2024 Year In Review – Singapore Train Network | A Train of Thought by SGTrains

Singapore’s train network has been very eventful in 2024. We have had existing lines being extended with new train stations opened, new trains entering passenger service and older ones going into retirement, and one of the longest MRT service disruptions.

Continue reading to find out about the various rail events that happened in the past year.

Covered in this Article

Existing train lines extended; new MRT/LRT stations opened
Welcoming new trains, bidding farewell to the older ones
New rail operators for existing and upcoming train lines
Other rail developments and innovations
East-West Line’s six-day-long train service disruption

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Existing train lines extended; new MRT/LRT stations opened

Marine Parade (TE26) station of the Thomson-East Coast Line. (Image: SGTrains)

The fourth stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) began passenger service on Jun 23 and comprises seven new stations – Tanjong Rhu (TE23), Katong Park (TE24), Tanjong Katong (TE25), Marine Parade (TE26), Marine Terrace (TE27), Siglap (TE28), and Bayshore (TE29).

TEL stage 4 (TEL4) provides commuters new access to areas in eastern Singapore previously not connected to the rail network.

Teck Lee (PW2) station platform on the Punggol LRT. (Image: SBS Transit/Facebook)

Teck Lee (PW2) station on the Punggol LRT opened for passenger service on Aug 15, nearly 19 years since the station was built in 2005.

This came after months of speculation among netizens on the available public transport options when the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) moved to its new Punggol Campus. Teck Lee LRT station would also serve the Punggol Digital District (PDD) business park.

Punggol Coast MRT station platform. (Image: SGTrains)

The new Punggol Coast (NE18) station on the North East Line (NEL), which connects to the existing Punggol (NE17) station under the NEL extension (NELe), opened for passenger service on Dec 10. It became the new terminus station for the NEL.

Situated within the heart of PDD, the new Punggol Coast MRT station would provide better connectivity to the JTC Business Park, housing over 28,000 employees.

Over 12,000 students at the SIT Punggol Campus and visitors to the upcoming Punggol Coast Mall will also benefit from greater accessibility from the opening of the new NEL station.

Welcoming new trains, bidding farewell to the older ones

The 7th-gen Alstom Movia R151 train running on the North-South, East-West MRT lines. (Image: SGTrains File)

The new 7th-gen Alstom Movia R151 trains began running on the North-South Line (NSL) on May 25. These trains first entered passenger service on the East-West Line (EWL) in 2023.

These R151 trains will eventually replace all existing 1st-gen C151 trains running since 1987 and have already replaced the 2nd-gen C651 and 3rd-gen C751B trains, which first launched in 1995 and 2000, respectively.

Approximately two R151 trains would be put into passenger service every month upon completion of testing and commissioning works, and all 106 new R151 trains are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026.

The new 3rd-gen Alstom Innovia APM 300R (C801B) vehicles for the Bukit Panjang LRT. (Image: LTA)

The new 3rd-gen Alstom Innovia APM 300R (C801B) vehicles for the Bukit Panjang LRT officially entered passenger service on Aug 1. These vehicles will eventually replace all 19 existing 1st-gen C801 vehicles, which have been running since the line opened by end-2025.

Compared to the previous generations of light rail vehicles, the C801B vehicles have new and improved features such as liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors with dynamic-coloured route displays, assisting passengers during their journey.

The 3rd-gen C801B vehicles also come with light-emitting diode (LED) saloon lighting, which is brighter and energy-efficient, and an upgraded air-conditioning system with enhanced cooling capabilities and better air distribution throughout the vehicle.

New 3rd-gen C810D trains for Sengkang-Punggol LRT arrive in Singapore; first batch of 25 two-car trains. (Image: LTA)

The first batch of 25 new C810D trains for the Sengkang-Punggol LRT arrived in Singapore on Nov 23, with the remaining train cars making their way progressively.

These 3rd-gen Mitsubishi Crystal Mover (C810D) trains, which come in a 2-car format, will eventually replace all 1st-gen C810 vehicles running since the line opened and are expected to enter passenger service in the third quarter of 2025.

