All Aboard: Shiny New Rail Stations!

The Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 4 (TEL4) opened to passengers on 23 June 2024, featuring seven new stations – Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, Siglap and Bayshore. The TEL now spans 27 operational stations over 43 kilometres, with further extensions to Sungei Bedok under construction as part of Stage 5 and Changi Airport being planned.

Teck Lee LRT Station along the Punggol LRT opened on 15 August 2024, nearly 19 years after Punggol LRT train services commenced in 2005. The station serves the Punggol Digital District.

The North East Line extension (NELe), connecting Punggol MRT station to the new Punggol Coast MRT Station, opened on 10 December 2024. The 1.6-kilometre extension serves SIT Punggol and the upcoming Punggol Digital District.

Rolling in the new trains!

New Alstom Innovia APM 300R (C801B) light rail vehicles began passenger service on 1 August 2024. These 3rd-generation Bukit Panjang LRT vehicles are part of an order for 19 new cars intended to replace all 1st-generation C801 vehicles, forming part of a wider overhaul of the Bukit Panjang LRT network.

New Mitsubishi Crystal Mover (C810D) light rail vehicles for the Sengkang/Punggol LRT arrived in Singapore in November 2024. These 3rd-generation vehicles will eventually replace the existing 1st-generation C810 vehicles, and are expected to enter passenger service in Q3 2025.

Deliveries of Alstom Movia R151 trains for the North-South and East-West Lines are ongoing. Passenger service on the North-South Line began on 25 May 2024.

The 6-Day Saga: East-West Line’s Wild Ride

On 25 September 2024, a dislodged axle box from a KHI C151 train triggered a derailment and extensive damage to trackside infrastructure. Train services were disrupted for six days (25–30 Sep 2024), among the longest MRT train disruptions in Singapore’s history and the longest since 2017. About 500,000 out of 2.8 million train journeys were affected on each day of the disruption.

Other Rail Projects

The Pasir Ris Rail Turnback opened in early 2024. The new turnback speeds up the turnaround of EWL trains, allowing for a 20 per cent increase in the number of trains running during peak hours, from 30 trains per hour previously, to 36 trains per hour. [Link]

In September, SMRT’s business arm STRIDES took over operations of the Sentosa Monorail. The 12-year contract, with the option to extend four years, comprises the provision of end-to-end operations & maintenance (O&M), engineering services and solutions, including long-term overhaul, engineering capabilities, and service excellence. [Link 1] [Link 2]

In November, the Jurong Region Line (JRL) operating contract was awarded to a joint venture between SBS Transit Rail and French firm RATP Dev. The joint venture is named Singapore One Rail (SOR), and is the first time that a foreign operator would be involved in Singapore’s rail industry. [Link]

Rail construction contracts

In addition to ongoing works on the Jurong Region Line (JRL) and Cross Island Line (CRL), construction works on King Albert Park, Clementi and West Coast stations on CRL Phase 2 commenced in early 2024. LTA also awarded construction tenders for the remaining three stations along CRL Phase 2—Turf City, Maju and Jurong Lake District, with construction also starting this year.

Retired Train Models

The second- and third-generation North-South East-West Line trains—Siemens C651 and Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B—were fully retired from passenger service this year.

Decommissioning of the first generation C151 trains is still ongoing in 2024.

(see also: Decommissioning of C651 trains; Decommissioning of C751B trains)

Two projects involving the repurposing of retired train cars were announced, namely the CDL EcoTrain at City Square Mall, and the Tinypod Train Hotel at one-north.

Driving Green: New Electric Buses

At the Committee of Supply 2022, the Government announced that 1 in 2 public buses will be electric by 2030. This bold electrification target has set the stage for a rapid intake of electric buses in the next few years.

In December 2024, the first of 300 new BYD BC12A04 electric buses entered service, with LTA exercising an option to purchase 60 more this year, on top of 240 confirmed orders made in 2023. These buses are deployed on Bus Services 86, 107 & 159.

Several new Zhongtong N12 buses were also registered this year. As of this article’s publication, these buses have yet to enter service.

The LTA also awarded separate tenders for the installation of electric bus chargers at Gali Batu, Sengkang West and East Coast Bus Depots worth S$46.1 million.

Electric Bus Demo: Rolling with the Future

The BYD B12A03 bus commenced revenue service trials, based at Seletar Bus Depot.

Trials of three electric bus models ceased: the Volvo BZL – SC Neustar City (SG4007T), Ankai G9 (SG4009M), and Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (SG4010H).

SG4010H was also acquired by private operator Tong Tar Transport.

At the LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE), various double-deck electric buses designed for the Singapore market were showcased, namely the BYD B12DS, Zhongtong LCK6126EVGS (N12D), and CRRC eD12. These buses are expected to enter with revenue service trials in the near future.

Expanding Networks: New Bus Interchanges & Depots

In July 2024, Tengah Bus Interchange opened, serving Bus Services 870, 871, and 992.

In December 2024, Buangkok Bus Interchange opened, serving Bus Services 110, 114, and 156. Compassvale Bus Interchange ceased operations the same day.

In August 2024, Sengkang West Bus Depot was handed over to SBS Transit for preparatory works ahead of the depot’s commissioning in early 2025. The five-storey bus depot is Singapore’s first depot outfitted to support the large-scale deployment of electric buses, and includes on-site staff quarters that provide accommodation for transport workers.

