2025 Year In Review – Singapore Train Network | A Train of Thought by SGTrains

The year 2025 brought multiple announcements and projects for the future of Singapore’s train network, of which the most notable was the start of consultation for the Land Transport Master Plan 2050.

The rail network also expanded with a new station, and plans for future developments were also announced, such as the Downtown Line 2 and the Jurong Region Line West Coast extensions.

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

Covered in this Article

Extensions to existing rail lines in the West
Enhancements to the rail network’s reliability
Other rail-related news and updates

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Extensions to existing rail lines in the West

Interior of Hume station on the Downtown Line.

Hume (DT4) station on the Downtown Line. (Image: SGTrains)

Located between the existing Hillview (DT3) and Beauty World (DT5) stations on the Downtown Line (DTL), the Hume (DT4) station serves residential developments along Hume Avenue, with nearby residents being able to enjoy time savings when travelling on the line.

The station shell of Hume station was completed as part of DTL2, and works to fit out the station began in January 2021. This is also the first time that Singapore has fitted out a provisioned station box along an operational MRT line.

Downtown Line will extend beyond Bukit Panjang to interchange with North-South Line at Sungei Kadut

Artist’s Impression of DE1 station along Sungei Kadut Avenue, near the Rail Corridor. (Image: LTA)

The Downtown Line (DTL) will be extended by two stops beyond Bukit Panjang (DT1) station to connect with the North-South Line (NSL) at the future Sungei Kadut (NS6) interchange station.

The 4km extension, which will serve the north-western region, including Yew Tee, Choa Chu Kang, and Sungei Kadut, was first announced in 2019 by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in its Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040 under the DTL Stage 2 Extension (DTL2e).

Jurong Region Line will extend to link with Cross Island Line, Circle Line under West Coast Extension. (Image: SGTrains)

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been studying the West Coast Extension, which involves extending the Jurong Region Line (JRL) for improved rail connectivity in the West.

The first phase consists of extending the JRL from Pandan Reservoir station to connect with the Cross Island Line (CRL) at the future West Coast station by the late 2030s.

Following that, the second phase involves extending the JRL further from the future West Coast station to connect with the CCL at Kent Ridge station by the early 2040s.

Cross Island Line Phase 2 officially begins construction; 6 new stations to be completed by 2032; Map of the 6 upcoming Cross Island Line Phase 2 stations. (Image: SGTrains)

Construction work for six new stations under Phase 2 of the Cross Island Line (CRL) has officially begun and is targeted to be completed by 2032.

The CRL Phase 2 (CRL2) comprises six underground stations, including two interchange stations: Clementi with the East-West Line (EWL) and King Albert Park with the Downtown Line (DTL). CRL2 will extend the 29km long Phase 1 by a further 15km westwards.

Enhancements to the rail network’s reliability

Singapore Rail Test Centre is now fully operational, allows all-day testing of trains in Singapore (Image: LTA)

The Singapore Rail Test Centre is now fully operational and allows all-day testing of trains in Singapore. The SRTC is fully equipped to conduct rigorous testing and commissioning of trains and core railway systems and will support testing requirements for both new and existing rail lines.

With the completion of SRTC, LTA said that train testing “will no longer rely on overseas facilities or occupy limited engineering hours on our operational rail network”.

The SRTC would also enable comprehensive testing of various railway systems, including signalling, communications, power, and integrated supervisory control systems, before they are installed and integrated on running rail lines.

The new train testing facility would also support the development of new railway technologies and systems by providing facilities for LTA, rail operators, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

3rd-gen Sengkang-Punggol LRT trains enter service on Jul 15, 2025; first two of 25 new C810D vehicles. (Image: LTA)

The 3rd-gen Sengkang–Punggol LRT (SPLRT) C810D trains have entered passenger service and will replace all existing 25 one-car 1st-gen trains and half of the existing 16 two-car 2nd-gen trains by end-2028, increasing the overall passenger capacity of the SPLRT to meet ridership demand.

These new trains have an improved air-conditioning system, ergonomic seating, and energy-efficient LED lighting. They also have clearer LCD passenger information displays and door-closing indicators that are more visible for better safety.

