The Footage

On October 2016, footage began circulating online that appeared to be from a security camera at Bishan MRT station. The video showed a train platform in the early morning hours. As the footage played, a white, humanoid figure seemed to emerge from the tracks and move across the platform before vanishing.

The figure was translucent, appearing to glow faintly. It moved with a walking motion but seemed to pass through solid objects. The footage lasted only seconds but was clear enough to spark immediate attention.

The video spread rapidly through Singapore’s social media networks. Within days, millions had viewed it, and supernatural explanations dominated discussion.

Public Response

Singapore, despite its modern veneer, maintains strong traditions of supernatural belief. Ghost stories are part of the cultural fabric, and many Singaporeans take the spirit world seriously. The MRT footage tapped into these beliefs.

Commuters reported feeling uneasy using Bishan station. Some avoided traveling through it entirely, especially late at night. Online forums filled with speculation about the ghost’s identity and the station’s history.

Some connected the footage to Singapore’s history. Bishan was built on the site of a former cemetery, which had been exhumed to make way for development. Some suggested the ghost was a disturbed spirit from this relocation.

Official Response

SMRT, the transit operator, responded to the growing panic. Officials stated they had reviewed the footage and found no evidence of supernatural activity. They suggested the video might be doctored or might show a visual artifact caused by camera malfunction.

The company emphasized that the footage had not come from their official security systems, raising questions about its authenticity. They noted that security cameras continuously monitored all stations without capturing similar phenomena.

Analysis

Technical analysis of the footage produced mixed conclusions:

Some experts suggested the figure could be a video artifact—a glitch in compression, a reflection, or interference with the camera sensor. Night-vision cameras are particularly prone to unusual artifacts.

Others noted that the figure’s movement was suspiciously smooth and consistent, which might indicate computer-generated imagery rather than a genuine anomaly.

The footage’s origin remained unclear. It was posted anonymously and could not be definitively traced to actual MRT security systems.

Cultural Context

The incident highlighted Singapore’s complex relationship with the supernatural. The government promotes rationalism and technological progress, yet traditional beliefs about ghosts and spirits remain strong, particularly among older generations and certain communities.

Singapore has numerous reported haunted locations, and ghost stories are a popular genre of local entertainment. The annual Hungry Ghost Festival involves rituals to appease wandering spirits. In this context, a ghost on the MRT was not as absurd as it might seem in other societies.

Similar Incidents

The Bishan footage was not the first reported ghost video from Singapore’s MRT system. Previous viral videos had shown apparent apparitions at other stations, though none achieved the same level of attention.

These incidents follow a pattern common worldwide—security camera footage from transit systems, hospitals, or other monitored locations appearing to show ghostly figures. The proliferation of cameras has increased such reports, though most are eventually explained as artifacts or hoaxes.

Resolution

The MRT ghost footage eventually faded from public attention without definitive resolution. Officials maintained their skeptical position; believers maintained theirs. No further footage from Bishan station emerged to support the supernatural interpretation.

Whether the video showed a genuine ghost, a technical artifact, or a deliberate hoax remains unknown. What is certain is that it touched something in Singapore’s collective consciousness—a modern society’s encounter with ancient fears.

Legacy

The Bishan MRT ghost became part of Singapore’s modern folklore. It demonstrated how quickly viral content could spread fear and how enduring supernatural beliefs remain even in highly developed societies.

The incident also raised questions about authentication in the digital age. When anyone can create convincing video effects, how do we evaluate footage that appears to show the impossible? The MRT ghost, whatever its origin, anticipated debates about deepfakes and digital manipulation that would intensify in subsequent years.