1        As part of ongoing rail expansion works and to bring our rail network closer to places where Singaporeans live, work and play, LTA and SMRT will undertake a series of works to integrate Stage 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and Stage 6 of the Circle Line (CCL) with the existing network. These works require a series of temporary service adjustments on the CCL and the TEL from October 2023 to May 2024. To minimise the impact of these service adjustments, alternative travel options will be put in place to serve commuters who are affected.

CCL Early Closure and Single Platform Service

2          Over four upcoming Sundays (15, 22, 29 October and 5 November 2023), services on the CCL will end at 10.00pm to facilitate the testing of a new Automatic Train Supervision system. This system regulates the movement of driverless trains and is a key component of the CCL signalling system. The new system will enable the operations of 23 new trains, three new stations and the expanded Kim Chuan Depot when CCL6 begins operations, improving service on the CCL.

3        From 20 January to 24 May 2024, one platform each at Telok Blangah and HarbourFront stations will be temporarily closed, with a shuttle train operating on the other platform between HarbourFront and Labrador Park stations at 10-minute intervals. The closed platform is to facilitate track works to connect the CCL HarbourFront station to the new CCL Stage 6 extension. To preserve peak-hour train intervals at the busy stretch between Kent Ridge and Paya Lebar stations, CCL trains will turn around alternately at Kent Ridge and Labrador Park stations instead of HarbourFront station. During peak hours, commuters can expect headways of about five minutes at stations between Kent Ridge station to Labrador Park station. Please refer to Annex A for details of the services.

4        During the period of single platform closure, commuters can utilise the 11 public bus services (10, 30, 57, 61, 93, 97, 100, 143, 166, 188 & 963) as an alternative to CCL. In addition, LTA will provide an additional shuttle bus during peak hours on weekdays that will ply HarbourFront, Telok Blangah, Labrador Park and Kent Ridge stations at 10 to 15-minute intervals. Commuters travelling to and from Haw Par Villa and Pasir Panjang stations can also travel on existing bus services which serve the stretch of stations from Haw Par Villa to HarbourFront, such as bus services 10, 30, 143 or 188.

Early Closure and Late Opening on TEL

5        From 3 November 2023 to 28 January 2024, services on the TEL will commence later at 8.00am on Saturdays and Sundays and end earlier at 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, except for Deepavali eve Early Closure and Deepavali Late Opening on 11 and 12 November 2023 respectively. These adjustments are needed to facilitate the rigorous integrated testing of systems in TEL Stages 1-4, to prepare for the opening of TEL Stage 4 for passenger service next year.   

6        Two shuttle bus services will be provided for commuters affected by the late opening at 8.00am, plying between Woodlands North and Caldecott station, and between Caldecott and Outram Park station at intervals of about 5 to 10 minutes. Please refer to Annex B for more details of the shuttle bus services for the affected stretches on TEL.

7        For a summary of the early closures and late openings, please refer to Annex C. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance. They can also refer to LTA’s MyTransport.SG mobile app and LTA’s and SMRT’s social media platforms for more details. Station staff will also be deployed to render assistance at affected stations during the service adjustment period.

8        We thank commuters for bearing with the inconvenience during the service adjustment period. These works will bring us closer to completing Stage 4 of the TEL and Stage 6 of the CCL, slated to commence passenger service in 2024 and 2026 respectively. Together, these expansions will provide greater convenience for commuters and improve the resilience of our MRT network.

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