The new trains also include operational enhancements, including an onboard touch-screen diagnosis panel for quicker fault detection during testing and maintenance, and easier access to onboard equipment for staff members.

Inter-car doors are also equipped on these trains, facilitating safer and quicker passenger evacuation during emergencies.

BPLRT now using new CBTC signalling system since Nov 8, 2025; all 19 new 3rd-gen C801B trains running. (Image: SGTrains)

The BPLRT has reached a major milestone in renewal works with the completion of switching over to a new signalling system for the line.

Previously, the BPLRT used a legacy fixed-block signalling system, which was commissioned since the line opened in November 1999.

Following the progressive decommissioning of the 1st-gen BPLRT trains, with the last train retiring on Oct 17, all 19 new 3rd-gen Alstom Innovia APM 300R (C801B) trains have entered passenger service.

SMRT teases upgraded 5th-gen C151B train, returned with proof-of-concept reliability-centred features. (Image: SMRT/Facebook)

In late October this year, rail operator SMRT announced on social media that it took delivery of its first upgraded 5th-gen C151B train for the North-South, East-West lines (NSEWL) with new proof-of-concept reliability-centred features.

SMRT had said some reliability-centred upgrades for the 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.”

The upgraded C151B train will also feature an improved air conditioning system with enhanced cooling capacity and eco-friendly technologies for enhanced commuter comfort and environmental sustainability.

SMRT and CRRC Qingdao Sifang will also explore future-proofing the propulsion and auxiliary power supply systems by “replacing obsolete parts and increasing power capacity.”

EW4 CG Tanah Merah New Platform Layout; Platform A - to Pasir Ris; Platform B/C - Works Ongoing; Platform D/E - to Changi Airport; Platform F - to Tuas Link

New platform at Tanah Merah station and commissioning of East Coast Integrated Depot. (Image: SGTrains Graphics)

Train services on the East-West Line (EWL) between Bedok (EW5) and Tampines (EW2) stations, as well as Tanah Merah (CG) and Expo (CG1) stations, were closed between Nov 29 and Dec 7 for works to connect a new depot and to commission a new station platform.

These works would span 4.8km in 12 locations, and require an “uninterrupted closure window” for workers to safely install new tracks, sleepers, and the third rail on the new eastbound and westbound tracks, as well as on the reception tracks leading to the East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID).

The new eastbound platform – for trains heading towards Pasir Ris – at Tanah Merah station also began operations.

Works included expanding the station’s concourse area, building new viaducts, and adding a new station platform; the latter two are needed to allow TEL to operate from two tracks at the station when it becomes the future terminus for the line.

Other rail-related news and updates

A decommissioned MRT train carriage has been repurposed and transformed into a boutique co-living hotel with eight rooms in one-north, the first of its kind in Singapore.

Tiny Pod’s Train Pod @ one-north features a driving trailer (DT) carriage from a retired 3rd-gen Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo (KNS) C751B train, Trainset 325/326, which had served the North-South, East-West lines (NSEWL) from 2000 to 2024.

Artist’s Impression of the future MRT station at Terminal 5. (Image: CAG)

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.

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.

Exterior of the RTS Link train. (Image: LTA/Facebook)

The first of eight trains for the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link arrived at the Singapore Rail Test Centre for off-site systems integration testing.

RTS Link’s operator, RTS Operations (RTSO), a joint venture between Singapore’s SMRT and Malaysia’s Prasarana, would be doing interfacing checks between various railway equipment, including the signalling system, platform screen doors, and communications system.

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

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.

The refurbishment project will include the renewal of facilities for key systems, such as signalling, communication, and tracks.

Images: Screengrabs from LTA

The first of 62 new MRT trains for the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) arrived in Singapore.

The automated and driverless Hyundai Rotem J151 trains will be undergoing system integration tests at Tengah MRT depot in preparation for passenger service when the JRL opens in 2027.

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

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.

Singapore’s 1st-gen BPLRT trains have officially retired on Oct 17, 2025. (Image: SMRT/Facebook)

After 26 years of serving Bukit Panjang residents, the 1st-gen Bukit Panjang LRT trains have officially retired from passenger service on Oct 17, 2025. These light rail vehicles first started running when the line opened in November 1999.

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