Contract awarded for Changi Airport Skytrain refurbishment works, to be completed in 2030

The Changi Airport Skytrain system will be undergoing refurbishment works as part of a S$3 billion investment by Changi Airport Group (CAG) over the next six years to strengthen Singapore’s position as a global air hub.

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A contract for the refurbishment of the Changi Airport Skytrain system has been awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The Japanese firm also supplied trains and systems for the Sengkang–Punggol LRT, including the new 3rd-gen C810D train that recently entered service.

MHI said in a press statement on Jun 25 that the refurbishment project will include the renewal of facilities for key systems, such as signalling, communication, and tracks to “strengthen the safe and smooth transportation system”.

Changi Airport Skytrain near Jewel Changi Airport. (Image: SGTrains File)

MHI, which delivered the Changi Airport Skytrain system in 2007, said it has undertaken work to enhance the system’s capacity, including increasing the number of Skytrain vehicles, and has continually provided operation and maintenance under contract.

Taking into consideration that the project is for the refurbishment of the Changi Airport Skytrain system that is currently running, MHI said the renewal work “needs to be conducted while maintaining smooth operation with minimal service disruption on the existing route”.

As such, MHI said it will draw on the “know-how and experience” it has cultivated through previous construction projects to provide Skytrain users with a “more comfortable and reliable way” to travel within Changi Airport.

“Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2030,” said MHI.

Rejuvenation works announced by CAG in November 2024

CAG had said in November 2024 that various Skytrain subsystems, such as signalling and communications systems, are “nearing end-of-life” and will need to be replaced. It will also add seven new Skytrain cars, bringing the total fleet size to 29 cars by 2029.

In its press release, CAG said: “The rejuvenation will help improve operational performance before the entire system is overhauled in the late 2030s.” However, CAG did not explicitly mention whether the overhaul will occur after Terminal 5 opens around the mid-2030s.

CAG previously awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in March 2016 the contract for capacity expansion works and to provide six new Skytrain cars, expanding the Skytrain’s capacity to cope with the increased passenger traffic when Jewel Changi Airport opened in 2019.

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External Links
MHI Receives Contract for Refurbishment of APM System at Singapore Changi Airport – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Images: SGTrains.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.