Tuas West Extension

The Tuas West Extension is a 7.5-kilometre long extension of the East West Line which opened for revenue service on 18 June 2017. The extension adds four new stations to the EWL, extending the line west to Tuas Link, the new western terminus of the line.

Four new stations, EW30  Gul Circle,  EW31  Tuas Crescent,  EW32  Tuas West Road and  EW33  Tuas Link, were constructed as part of the extension. Originally scheduled to open in end-2016, the opening was delayed to mid-2017 to allow for more time testing the upgraded signalling system.


Introduction

First announced on 11 January 2011, the Tuas West Extension (TWE) would be an extension of the East West Line from Joo Koon to Tuas Link via a 7.5-kilometre-long MRT viaduct. Part of the viaduct would be integrated with a road viaduct along Pioneer Road. Four new stations, Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link, would offer enhanced connectivity to the Tuas industrial area.

Included in the project was a 26-hectare integrated Tuas MRT Depot, which provides stabling and maintenance facilities for up to 60 trains, including the 13 additional fourth-generation Kawasaki-Sifang C151A trains purchased for the TWE under Contract 151A (Variation Order) in 2012, as well as fifth-generation Kawasaki-Sifang C151B trains. The groundbreaking ceremony was held near Tuas Link station on 4 May 2012.

When the TWE was opened in 2017, it solely relied on the new Communication-based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system that was projected to be launched on the East West Line only in 2018. As such, westbound trains must switch to the newer CBTC signalling system at Pioneer before proceeding towards Joo Koon and beyond. Similarly, eastbound trains switch back to the old fixed-block signalling system at Pioneer. In May 2018, the new signalling system was implemented on the entire East West Line. As such, trains no longer need to switch signalling systems at Pioneer.


Stations

The four stations of the Tuas West Extension are:

EW30  Gul Circle

EW31  Tuas Crescent

EW32  Tuas West Road

EW33  Tuas Link

New Depot: Tuas MRT Depot

More photos on the TWE construction progress can be found in the individual articles of each station/depot.


Features

The Tuas West Extension utilizes slab track instead of ballasted track, which are directly secured to concrete rather than being secured to sleepers. Guard rails, previously present on all viaduct sections of the North South and East West Lines, are also no longer installed on the Tuas West Extension.

At Gul Circle, unused platforms at each level are reserved for a future line extension to Tuas South.

Platform screen doors (PSDs) are supplied by Chinese manufacturer Fangda, in contrast to Westinghouse-ST Electronics PSDs retrofitted to other overground stations along the North South and East West Line between 2009-2012.

Additionally, the gap between the train and the platform has been maintained without the use of gap filling material. Older North South and East West Line elevated stations have orange-dyed polymer concrete strips installed in 1999 to reduce the gap from 100mm to 75mm.


Train Service Hours

Station Destination First Train Last Train
Mon-Sat Sun & PHs Daily
EW33  Tuas Link Pasir Ris (→) 0519 0549 2320
EW32  Tuas West Road Tuas Link (←) 0534 0604 0045
Pasir Ris (→) 0521 0551 2322
EW31  Tuas Crescent Tuas Link (←) 0532 0602 0043
Pasir Ris (→) 0523 0553 2324
EW30  Gul Circle Tuas Link (←) 0530 0600 0041
Pasir Ris (→) 0526 0556 2327

There are no changes to the first and last train timings for other stations along the East West Line.


Train Operations on the Tuas West Extension

As the Tuas West Extension uses the new Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) Signalling system, all Westbound East West Line trains will change from the Fixed-Block Signalling to CBTC at Pioneer MRT Station. The CBTC system between Joo Koon and Pioneer MRT Stations will also be permanently activated to allow trains to proceed down the line. Eastbound trains will also have to switch back to the Fixed-Block Signalling mode before moving off from Pioneer MRT Station towards Boon Lay.

For a start, every alternate Westbound train would proceed to Tuas Link after Joo Koon. Train services on the Tuas West extension would operate at an interval of four to five minutes during peak hours and at eight to ten-minute intervals during non-peak hours. There is no change to the service timings for the rest of the stations along the East-West Line. Trains terminating at Joo Koon will turn around at a cripple siding located between Joo Koon and Gul Circle stations.

Trains will no longer have to switch between signalling systems in 2018 when the entire East West Line switches over to CBTC.


Bus Service Amendments with the opening of Tuas West Extension

Main Article: Bus Service Enhancements for Tuas West Extension opening

Tuas Bus Terminal in April 2017, with Public Transport logo fixed
Tuas Bus Terminal in April 2017, with Public Transport logo fixed

The Tuas / Jurong Industrial Bus Service Network will undergo several changes, such as new Bus Services 247 and 248 under the Jurong West Bus Package as well as route amendments to existing bus services with the opening of the TWE.

A new Tuas Bus Terminal has also been built on the roof of the Tuas MRT Depot building, with access ramps leading to Tuas West Drive and Tuas Link 4. The new bus terminal will eventually replace the older bus terminal at the junction of Tuas West Drive and Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, which has been in operation since 1998.

As the terminal is not ready for opening, the new Bus Services 247 and 248 commenced operations at the old Tuas Bus Terminal instead. In addition, new bus stops have been spotted in the Tuas West & Tuas South area leading up to the Bus Service Network change.

Also check out: Bus Service Enhancements for Tuas West Extension opening

Tuas West Extension Open House

All four Tuas West Extension stations was opened to the public from 1200hrs to 2000hrs on Friday, 16 June 2017. Attendees can try out the train service between Gul Circle and Tuas Link stations for free, as well as participate in various games and activities arranged at the Open House.

A free shuttle bus service was provided from Pioneer & Joo Koon MRT Stations.

Also check out: Tuas West Extension Open House on 16 Jun 2017 for more details.

Tuas West Extension Promotional Roving Exhibitions

The Land Transport Authority held roving exhibitions to raise awareness in the few weeks leading up to the opening of the Tuas West Extension. The roving exhibitions will be held at the following venues on the following dates:

  • 22, 24, 26, 30 May 2017
  • 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15 June 2017
Location Time
Boon Lay Bus Interchange 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs
Boon Lay MRT Station 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs
Joo Koon Bus Interchange 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs
Joo Koon MRT Station 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs
Jurong East Bus Interchange 0700hrs – 0900hrs
Jurong East MRT Station 0700hrs – 0900hrs
Pioneer MRT Station 0700hrs – 0900hrs

However, on the morning and afternoon of 22 May 2017, the roving exhibition for the Tuas West Extension at the above locations did not appear.


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7 thoughts on “Tuas West Extension

  • 10 June 2019 at 2:56 PM
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    Make a TWE(2) to raffles golf course.

    Reply

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