Singapore’s 1st-gen C151 trains have officially retired on Sep 26, 2025, entered passenger service in 1987

After 38 years of serving and moving millions of commuters across the North-South, East-West lines (NSEWL), Singapore bids farewell to the 1st-gen Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151 trains on Sep 26, 2025. These trains first entered passenger service on Nov 7, 1987.

This came after rail operator SMRT said in an update in June this year that the C151 trains will be phased out by September 2025 as their replacement rolling stock model, the 7th-gen Alstom Movia R151 trains, are put through an accelerated delivery programme.

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Contract 151: Electrical Multiple Unit Trains (Rolling Stock)

The 1st-gen C151 train at Jurong East station in 1991. (Image: CityTransport.info)

In April 1983, the former Provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority (PMRTA) announced that 34 consortiums and joint ventures were pre-qualified to supply Singapore’s first MRT trains under “Contract 151 (C151): Electrical Multiple Unit Trains (Rolling Stock)”.

PMRTA said that each C151 train would initially comprise four carriages, each 23 metres long, and would be controlled by computers on board.

The authority, which was also studying propulsion systems to power the C151 trains, emphasised its position to choose tried and tested technologies, such as the direct-current (DC) chopper control system.

Touted by the media to be a ‘glamour’ contract, then, on Apr 11, 1984, the PMRTA, which became the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC), awarded C151 to the Japanese consortium led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Valued at around S$581.5 million, the C151 contract for 66 new six-car trains, summing up 396 carriages, consisted of other Japanese train manufacturers under Kawasaki’s leadership, comprising Nippon Sharyo, Ltd., The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd., and Tokyu Car Co., Ltd.

The Japanese consortium would also supply S$20.9 million worth of spares over ten years and had given a strong undertaking to provide training for 200-300 key MRTC personnel.

The training covered all rolling stock aspects, including engineering design, parts fabrication and car body assembly, quality assurance and control, and maintenance.

Arrival of C151 trains in Singapore, and testing & commissioning works

The 1st-gen Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) C151 trains officially retire from passenger service on Sep 26, 2025. (Image: SGTrains File)

The first two C151 trains arrived in Singapore at the Tanjong Pagar Container Terminal on 27 May 1986. They were transported on trailers to the Bishan train depot for testing & commissioning works before they entered passenger service the following year.

The media reported on Jul 8, 1986, that the C151 train would commence its first official train test run at the Bishan train depot.

A ceremonial trial run of the C151 train was conducted that day, comprising 300 guests, including then-Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yeo Ning Hong, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The first C151 trains entered passenger service on Nov 7, 1987, coinciding with the opening of the first five stations of the North-South Line, following a launching ceremony officiated by then-Second Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong and Dr Yeo Ning Hong.

Refurbishment and upgrading works to C151 trains

Interior of a 1st-gen Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151 train. (Image: SGTrains File)

Throughout its 38-year service, the C151 trains received various upgrading works at various points, including a major mid-life refurbishment.

These upgrades include the addition of voice synthesisers in early 1996 that were developed in-house by SMRT Trains, replacing the manual announcements made by train captains. This came after early prototypes of a similar system between 1990 and 1992.

Between 1994 and 2000, the C151 trains were fitted with German-made noise-damped wheels, with special absorbers, through efforts to reduce rising noise levels from residents living adjacent to the MRT tracks.

The 1st-gen C151 trains’ manufacturer’s builder plate, with Train 089/090 built by Kawasaki-Tokyu Car Corp. in 1988, and its refurbishment plate, by Hyundai Rotem in 2008. (Image: SGTrains)

In 2004, SMRT announced that the C151 trains would undergo a mid-life refurbishment programme and appointed South Korea’s Rotem Co. of the Hyundai Motor Group (now Hyundai Rotem Co.), together with Japan’s Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Local firms RM Transit Technology Pte. Ltd. and dU LexBuild International Pte. Ltd. were also involved in the mid-life refurbishment, which took place between 2006 to 2008. The first upgraded train re-entered passenger service in November 2006.

Six C151 trains also underwent a propulsion system upgrade, which involved replacing the existing motor with an energy-efficient insulated-gate bipolar transistor with variable voltage variable frequency (IGBT-VVVF) Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM).

Replacement and decommissioning of C151 trains

A commemorative last train ride for the 1st-gen C151 trains was held by SMRT on Sep 28, 2025. (Image: SGTrains)

In 2016, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) stated its intentions to call for a tender to replace all 66 C151 trains with the new R151 trains. “Contract R151: Trains for North-South / East-West Lines” was called on Apr 13, 2017.

Train 045/046 was the first C151 train to retire from its approximately 33-year service in June 2020. The retirement of C151 trains was carried out concurrently with the 2nd-gen C651 trains and 3rd-gen C751B trains until the end of 2024.

In the last week of September 2025, only five C151 trains – Trains 005/006, 067/068, 089/090, 105/106, and 129/130 – continued running on weekday passenger service along the NSEWL, with the remaining trains awaiting disposal or repurposing.

The public and trainspotters caught and rode the last time the C151 trains for the last time on Sep 26 during passenger service, with SMRT also holding a commemorative train ride event on Sep 28, with Train 089/090 ferrying passengers for the final time.

C151 trains are gone from service, but never to be forgotten

With the 1st-gen C151 trains officially retired, the NSEWL fleet would total 198 trains, comprising the 4th-gen C151A, 5th-gen C151B, and 6th-gen C151C trains by Kawasaki-CRRC Qingdao Sifang, and the 7th-gen R151 trains by Alstom.

The C151 trains undeniably left an everlasting mark on all Singaporeans, especially since it was once the most common type of MRT train to encounter for a journey on the NSEWL.

Farewell to the C151 trains, and echoing the sentiments of all local trainspotters – thank you for all the memories.

WATCH: Singapore trainspotters gathered to bid farewell to the 1st-gen KHI C151 trains 🚇🥹#GoodbyeC151 »

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Images: CityTransport.info, SGTrains File, SGTrains.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.