Artist’s Impression of the CRRC Qingdao Sifang CR151 train exterior for the Cross Island Line. (Image: LTA)

The proposed design of the rolling stock model for the upcoming Cross Island Line (CRL) has been revealed, with new renders and a survey for the public to vote on their preferred design on interior features between May and June 2024.

Contract CR151 for the design and supply of 44 new 6-car trains for the CRL was awarded to the consortium comprising CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. and Singapore CRRC Sifang Railway Vehicles Service Pte. Ltd. last year.

The CR151 trains are similar to the existing T251 trains on the TEL, with five doors on each side. The first CR151 trains are expected to be delivered progressively from 2027 onwards, in time for the opening of CRL Phase 1 operations in 2030.

Singapore’s 2nd-gen Siemens C651 have retired on Nov 27, 2024; first entered passenger service in 1995. (Image: SGTrains)

Apart from the introduction of new trains to the fleet, we bid farewell to the 2nd-gen C651 trains on Nov 27, which first entered passenger service on the NSEWL in 1995.

Nineteen sets of Siemens C651 trains were procured by the former Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) in 1992 to maintain train frequencies and supplement the six-station Woodlands extension between Choa Chu Kang and Yishun stations on the NSL.

The last three C651 trains, 201/202, 207/208, and 237/238, were last seen on passenger service between Sep 27-30, during the six-day-long EWL disruption, with carriages of the last train, 237/238, sent to the scrapyard on Nov 27 and 30.

Singapore’s 3rd-gen C751B trains have retired on Dec 7, 2024; first entered passenger service in 2000. (Image: SGTrains)

Following the retirement of the 2nd-gen C651 trains, we bid farewell to the 3rd-gen C751B trains a week later. These trains first entered passenger service on the NSEWL in 2000.

Twenty-one sets of C751B trains were procured for the Changi Airport extension under Contract 751B, awarded in January 1998, with five of these trains initially planned to permanently run through-train service between Changi Airport and Boon Lay stations.

The last two C751B trains, 341/342 and 337/338, were last spotted running between Sep 27–30 during the six-day-long EWL disruption; carriages of the last train, 337/338, sent to the scrapyard on Dec 7 and 11.

New rail operators for existing and upcoming train lines

SMRT’s business arm, Strides, officially began operating the Sentosa Express on Sep 1, 2024. (Image: SGTrains File)

SMRT’s business arm, Strides, began operating the Sentosa Express monorail service, which links mainland Singapore to Sentosa Island, on Sep 1.

This follows after Strides was awarded a long-term contract for the operations, maintenance, and service excellence of the Sentosa Express monorail line in September last year.

Image: Screengrab from 양준서레일TV/YouTube

The upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) will be operated by the joint venture of SBS Transit Rail and RATP Dev Asia Pacific (SRJV), making it the first foreign operator to be involved in Singapore’s rail industry.

The SRJV partnership, also named Singapore One Rail (SOR), committed to using the experience of RATP Dev to build local capabilities in rail operations and maintenance. RATP Dev Asia Pacific is a subsidiary of the French public transport operator RATP Dev S.A.

Other rail developments and innovations

The Tuas Depot, Tuas Link MRT station and Singapore Rail Test Centre are within close proximity. (Image: Screengrab via Google Earth)

A tender has been called on Apr 25 for linking the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) with the Tuas Link MRT station on the EWL. Contract 1906 (C1906) involves the design and construction of a rail viaduct link between the Tuas West Extension of the EWL and the SRTC.

The 4th-gen C151A train for the North-South and East-West MRT lines. (Image: SGTrains File)

The 4th-gen C151A trains on the NSEWL received software upgrades in May, allowing them to align more efficiently and quickly when arriving at the stopping points of stations. Before the update, C151A trains were observed to spend up to 10 seconds when docking at stations.

Diagram of the new platform layout at Sengkang LRT station. (Image: SGTrains Graphics)

An enhanced platform layout at Sengkang (STC) station on the Sengkang LRT commenced operations on Sep 29, enabling commuters to board and alight quickly.

