Commuters are reminded that LTA and SMRT will be undertaking a series of works to facilitate the connection of tracks from the existing East-West Line (EWL) to the ECID to prepare for the opening of the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID) in 2026.

From 7 to 10 December 2024, there will be no train service on the EWL between Tanah Merah and Tampines stations. Shuttle trains will operate at the following intervals for commuters travelling between:

a.    Tampines and Pasir Ris stations, every 5 minutes,
b.    Tanah Merah and Expo stations, every 8 minutes, and
c.    Expo and Changi Airport stations, every 11 minutes.

On 9 and 10 December 2024 during morning and evening peak hours, alternate trains heading towards Tanah Merah station will end their service at Paya Lebar station to maintain peak hour frequency. Commuters are advised to refer to platform display panels for information on the station where the train will end at.

For commuters travelling to and from Simei station, a shuttle bus service, Shuttle 7, will operate between Tampines, Simei and Tanah Merah stations at a frequency of 3 to 5 minutes, from first train to last train.  Fares for the shuttle bus service will follow the same fare structure as trains.  Commuters can also use existing public bus services to connect to other stations along the Downtown Line (DTL) and EWL, before continuing with their journey.

Commuters can also refer to station posters or pick up a brochure on recommended alternative travel options from the passenger service centres at all North-South, East-West and Downtown Line stations. Where possible, commuters passing through the affected EWL stations are strongly encouraged to consider alternative routes via the DTL and other MRT lines, as this may result in shorter travel times.

The affected stations and shuttle bus points are expected to be crowded. Commuters are advised to plan their travel in advance as journey times may be longer. Commuters can also refer to LTA’s MyTransport.SG mobile app, as well as LTA’s and SMRT’s social media platforms for updates. Station staff will be available at affected stations to assist commuters during the train service adjustment period. 

We seek commuters’ understanding and patience as we continue to improve the resilience of our rail network and infrastructure. We will continue to plan our works carefully to minimise the impact on commuters and will provide timely updates if any such service adjustments are needed.

ANNEX A – Shuttle trains and bus service arrangements 
ANNEX B – Location map of works area

Information on Shuttle Bus 7 can be found here.