TEL train services to end earlier on Fridays, start later on Saturdays, from May 22 to Jul 4, 2026

Train services on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will end earlier on Fridays and start later on Saturdays from May 22 to Jul 4, 2026, in preparation for the opening of TEL stage 5 (TEL5) in the second half of this year.

Before the opening of TEL5, LTA and rail operator SMRT will be conducting a series of final systems integration tests for the MRT line.

LTA’s joint statement said that these tests involve running trains across the entire line from TEL Woodlands North to Sungei Bedok stations, as well as launching and withdrawing trains from the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID).

“Longer stretches of engineering hours beyond what is available each night will be required to carry out these full test runs,” said LTA and rail operators.

From May 22 to Jul 4, 2026, as part of early closures and late openings (ECLO), TEL train services will end earlier at 11:30pm on Friday nights and will start later at 8:30am on Saturday mornings.

Shuttle bus services will run on Saturday mornings for the late opening of the Thomson-East Coast Line

Image: SGTrains Graphics

Affected commuters can use shuttle bus services S51, S52, and S53 that will be available on Saturday mornings for the TEL late opening, operating from 5:00am to 8:30am. They will use the same fare structure as TEL train journeys.

• Shuttle bus service S51 will ply between TEL Woodlands North and TEL Caldecott stations every 5–10 minutes.
• Shuttle bus service S52 will ply between TEL Caldecott and TEL Marina Bay stations every 5–10 minutes.
• Shuttle bus service S53 will ply between TEL Marina Bay and TEL Bayshore stations every 10 minutes.

These shuttle bus services will connect at key MRT interchanges, to enable commuters to transfer to other alternative rail lines.

Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance, and that staff members will be stationed at affected MRT stations to assist commuters during the service adjustment periods. Commuters can also refer to station posters at the relevant stations.

“We thank commuters for their patience and understanding during these service adjustments as we work to expand our rail network,” said LTA and rail operators.

TEL5 – 2 new stations under TEL Stage 5 opening in 2H 2026

TE29 Bayshore
TE30 Bedok South (opening 2H 2026)
TE31 DT37 Sungei Bedok (opening 2H 2026)

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Related Links
Thomson-East Coast Line – SGTrains
First and Last Train Timings – SGTrains

External Links
Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), SBS Transit & SMRT – Train Service Adjustments along Thomson-East Coast Line and Downtown Line to Facilitate Rail Expansion Works – LTA

Images: SGTrains, SGTrains Graphics.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.