The LTA issued a construction tender for a new multi-storey bus depot in Yishun—Simpang Bus Depot—due for completion in 2029. Pasir Panjang and Lorong Halus depots are also due in 2029.

Joining the Dots: New Bus Services & Amendments

In February 2024, Bus Service 146 was introduced to connect residents of Bidadari with Bartley and Woodleigh MRT stations. Supplementary Bus Service 983M was introduced in March 2024, catering for the students and staff of educational institutions along Teck Whye Crescent.

Later in April 2024, Bus Service 296 was introduced, linking Tampines Int with Tampines North and Tampines Retail Park.

June 2024 saw the reorganisation of Bus Service 84 into Services 84G and 84W. In July 2024, Bus Service 871 was introduced, connecting Tengah, Bukit Batok West, Bukit Gombak, and Beauty World.

Also in July, LTA launched the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), allocating an additional $900 million from 2024 to 2032, for the purchase of new buses and to fund the operating cost of new bus services. The first new service was Bus Service 861, connecting residents of Canberra and Yishun East to Sembawang, Canberra and Khatib MRT stations.

Under the BCEP, City Direct services 673 and 674 were launched in October and November respectively, serving Punggol West and Tengah. Later in December 2024, Express Feeder Service 298X was launched.

In addition, Short Trip Services 20A, 39A, 39B, 50A, 84A, 86A, 86B, 92A, 129A, 129B, 138C, 182A, 168A, 249A, 861A and 911A were introduced. Terminating Trip 79T was introduced to indicate trips of Bus Service 79 terminating at Boon Lay Int.

Withdrawn bus services were 79A, 92M, 870A, and 992A.

Bus route introductions by month

In addition, several ad-hoc Rail Replacement Services were activated in 2024 to complement reduced MRT services:

Bus Route amendments

Bus-iness Deals: Contract Updates

Under Singapore’s Bus Contracting Model (BCM), SBS Transit was awarded the second Tendered Package term for the Seletar Bus Package in July (Contract PT219). The new contract will see SBS Transit continue operating buses in Ang Mo Kio and Yio Chu Kang until at least 2030, subject to further contract extensions if granted. [Link]

The Sengkang-Hougang Bus Package, currently operated by SBS Transit, was last known to have been extended to 2024. With no further news about this contract undergoing competitive bidding, it is believed that this contract has been extended by LTA yet again for an undisclosed duration.

In December, LTA called a tender for the Tampines Bus Package. The tender closes in April 2025 [Link].

New Contract Terms for Bus Packages

In April 2024, the Bukit Merah Bus Package transitioned to its second tendered term, under Contract PT218. Services continue to be operated by SBS Transit, without a change in bus operator.

In September 2024, SMRT Buses took over the Jurong West Bus Package from SBS Transit under Contract PT218B. 26 bus services in the Jurong West region were handed over from SBS Transit to SMRT in two tranches, and SMRT also took over Soon Lee Bus Depot.

(see also: SMRT Buses – Transitioning to Jurong West Bus Package)

Retired bus models

2024 saw the ongoing retirement of Scania K230UB buses, which were nearing the end of their 17-year statutory lifespan. However, 56 buses received a two-year lifespan extension.

The sole Volvo B7RLE in SBS Transit’s fleet, SBS8030L, was also retired at the end of its statutory lifespan.

Tong Tar Transport took over the Mandai Khatib Shuttle in January. From June, the route was served by an all-electric fleet of Zhongtong N12 3-door buses.

SMRT Buses provided shuttle buses to support the Singapore Airshow 2024 in February, marking their return after a 4-year hiatus. The last Airshow was held in 2020, with SMRT Buses also providing shuttle buses.

LTA also rolled out Camera mirror systems for buses, signalling its wider adoption of the technology.

SBS Transit undertook a School-Friendly Public Bus Service trial involving Bus Service 261. The operator also equipped 53 buses with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of the AED-on-Buses programme. [Link]

LTA also awarded contracts for the refurbishment of 629 buses in March. The first of these refurbished buses—MAN A22 (Euro V), Mercedes-Benz Citaro and Volvo B9TL Wright buses—have returned to passenger service in late 2024.

In the field of Autonomous buses, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat announced in November that the LTA would be buying autonomous minibuses and deploying them locally in partnership with a public bus operator. No timeframe was provided for this rollout, and more details were to be shared at a later date. [Link]

A two-year autonomous bus trial was also initiated at Changi Airport in Q3 2024. The bus will be used for airside staff transport. [Link]

The WeRide Robobus is also presently undergoing passenger trials at Resorts World Sentosa.

The Fare Factor: Public Transport Fares

In January 2024, authorities announced that the existing card-based ticketing (CBT) system would be retired in June 2024 in favour of the SimplyGo account-based ticketing system. This policy decision drew significant flak from the public, and in response to these public sentiments, the LTA reversed its decision and extended the lifespan of the CBT system ‘until at least 2030’.

(main article: SimplyGo Explained: Timeline & troubles facing SG’s account-based ticketing system)

On 28 December 2024, the Public Transport Fare Review 2024 was implemented, with an overall 6.0% increase in bus and train fares. Adult card fares for buses and trains were increased by 10 cents, while Concession card fares were increased by 4 cents.

In addition, the Travel Smart Journeys scheme was temporarily suspended from November 2024. The scheme incentivised commuters to travel on Bus Services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671, 672, and 673. The scheme is planned to be re-launched in January 2025.