2023 Year In Review – Singapore Train Network. (Image: SGTrains)
It has been a decently eventful year for the Singapore train network in 2023.
New rolling stock models entered service, the rail network has become more digitalised & technologically evolved, and various rail projects have officially commenced works.
Continue reading to learn about the various rail developments that happened this year!
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January 2023
24-station Jurong Region Line Officially Starts Construction Works
Images: LTA, SGTrains
The Jurong Region Line (JRL) officially commenced construction works on Jan 13, with a ground-breaking and viaduct-launching ceremony at the Tengah town.
Passenger service is slated to begin in three stages from 2027 to 2029.
Construction Works for Cross Island Line Officially Commences
Artist’s Impression of Teck Ghee MRT station for the Cross Island Line. (Image: LTA)
Construction works on Phase 1 of the Cross Island Line (CRL) officially started on Jan 18, with a ground-breaking ceremony at the future Bright Hill CRL station.
Passenger service on the CRL Phase 1 is slated to commence from 2030.
April 2023
Contracts for Cross Island Line Signalling, Platform Screen Doors Systems Awarded
Siemens Mobility Awarded Cross Island Line Contract for Signalling & Platform Screen Doors Systems. (Image: Siemens Mobility)
Siemens Mobility was awarded the contract on Apr 14, to supply signalling systems and platform screen doors systems for the Cross Island Line.
SMRT Launches Maintenance Engineering Centre at Kim Chuan Depot
Images: SMRT/Facebook, S Iswaran/Facebook and SMRT/Facebook.
SMRT’s Maintenance Engineering Centre (MEC), co-developed with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), was launched at the Kim Chuan Depot (KCD) on Apr 28.
READ MORE: SMRT Launches Maintenance Engineering Centre at Kim Chuan Depot »
May 2023
LTA Calls for Rail Operators to Bid for Upcoming MRT Lines
Images: LTA/Facebook and SGTrains File.
LTA opened tenders on May 9 for the appointment of rail operators for the upcoming Cross Island and Jurong Region MRT lines, calling upon SMRT Trains and SBS Transit to bid.
READ MORE: LTA Calls for Tenders to Appoint Rail Operators for Upcoming MRT Lines »
LTA Procures More 2-car Sengkang-Punggol LRT Trains
Image: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries via LTA/Facebook.
Twenty-five 2-car LRT trains will soon operate on the Sengkang–Punggol LRT (SPLRT) after LTA procured an additional eight more from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on May 9.
Hyundai Rotem J151 Train for Jurong Region Line Spotted in South Korea
Image: Screengrab from 양준서레일TV/YouTube
The first of 62 Hyundai Rotem J151 trains for the Jurong Region Line was sighted in South Korea on May 18 and will enter passenger service in 2027.
June 2023
7th-gen Alstom Movia R151 Train for North-South, East-West MRT Lines Enters Passenger Service
The new 7th-gen Alstom Movia R151 trains for the North-South, East-West MRT lines. (Image: SGTrains)
The highly-anticipated Alstom Movia R151 – SMRT’s newest 7th-gen MRT train for the North-South, East-West MRT lines (NSEWL) – commenced passenger service on Jun 4.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Awarded Contract for New Cross Island Line Trains
Artist’s Impression of the new CR151 trains for the Cross Island Line. (Image: LTA)
Forty-four new MRT trains for the Cross Island Line – featuring five doors per side, condition-monitoring systems and overhead powering – will be supplied by CRRC Qingdao Sifang following the contract award by LTA on Jun 14.
July 2023
Downtown Line Trains Fitted with New LCD Dynamic Route Map Displays
The upgraded Dynamic Route Map Display (DRMD) on the Bombardier MOVIA C951 trains plying the Downtown Line (DTL). (Image: SGTrains)
Capable of displaying more detailed information to commuters, the Bombardier MOVIA C951 trains on the Downtown Line (DTL) are receiving new LCD upgrades for the Dynamic Route Map Displays (DRMD), with the first trainset rolling out on Jul 2.
READ MORE: More Downtown Line Trains Have Been Upgraded With New LCD Dynamic Route Map Displays »
Entry into Service for New 3rd-gen C851E trains for the North East Line
The new 3rd-gen Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL) trains for the North East Line. (Image: SGTrains)
The Spanish-made 3rd-gen Alstom Metropolis C851E trains for the North East Line (NEL) entered passenger service on Jul 28, increasing the NEL fleet from 43 to 49 trains.
READ MORE: New 3rd-Gen North East Line MRT Trains To Enter Passenger Service From Jul 28, 2023 »
Announcement of Brickland MRT Station along North-South Line
Artist’s Impression of Brickland MRT station for the North-South Line (NSL). (Image: LTA)
Located between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak MRT stations, the upcoming Brickland MRT station will be completed in 2034, LTA announced on Jul 28.
October 2023
Construction for the Cross Island Line Punggol Extension Officially Commences
Artist’s Impression of Pasir Ris MRT station for the Cross Island Line – Punggol Extension. (Image: LTA)
The four-station Cross Island Line – Punggol Extension (CPe) officially commenced construction works on Oct 10, directly linking Pasir Ris and Punggol when passenger service begins in 2032.
Completion of 11-year Core Systems Renewal for North-South, East-West MRT Lines
North-South, East-West MRT Lines: Completion of 11-Year Core Systems Renewal Programme. (Images: SGTrains, LTA/Facebook, SGTrains)
Singapore’s most significant rail network improvement works to date, the 11-year core systems renewal project on the North-South, East-West MRT lines, was officially completed on Oct 25.
READ MORE: North-South, East-West MRT Lines: Completion of 11-Year Core Systems Renewal Programme »
November 2023
Unveiling of Singapore Rail Test Centre & C851E trains for Circle Line
The upcoming Alstom Metropolis C851E (CCL) trains for the Circle Line at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC). (Image: SGTrains)
Phase 1 of the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) – previously known as the Integrated Train Testing Centre (ITTC) – was officially launched on Nov 2, with full operations slated for 2025.
The first two 3rd-gen Alstom Metropolis C851E trains for the Circle Line (CCL) are currently undergoing testing & commissioning works at the facility.
December 2023
SMRT Unveils Bishan Depot Upgrade and Rejuvenation Project
Entrance to Bishan Depot along Bishan Road. (Image: Screengrab from Google Maps)
The 37-year-old Bishan MRT depot (BSD) is set to receive upgrades and rejuvenation works – part of LTA’s Rail Digitalisation Roadmap – rail operator SMRT announced on Dec 15.
Image sources can be found in the respective linked articles.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.
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