Policies
The rail network will grow to about 360km by the early 2030s to reach more people and places. The denser network will also provide more convenient options and alternative travel routes for commuters who use public transport.
Expanding the Rail Network
Since the start of train operations on 7 November 1987 with just five MRT stations on the North-South Line, we have expanded the coverage of our rail network, building more lines and stations over the years.
Today, we are expanding our rail network at an unprecedented pace, with a series of major projects to be completed progressively: “closing the loop” with Circle Line Stage 6, Stage 5 of the Thomson-East Coast Line, the Downtown Line 3 extension, as well as the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line.
By the 2030s, about eight in ten households will be within a ten-minute walk of a train station.
Additionally, feasibility studies are ongoing for two new rail lines, tentatively called the Seletar Line and Tengah Line. The Seletar Line, if deemed feasible, could serve areas such as Woodlands, Sembawang, Sengkang West, Serangoon North, Whampoa, Kallang, and the Greater Southern Waterfront. For the Tengah Line, we are assessing how it could supplement the transport network in the west and northwest regions to serve areas such as Tengah, Bukit Batok, Queensway, and Bukit Merah. We have also preliminarily assessed that these two potential rail lines could meet at the Greater Southern Waterfront. If studies confirm that these lines are feasible, we expect to complete them in phases from the 2040s.
Learn more about the rail network and upcoming rail projects.
Renewing North-South and East-West Lines
The North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL) are the oldest and most heavily utilised rail lines in our network. To sustain the reliability of both lines to meet current and future demands, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed the renewal of their six core systems.
On 4 June 2023, LTA also introduced the first batch of the new R151 trains for passenger service, which will replace the earlier generation NSEWL trains progressively by 2026, before the end of their service life.
Mid-life Upgrade of the North East Line Trains
The North East Line (NEL) runs some of our oldest driverless MRT trains. These trains are currently undergoing a mid-life upgrade, which will refresh the train interiors, decrease maintenance downtime and minimise the risk of delays which arise from train faults due to equipment failure. The mid-life upgrading works started in 2019 and are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026.
Renewing the Bukit Panjang LRT and Sengkang-Punggol LRT
All 19 first-generation trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) will be replaced with new trains between 2023 and 2025. The power rail and signalling systems will also be upgraded to improve operations and system reliability. Since December 2024, we have fully resumed double-loop service on the BPLRT all day during operating hours. We are on track to complete the BPLRT renewal works by 2026.
Another 25 new Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) two-car trains have also been purchased to better meet long-term public transport demand in Sengkang and Punggol towns. The first of these new two-car trains will enter into service in July 2025, and the remaining trains will progressively enter service by 2028.
The SPLRT depot is also being expanded from 3.5 hectares to 11.1 hectares, to increase its stabling capacity and create more space for maintenance facilities. The depot expansion works are expected to be completed by 2027.
Learn more about the various renewal works in our rail network.
Rail Reliability
Rail reliability will continue to be a top priority. Since 2019, we have achieved and maintained our target of at least 1 million Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF) across our rail network, making us one of the leading metro systems worldwide for reliability.
Singapore Rail Testing Centre (SRTC)
This centre will support the testing and commissioning of trains and railway systems for both new and existing rail lines. SRTC is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, and will allow us to conduct round-the-clock testing without affecting operations of active train lines.
This frees up time for maintenance work on the mainline during limited engineering hours, and minimises the need for interruptions to train services during operational hours. The centre’s test tracks are designed to be interoperable and can accommodate the various types of trains and railway systems used across the rail network.
Learn more about the SRTC.
Under the NRFF framework, which was first implemented in 2011, LTA took over the ownership of operating assets, such as trains and signalling systems, from the public transport operators. As the asset owner, LTA can ensure timely investments in capacity expansion and the replacement and upgrading of operating assets.
The rail operators, relieved of the responsibilities of asset ownership, focus on operations and maintenance of the rail network and providing reliable rail services for commuters. Adjustments were also made to the licensing periods, profit and risk sharing arrangements, as well as the regulatory regime, to enhance the contestability, sustainability and reliability of our rail system.
Learn more about the NRFF.
