Two New Mrt Lines Being Studied West Coast Mrt Extension Proceed

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is currently conducting feasibility studies for two new MRT lines. These lines are expected to be completed in the 2040s and could potentially serve more than 400,000 households.

One of the proposed rail lines is the Seletar Line, which is planned to serve areas such as Woodlands, Sembawang, Sengkang West, Serangoon North, Whampoa, Kallang, and the Greater Southern Waterfront. The second line, tentatively known as the Tengah Line, aims to supplement the transport network in the west and northwest regions and serve areas like Tengah, Bukit Batok, Queensway, and Bukit Merah.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat mentioned in a parliamentary speech on March 5 that the Seletar Line and Tengah Line could potentially be joined, depending on the results of LTA’s feasibility studies.

Apart from these two new lines, LTA has also announced plans to proceed with the West Coast Extension (WCE), which will extend the Jurong Region Line (JRL) to connect with the Circle Line (CCL) and Cross Island Line (CRL). The WCE will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase expected to extend the JRL from Pandan Reservoir Station to connect with the CRL by the late 2030s. The second phase aims to extend the JRL from West Coast Station to connect with the CCL’s Kent Ridge Station by the early 2040s.

Once completed, the WCE is expected to provide residents travelling from the West to the city centre with up to 20 minutes of time savings. Transport Minister Chee also mentioned that the government plans to invest up to $1 billion over the next five years to maintain high-reliability standards for both newer and older train systems. This investment will go towards implementing condition monitoring systems for more proactive and targeted maintenance, adopting new technologies to improve the efficiency of rail maintenance, and providing workforce training programmes for rail workers.

All these efforts by LTA to expand the rail network, enhance the management of rail assets, and upskill the rail workforce will enable the continued delivery of convenient, reliable, and resilient public transport for commuters in Singapore.