Get ready for a longer wait, commuters! The ongoing track works on the East-West Line (EWL) are entering their final stage, and it's about to get a little more challenging for passengers at Kembangan and Bedok stations. But here's where it gets controversial... the wait for trains could extend up to 17 minutes!
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has explained that one platform at these stations is currently being utilized for testing purposes. During this critical phase, live testing of trains and various systems is being conducted on a newly installed 4.8km stretch of track leading to the upcoming East Coast Integrated Depot.
To minimize inconvenience, the LTA's Group Director of Rail (Electrical and Mechanical), Mr. Chia Choon Poh, assured that testing will be confined to off-peak hours. Regular rail service along the affected route is expected to resume as planned on December 9th.
Testing began on December 4th, with trains running at slow speeds of 18kmh to thoroughly test the new tracks, power supply, signaling, and other crucial systems. Once these initial tests are successfully completed, the LTA will ramp up the speed to regular operating levels of around 80kmh.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, Mr. Chia praised the dedication of the 880 workers involved in the round-the-clock efforts since November 29th. This includes engineers and contractors from the LTA and SMRT, the operator of the EWL.
Additionally, more than 280 employees from the LTA, SMRT, and SBS Transit, the other rail operator in Singapore, have been assisting daily to guide passengers through the temporary changes.
Over the past six days, the team has been focused on three key tasks: removing trackside components, installing new trackside components, and creating a new junction leading to the depot. This junction will not only serve the EWL but also accommodate future Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) trains. The depot is being prepared to eventually cater to three lines: the EWL, TEL, and the Downtown Line.
Mr. Chia expressed confidence, stating, "We are able to launch trains from the new East Coast Integrated Depot and run them on the new platform at Tanah Merah station." However, he emphasized that the most critical step remains - testing the trains to ensure safety, reliability, and readiness for passenger service.
His team will continue testing over the weekend, followed by SMRT's own tests, before normal services can be resumed. The shutdown, scheduled from November 29th to December 8th, is a necessary step to connect the existing EWL to the new depot, which is set to commence full operations in the second half of 2026.
During this period, Tanah Merah and Simei stations are closed. The new platform at Tanah Merah station will enable the TEL to operate on two tracks, with the 14km stretch between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport stations becoming part of a future TEL extension that will pass through the upcoming Changi Airport Terminal 5. The TEL extension is expected to be completed in the mid-2030s, coinciding with the opening of the new airport terminal.
From December 9th, the eastbound EWL service towards Pasir Ris will operate from the new platform. Passengers transferring between trains will now need to descend to the passenger service center level and then ascend to reach the other platform, a departure from the previous arrangement where they could simply cross to the other side of the platform.
For those traveling to Tanah Merah and Simei during the 10-day shutdown, bus service Shuttle 7 operates between Bedok and Tampines stations every 3-5 minutes. Shuttle 8, running between Bedok and Expo stations at 10-minute intervals, caters to passengers traveling to Expo and onwards to Changi Airport. These shuttle bus services follow the same fare structure as the trains.
While train services on the EWL continue, adjustments have been made on certain segments. Shuttle train services are in operation between Paya Lebar and Bedok, Pasir Ris and Tampines, and Expo and Changi Airport. Passengers on both east- and westbound trains must alight at Paya Lebar station to continue their journeys beyond that point. The Circle Line at Paya Lebar remains unaffected.
This scheduled suspension of train services is the second of three planned phases, with the final one scheduled for the first half of 2026. The first phase, originally scheduled for December 7th to 10th, 2024, was completed a day earlier than planned.
The upcoming final adjustment will disconnect EWL services from the existing Changi Depot, which will be replaced by the new East Coast Integrated Depot. So, commuters, brace yourselves for these temporary changes and stay tuned for the exciting developments ahead!