The platform enhancement works at Sengkang LRT station include dedicated stopping locations for each of the four routes serving the station.

Previously, commuters queueing for a West Loop train at platform 1 or 2 will share the same platform space – demarcated through coloured lines on the floor – with other commuters queueing for an East Loop train.

One 5th-gen C151B train to be retrofitted with latest reliability-centred capabilities in proof of concept. (Image: SGTrains File)

Announced during the Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE) 2024 on Nov 6, one 5th-gen C151B train that operates on the NSEWL will be undergoing a proof-of-concept trial.

This proof-of-concept trial involves SMRT and CRRC Sifang exploring retrofitting the latest reliability-centred capabilities on one of the 45 C151B trains operating on the NSEWL.

Some reliability-centred capabilities for the retrofitted C151B train include a condition-monitoring system that supports predictive maintenance activities, paired with structural health monitoring technologies to “keep close tabs on the train’s structural integrity.”

7 new cars to be added to Changi Airport’s Skytrain fleet; will bring total fleet size to 29 cars by 2029. (Image: SGTrains File)

The Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced on Nov 7 that it will undertake a S$3 billion investment over the next six years to strengthen Singapore’s position as a global air hub.

These improvements include upgrading the Changi Airport Skytrain, which links Terminals 1, 2, and 3, and replacing various Skytrain subsystems nearing end-of-life. CAG will also procure seven new Skytrain cars to provide additional capacity by 2029.

Green CBTC algorithms achieve additional 8% energy savings on North-South, East-West lines. (Image: SGTrains File)

Signalling system supplier Hitachi Rail and rail operator SMRT announced on Nov 8 during the SITCE 2024 that it has reached the ‘Phase 1 Milestone’ with its Green Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) project deployed on the NSEWL.

The Green CBTC Next Gen project has achieved 8 per cent energy savings for NSEWL trains in efforts to attain net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Annual savings are over 15 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to electricity consumption of about 3,000 households annually.

Regular train service between Tanah Merah and Tampines to resume on Dec 10, 2024. (Image: LTA)

Train services between Tanah Merah and Tampines stations on the EWL were closed from Dec 7 to 9 to facilitate track works to connect the existing MRT line with the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID). EWL services resumed on Dec 10, a day earlier than initially planned.

The closure was part of preparatory works for the opening of the new ECID in 2026. Due to “safety reasons”, there was no train service at the affected segment during that period.

Bukit Panjang LRT: Dual-loop train services to resume from Dec 30, 2024. (Image: SGTrains File)

Dual-loop train services on the Bukit Panjang LRT resume daily operations on Dec 30. This follows good progression on the line’s renewal programme and resumption of dual-loop train services on weekends and public holidays since Sep 28.

East-West Line’s six-day-long train service disruption

East-West Line disruption to continue into 2nd day; no train services between Jurong East & Buona Vista

Commuters on board a stalled train near Clementi station disembarked on the tracks and were guided back to the station platform on Wednesday morning. (Images: SGTrains)

A faulty MRT train caused severe damage to the tracks and trackside equipment on Sep 25 morning, leading to a major train disruption that spanned six days.

Train 065/066, a 1st-gen C151 train, was seen emitting smoke at Clementi station during its withdrawal back to Ulu Pandan train depot, situated between Jurong East and Clementi stations. Initial findings stated that the train’s axle box had already fallen off by this point.

Since the axle box had been dislodged, the train’s wheels came off the running rails and hit trackside equipment, including the third rail – which supplies power to trains – and track point machines – which move the tracks for trains to be directed to switch between tracks.

Amongst the trail of destruction caused by the train, a total of 46 rail cracks were found across 2.55km of tracks between Dover and Clementi stations. Several Pandrol clips that fasten running rails onto the sleepers were also damaged.

Train services resumed on Oct 1 after conducting stress and comprehensive testing, including safety and functional tests of the tracks and trackside equipment.

The incident showcased the multi-agency team effort between the ground staff from both the rail and bus operators, officers from TransCom, Traffic Police, and Police Land Divisions, and volunteers who assisted commuters with their journeys.

Image sources can be found in the respective linked articles.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.

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