If you happen to travel on the 7th-gen R151 trains that operate on the North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL), you might have noticed a subtle but notable change in how those trains open and close doors at stations.
Interested in reading more of our future posts?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram for the latest updates!
Unusual characteristic of the door movement with R151 trains
The 7th-gen Alstom Movia R151 trains for the North-South, East-West lines. (Image: SGTrains)
First entered passenger service in June 2023, the Alstom Movia R151 trains are the seventh-generation and newest fleet of trains operating on the NSEWL, accounting for up to 53 per cent of the total train fleet on the two SMRT-operated lines combined.
One unusual characteristic the R151 trains had displayed since their first launch was the initial short pause between the movement of the station’s platform screen doors (PSDs) and the movement of the train’s doors.
When the train arrives and stops at the station, the station’s PSDs open first, followed by the train’s doors after a pause of up to 1 second, or nearly 2 seconds at maximum.
Similarly, when the train is ready to depart, the station’s PSDs begin to close, and only after a similar pause of a few seconds do the train’s doors start closing.
The short pause before the doors open and close likely caught passengers, as this behaviour has never been present on earlier generations of NSEWL trains, the 4th-gen C151A, 5th-gen C151B, and 6th-gen C151C trains.
Removal of the short pause before the movement of train doors
Observant local trainspotters noticed in mid-March this year the change in behaviour during door movement for the R151 trains, with the short pause removed.
The R151 train doors now open and close together with the movement of the station’s PSDs, which is now consistent with the other models of NSEWL trains. It is unclear and not publicly stated whether the behaviour of having the door pause was intentional or not.
Since the change is observed to affect all R151 trains, it can indicate a central software update to the signalling system, similar to how the 4th-gen C151A trains received improvements to their braking profile, dubbed ‘1-step’ braking, on arrival at stations in May 2024.
Like the ‘1-step’ braking update for C151A trains, this is a welcome software update implemented by rail operator SMRT and signalling system supplier Hitachi Rail, considering the R151 trains will eventually make up to 53 per cent of the total NSEWL train fleet.
READ MORE: 4th-gen C151A trains observed with improved braking profile when arriving at stations »
MORE INFO: Running Status of NSEWL Trains »
Recent Posts
Sengkang LRT’s West Loop to run in single direction from Apr 19 to Oct 18, 2026
New 3rd-gen Circle Line trains enter service on Apr 13, 2026; first two of 23 C851E trains to boost CCL’s fleet
Circle Line to end earlier on Saturdays, start later on Sundays, from Apr 11 to May 17, 2026
Related Links
Alstom Movia R151 – SGTrains
North-South Line – SGTrains
East-West Line – SGTrains
External Links
“Faster Doors Opening/Closing Profile on R151 Trains – Ft. 943/944” – Singapore Transportation 2581/YouTube
Images: SGTrains.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.