Shortened Operating Hours for Rail Renewal Work

Shorter operating hours along selected stretches rail lines take effect on selected weekends to facilitate additional engineering hours for various purposes. This involves early closures, late openings, as well as full-day closures.

These closures allow more time for rail maintenance and renewal works to be carried out. These shorter operating hours became prevalent in the wake of the Joo Koon train collision incident in November 2017, to speed up re-signalling works as well as for other purposes.

Early Closures started in 2014 to facilitate SMRT’s rail renewal works, including the replacement of timber sleepers with concrete sleepers, third rail replacement and resignalling.


Additional Engineering Hours

East West Line

The shortened operating hours facilitate additional engineering hours for re-signalling and maintenance work. Beyond April 2018, these additional engineering hours will be used to facilitate replacement of power supply and track circuits.

From November 2020, early closure and late openings on weekends are to facilitate the trip coil replacement on the Tuas West Extension of the East West Line. In addition power cable replacement would also take place in 2021.

North South Line

The shortened operating hours facilitate additional engineering hours for intensive railway maintenance and improvement works. These works include replacement of power supply and track circuits in the later half of 2018.

North East Line

The shortened operating hours facilitate additional engineering hours to accelerate maintenance works, such as the replacement of rail crossing and track, and renewing parts of the power and signalling systems.

Sengkang & Punggol LRT

The shortened operating hours facilitate replacement works conducted on the finger joints of concrete plinths, enhanced preventive maintenance on the signalling cables, as well as the asset renewal works which include replacement of the power rail and power rail assemblies.

Bukit Panjang LRT

The full day closures allow more time for maintenance works, such as the replacement of sections of the power rails, track switch components as well as the parts of the doors and propulsion systems of LRT trains as part of the Bukit Panjang LRT Overhaul programme.

Early Closures & the full day closure on October 2023 facilitate ongoing system renewal works for the transition to the Interim Operations Control Centre.

Early Closures in March – June 2024 were to facilitate additional engineering hours for testing of the new vehicles and systems.

Downtown Line

Late Openings on Sundays in 2017 facilitated more time for testing of the entire Downtown Line as an integrated line in preparation for the opening of Downtown Line Stage 3 from Fort Canning to Expo on 21 October 2017.

Thomson-East Coast Line

Early Closures & Late Openings on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 3 April 2020 to 26 July 2020 facilitated additional engineering hours to test the systems and trains in preparation for the opening of TEL Stage 2 in 2021. Several more periods were put in place leading up to the opening of Stage 2. In addition, these were also put in place prior to the opening of TEL Stage 3.

Early Closures & Late Openings on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 3 November 2023 to 26 January 2024 will facilitate the rigorous integrated testing of systems in TEL Stages 1-4, to prepare for the opening of TEL Stage 4 for passenger service in 2024.

Circle Line

Longer Intervals took place on selected days in June & July 2023 to facilitate preventive maintenance and strengthening works along a tunnel segment between Promenade and Nicoll Highway station.

Early Closures on Sundays from 15 October 2023 to 5 November 2023 will facilitate the testing of a new Automatic Train Supervision system.

Single Platform Operations at Telok Blangah and HarbourFront stations from 20 January 2024 to 24 May 2024 will facilitate track works to connect the Circle Line HarbourFront station to the new CCL Stage 6 extension.


List of Early Closures & Late Opening

Legend:

EC = Early Closure; LO = Late Opening; SC = Sunday (Full-Day) Closure; FC = Full Day Closure; LI = Longer Train Service Intervals; WC = Weekend Closure

