| East Coast Integrated Depot | |
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| Address | 10 Laguna Golf Green, Singapore 488956 |
| Lines served | East West Line Downtown Line Thomson-East Coast Line |
| Operator | SMRT Trains (EWL & TEL) SBS Transit (DTL) |
| Type | Multi-storey integrated rail and bus depot |
| Rolling Stock | EWL: R151, C151A, C151B, C151C DTL: C951 TEL: CT251 |
| Opening | Year 2026 |
East Coast Integrated Depot is an integrated multi-level MRT and Bus depot facility currently under construction. Expected to open in 2026, it will serve the East West Line (EWL), Downtown Line (DTL) and the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), integrated with a bus depot. It will replace the existing Changi Depot currently serving the EWL.
Initially targeted for completion in 2024, the depot has been delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Ministry of Transport Committee of Supply Debate 2024, the opening period for East Coast Integrated Depot was updated to be delayed to Year 2026.
The depot is built in Upper Changi just off Upper Changi Road East, bordered by Upper Changi Road East, the existing Changi MRT Depot, Laguna Golf Green and the Sungei Bedok canal. It houses three train depots and one bus depot in a single 360,000 square metre site, touted as the first of its kind in the world. It will be able to house around 220 trains and over 500 buses.
By optimising land use in a land-scarce Singapore, the depot not only releases valuable land for other uses, but its stacked design also results in an efficient structural scheme that allows sharing of facilities. The LTA estimates savings of 440,000 square metres of land with the stacked design.
Train Depot
East Coast Integrated Depot is situated between Tanah Merah and Simei stations on the EWL, between Xilin and Sungei Bedok stations on the DTL, and after Sungei Bedok station on the TEL. Reception tracks will connect the depot to these three lines.
The train depot complex comprises three levels. The DTL Depot is located underground, followed by the TEL Depot at-grade, and the EWL Depot elevated on the level above. The three train depots have been designed to operate independently of one another, and through careful planning, can accommodate trains with different numbers of cars. The DTL, TEL and EWL operate three, four and six-car trains respectively, and the total depot handling capacity is 220 trains.
The East Coast Integrated Depot is set to be the second integrated rail depot in Singapore after Sengkang MRT/LRT Depot which serves both the North East Line (NEL) and the Sengkang LRT / Punggol LRT.
Facilities at the rail depot include a mega intake load centre, three separate electrical load centres, a tunnel ventilation plant, train wash facilities, and a wastewater treatment plant.
Reception Tracks
New reception tracks would be constructed on viaducts to connect to the existing EWL tracks, with two heading eastbound and two heading westbound for a total of four tracks. In addition, a bilevel reception track will connect the TEL and DTL depots.
Bus Depot
See also: East Coast Bus Depot
The bus depot is an independent, three-storey structure located next to the train depot complex, which minimizes land use while maximizing capacity. Similar to Soon Lee Bus Park, the new depot is fitted with workshops on the ground level and parking spaces for buses on the second and third levels for a capacity of over 500 buses. When complete, the depot will likely be allocated to the Tampines Bus Package as part of the Bus Contracting Model (BCM).
The bus depot capacity was initially listed as 760 buses in an LTA factsheet published in November 2018, later revised to 740 buses in the LTA Annual Report 2018/19. It was later revised to 760 buses in another LTA factsheet published in September 2022. A finalised figure of over 500 buses was announced in November 2024, accounting for a design update to make room for electric bus infrastructure, including the capacity to charge about 240 electric buses as well as fire safety systems.
Relocation of EWL Changi Depot
Once the East Coast Integrated Depot is completed in the year 2025, EWL operations will be gradually transferred from the existing Changi Depot to the new depot, after testing and commissioning are completed. The LTA said that it will work closely with the Public Transport Operator (SMRT Trains) during the transition period to ensure depot operations continue seamlessly.
Rolling stock:
East Coast Integrated Depot will maintain R151, C151A, C151B, and C151C trains on the East West Line, C951 trains on the Downtown Line, and CT251 trains on the Thomson-East Coast Line.
Construction innovations
Large interlocking mats, known as “Mega Mats,” were used to stabilize soft or unstable ground. These mats support heavy machinery like excavators and tipper trucks, offering a faster alternative to traditional steel decking that requires significant setup time and effort.
The design of precast components was also optimised, by merging planks and secondary beams (those that are not directly connected to columns) into a single element. This innovation reduced the number of precast components from over 105,000 to about 34,000, simplifying logistics.
Eco-Friendly Features
Both the rail and bus depot buildings have green roofs spanning about 47,000 sq m. These help cool indoor spaces naturally and absorb approximately 84 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Elsewhere on the roof are over 14,000 solar panels with a capacity of 6.2 MW-peak capacity, expected to reduce the facility’s carbon emissions by over 3,900 tonnes per year.
The facility avoids mechanical cooling systems by using vented façade panels, which maximize airflow while reducing energy consumption. Distinctive yellow-and-orange precast panels are arranged to allow maximum daylight penetration, lowering the need for artificial lighting.
Facts and Figures
- The depot is 36 ha in size, equivalent to 51 football stadiums
- 3.6 million cubic metres of earth was excavated, equivalent to 1,440 Olympic-size swimming pools
- 1.19 million cubic metres of concrete used, 10 times that used to build Tampines MRT station
- 202,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement bars used, 27 times the amount of steel used to build the Eiffel Tower
Gallery:
Artist Impression
Train Depot & Viaducts
Bus Depot
Reference:
- East Coast Integrated Depot, world’s first multi-level train depot, to open in Changi in 2025 – The Straits Times
- Factsheet: East Coast Integrated Depot – LTA
- Thomson – East Coast Line 4 to Welcome Commuters from 23 June 2024 – Land Transport Authority
See Also:
Perhaps there will be no C151, C651 and C751B trains after the depot is well constructed because all of them are predicted to “retire” by the end of 2025.
Why need 760 lots for Tampines Package?