On 25 July 2025, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the upcoming Changi Terminal 5 MRT Station, which will serve as an interchange between the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and Cross Island Line (CRL). The station will carry the station code TE32CR1.
The new MRT station forms part of the Thomson-East Coast Line Extension (TELe) and is expected to be completed in the mid-2030s, in tandem with the future Changi Airport Terminal 5. “Changi Terminal 5” is currently a working name for the station.
Overview of the Announcement
As part of the announcement, LTA released new information regarding the TELe, including:
- The route alignment of the TEL extension
- Station codes for upcoming TEL extension stations
- The total length of the extension, confirmed to be 14 kilometres
- Planned interchange with the CRL at Changi Terminal 5 Station
In addition, LTA confirmed that the Cross Island Line will be extended by 5.8 kilometres, from the future Aviation Park Station to the new Changi Terminal 5 station.
TELe Stations
- TE32CR1 Changi Terminal 5 (Working Name)
- TE33 Changi Airport
- TE34DT35 Expo
- TE35EW4 Tanah Merah
The sector between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport will be converted into the TEL from the existing East-West Line (EWL).
Modification Works on East-West Line Stations
Modification works are being carried out along the EWL between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport to facilitate the integration of TEL services.
Since 2016, Tanah Merah MRT station has been undergoing enhancement works to accommodate its role as an interchange between the EWL and TEL as part of the Tanah Merah Modification Project. These works, which are scheduled for completion by end-2025, include:
- Construction of new viaducts
- Addition of a new platform
- Expansion of the station’s concourse
Following this, LTA will implement systems integration along the EWL corridor from Tanah Merah to Changi Airport. Key upgrades will include:
- Replacement and modification of signalling, communication, and control systems
- Adjustments to power supply, tracks, and platform screen doors
Service adjustments will be necessary during the integration process. LTA will provide further information closer to the implementation period.
“Seamless Connectivity”? the trains of the EWL have 6 cars are bigger then the CT251 of the TEL. the CT251 only has 4 cars, and getting cramped with lots of people on the train, and blockage of doors!?! i would rather take EWL because it is less cramped. i like updates, like the JRL and the CRL, but why convert CGL to TEL? LTA what do you say about this? You might expect people to go against this.
Can they please pleasee not convert the EWL changi airport extension into TEL i strongly oppose this. Highly expensive, inefficient and impractical to uproot the entire existing EWL into TEL. Furthermore EWL trains are higher capacity with 6 cars whilst TEL trains are tinier with 4 cars only. Why completely substitute EWL for TEL in the name of “better more seamless connectivity” when it means that less airport commuters jam-packed with heavy luggage will have less space to hop aboard, thereby making future commute somehow less comfortable than today’s commute.
I’m normally contented and enthusiastic when i see new plans and advancements in public transport but whenever i see this particular plan for the future of MRT at airport i just get so confused and disappointed at the competency and practicality of LTA.
The TEL provides an alternate route to the city. Airport passengers would no longer have to transit through Tanah Merah. This should dramatically reduce the chance of overcrowding.