Changi Airport Terminal 5 to be served by TEL, CRL; contract awarded for works to modify 3 EWL stations

The upcoming Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be served by the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and the Cross Island Line (CRL) through a new MRT interchange station coded TE32/CR1.

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In a press release on Jul 25, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) officially announced that the new MRT station at Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be part of the TEL extension (TELe), which will enable direct connectivity between Changi Airport and the city centre.

When completed, TELe will connect commuters from Changi Airport to Gardens by the Bay, Maxwell, and Orchard, and continue north to Woodlands North station, where they can transfer onto the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System Link.

Commuters can expect shortened travelling times when travelling on TEL from Changi Airport to Marina Bay, which is expected to take approximately 40 minutes, from the 50-minute journey time of today.

Track alignment of Thomson-East Coast Line Extension and Cross Island Line, and location map of Changi Terminal 5 station. (Image: LTA)

Situated at the terminal’s ground transportation centre, integrating train, bus, taxi, and other transport services, the Changi Terminal 5 station will also be connected to the CRL.

The CRL’s 5.8km extension from CR2 Aviation Park station to CR1 Changi Terminal 5 station will connect commuters to key nodes at the Punggol Digital District and Jurong Lake District, as well as residential areas including Ang Mo Kio, Clementi, Hougang, Pasir Ris, and Punggol.

Commuters travelling on the CRL from Changi Airport to Ang Mo Kio would take around 45 minutes, saving up to 15 minutes of travelling time compared to 60 minutes today, said LTA.

Conversion of Changi Airport Branch Line to Thomson-East Coast Line

To enable direct rail connection between Changi Airport and the city centre, the 14km TELe from TE31 Sungei Bedok station will connect to TE32 Changi Terminal 5 station, with a further extension to Tanah Merah station.

The existing three-station East-West Line (EWL) stretch – also known as the Changi Airport Branch Line – will have its EWL systems converted to TEL systems.

LTA said converting existing rail stations from one line to another “requires extensive modifications and careful planning” to ensure compatibility with different train systems and operations.

LTA says the modification works at Tanah Merah station, including a new platform (behind construction barriers), is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. (Image: SGTrains)

Preparatory works to modify Tanah Merah station into an interchange station have been ongoing since 2016, said LTA, adding that these include building new viaducts, adding a new platform, and expanding the concourse area, slated for completion by the end of 2025.

LTA said in the following stage of works, it will carry out systems integration works at Tanah Merah, Expo, and Changi Airport stations to convert them into TEL stations.

These include changes to the tracks, various systems such as signalling, communications, controls, and power supply, and platform screen doors – as EWL uses 138m-long six-car trains with four doors per side, while TEL uses 92m-long four-car trains with five doors per side.

To facilitate these station modifications and system integration works, adjustments to train services will be needed. LTA will share more details when ready.

Checks by SGTrains on information publicly available on the government’s procurement portal showed that LTA awarded Contract T3206 on Jul 14 to Chiu Teng Construction Co. Pte. Ltd. for “Addition and Alteration to Changi Airport Line” valued at around S$94 million.

The tender for Contract T3206 under civil engineering works was called in April 2024 and was closed in September that year, with works expected to be completed by July 2031.

New MRT interchange station at Changi Airport Terminal 5 to be served by Thomson-East Coast Line Extension and Cross Island Line

TE31 DT37 Sungei Bedok
TE32 CR1 Changi Terminal 5
TE33 Changi Airport
TE34 DT35 Expo
TE35 EW4 Tanah Merah

Changi Terminal 5 is currently a working name.

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External Links
Thomson-East Coast Line Extension and Cross Island Line: Connecting Changi Airport Directly to the City Centre and Major Hubs – LTA

Images: CAG, LTA, SGTrains.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.