Month Line(s) Closure Type Sector Closed (terminal stations inclusive)
April 2014 NSL EC Ang Mo Kio—Admiralty
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014 NSL EC Admiralty—Jurong East
December 2014
January 2015
February 2015
March 2015
November 2015 EWL EC Bugis—Tanah Merah
December 2015
February 2016 EWL EC Joo Koon—Jurong East, Tanah Merah—Pasir Ris
March 2016
April 2016
May 2016
June 2016 EWL EC Joo Koon—Jurong East, Tanah Merah—Pasir Ris
EWL, NSL LO Queenstown—Joo Koon, Jurong East—Bukit Gombak
July 2016 EWL EC Joo Koon—Jurong East, Tanah Merah—Pasir Ris
EWL, NSL LO Queenstown—Joo Koon, Jurong East—Bukit Gombak
August 2016 EWL EC Joo Koon—Jurong East, Tanah Merah—Pasir Ris
EWL, NSL LO Queenstown—Joo Koon, Jurong East—Bukit Gombak
September 2016 EWL, NSL LO Queenstown—Joo Koon, Jurong East—Bukit Gombak
October 2016 EWL, NSL LO Queenstown—Joo Koon, Jurong East—Bukit Gombak
April 2017 EWL EC Lakeside—Joo Koon, Changi Airport Branch Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
May 2017,
June 2017,
July 2017,
August 2017
DTL LO Bukit Panjang—Chinatown
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
September 2017 SPLRT LO Sengkang LRT East Loop via Ranggung, West Loop via Renjong
November 2017 BPLRT LO Entire Bukit Panjang LRT
December 2017 EWL, NSL EC, LO, SC Tiong Bahru—Tuas Link, Jurong East—Bukit Gombak
BPLRT LO Entire Bukit Panjang LRT
January 2018 EWL EC, LO, SC Paya Lebar—Pasir Ris, Changi Airport Branch Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
February 2018 EWL EC, LO Paya Lebar—Pasir Ris, Changi Airport Branch Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
March 2018 EWL EC, LO Entire East West Line and Changi Airport Branch Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
April 2018 EWL EC, LO Entire East West Line and Changi Airport Branch Line
BPLRT SC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
May 2018 NSL EC, LO Khatib—Novena
BPLRT SC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
PGLRT LO Punggol LRT East Loop via Damai, West Loop via Sam Kee
June 2018 NSL EC, LO Admiralty—Yio Chu Kang
BPLRT SC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
July 2018 NSL EC Bukit Gombak—Admiralty
BPLRT LO Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
August 2018 NSL, EWL EC, LO Bukit Gombak—Jurong East, Dover—Pioneer
BPLRT LO Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
September 2018 NSL, EWL EC, LO Bukit Gombak—Jurong East, Dover—Pioneer
BPLRT LO Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
SPLRT, PGLRT LO Alternate between loops of Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT
October 2018 BPLRT LO Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
SPLRT LO Sengkang LRT East Loop via Ranggung, West Loop via Renjong
EWL EC Tiong Bahru—Clementi
November 2018 EWL EC Pioneer—Tuas Link
NSL, EWL EC Dover—Lakeside, Marsiling—Jurong East
December 2018 NSL, EWL EC Dover—Lakeside, Marsiling—Jurong East
January 2019 EWL EC Raffles Place — Bugis
NEL EC Serangoon—Punggol
February 2019 NEL EC Serangoon—Punggol
March 2019 NEL EC Serangoon—Punggol
NEL EC HarbourFront—Dhoby Ghaut
April 2019 NSL LI Orchard—City Hall
May 2019 EWL EC Bugis—Tanah Merah
NSL FC Admiralty—Sembawang
NSL FC Admiralty—Yio Chu Kang
June 2019 EWL EC Bugis—Tanah Merah
SKLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
July 2019 NEL EC Serangoon—Punggol
SKLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
August 2019 SKLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
NSL LO Jurong East—Woodlands
September 2019 SKLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
NSL LO Jurong East—Woodlands
NSL EC Jurong East—Kranji
October 2019 SKLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
EWL EC Jurong East—Outram Park
SPLRT EC, LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
November 2019 EWL EC Jurong East—Outram Park
NEL EC Serangoon—Punggol
December 2019 EWL EC Pasir Ris—Tanah Merah
PGLRT EC Punggol LRT East & West Loops
January 2020 NSL EC Ang Mo Kio—Newton
February 2020 NSL EC Canberra—Ang Mo Kio
March 2020 NSL EC Canberra—Ang Mo Kio
April 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
EWL EC Aljunied—Tanah Merah
May 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
EWL, NSL EC [Cancelled] Boon Lay—Buona Vista, Jurong East—Choa Chu Kang
June 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
EWL, NSL EC [Cancelled] Boon Lay—Buona Vista, Jurong East—Choa Chu Kang
July 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
SKLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
August 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
SPLRT LO Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
September 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
PGLRT LO Punggol LRT East & West Loops
October 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
BPLRT SC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
November 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
EWL EC Joo Koon—Tuas Link
December 2020 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
January 2021 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
February 2021 PGLRT WC Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
March 2021 PGLRT WC Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
EWL SC Boon Lay—Tuas Link
April 2021 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
EWL SC Boon Lay—Tuas Link / Joo Koon—Tuas Link
NEL EC Serangoon—Punggol / HarbourFront—Dhoby Ghaut
May 2021 EWL SC Joo Koon—Tuas Link
NEL EC [Cancelled] HarbourFront—Dhoby Ghaut
SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
June 2021 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
July 2021 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
August 2021 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North—Woodlands South
September 2021 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
January 2022 SKLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops
February 2022 TEL LO Woodlands North—Caldecott
March 2022 TEL LO Woodlands North—Caldecott
April 2022 TEL LO Woodlands North—Caldecott
May 2022 TEL LO Woodlands North—Caldecott
SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
June 2022 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
July 2022 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
August 2022 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
September 2022 SPLRT WC Sengkang LRT East & West Loops,
Punggol LRT East & West Loops
June 2023 CCL LI Nicoll Highway — Dhoby Ghaut / Marina Bay
July 2023 CCL LI [Cancelled] Nicoll Highway — Dhoby Ghaut / Marina Bay
August 2023 BPLRT
EC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
October 2023 BPLRT SC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
CCL EC Dhoby Ghaut / Marina Bay — HarbourFront
November 2023 CCL EC Dhoby Ghaut / Marina Bay — HarbourFront
TEL EC, LO Woodlands North — Gardens by the Bay
December 2023 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North — Gardens by the Bay
January 2024 TEL EC, LO Woodlands North — Gardens by the Bay
March 2024 BPLRT EC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
April 2024 BPLRT EC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
May 2024 BPLRT EC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line
June 2024 BPLRT EC Entire Bukit Panjang LRT Line

 

Shortened operating hours on a daily basis for the Bukit Panjang LRT Line take effect from 13 January 2019 to facilitate the Bukit Panjang LRT Overhaul.

For more information, click on the individual links to access the dedicated disruption articles for each month.


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