Reduced train services along the entire Circle Line (CCL) will take place from Saturday 17 January 2026 to Sunday 19 April 2026 to facilitate essential tunnel strengthening works between Mountbatten, Dakota and Paya Lebar stations.
| Circle Line Reduced Services (Jan–Apr 2026) | |
| Affected Dates | Daily; 17 Jan 2026 – 19 Apr 2026 |
| Closures | Single tunnel closure (1 at a time of 2) between Mountbatten & Paya Lebar Stations |
| Affected sector | Circle Line (Dhoby Ghaut / Marina Bay – HarbourFront) |
| Reason | Facilitate essential tunnel strengthening works |
| Modified Train Service | • Longer intervals: HarbourFront – Paya Lebar & Mountbatten – Dhoby Ghaut / Marina Bay • Shuttle train service: Paya Lebar – Mountbatten (10 min frequency) |
| Alternative Transport | Shuttle Bus Services provided during Weekday Peak Hours (except Public Holidays) • Shuttle 38: Paya Lebar ↔ Stadium (Morning & Evening Peak; via Dakota & Mountbatten) • Shuttle 37A: Serangoon → Paya Lebar (Morning Peak; via Tai Seng & MacPherson) • Shuttle 37B: Tai Seng → Bishan (Evening Peak; Express) • Shuttle 37C: Tai Seng → Serangoon (Evening Peak; Express) |
Modified Train Services
During the affected period, Circle Line train services will be modified as follows:
- CC29NE1 HarbourFront ↔ CC9EW8 Paya Lebar
Longer Intervals: 3 mins during peak hours & 5 mins during off-peak hours
(Previously: 2 mins peak-hour intervals) - CC9EW8 Paya Lebar ↔ CC7 Mountbatten
Single platform Shuttle Train Service: 10 mins intervals
(Previously: 3 mins peak-hour intervals) - CC7 Mountbatten ↔ CC1NS24NE6 Dhoby Ghaut / CE2NS27TE20 Marina Bay
Longer Intervals: 10 mins all-day intervals
(Previously: 6 mins intervals)
Shuttle Bus Services
Shuttle Bus Services will be provided during peak hours on weekdays, except public holidays. Fares for the Shuttle Bus Services are equivalent to the distance travelled by train.
These Shuttle Bus Services will commence operations from Monday, 5 January 2026, 12 days before the planned tunnel closures. This is to allow commuters to familiarise themselves with the shuttle bus arrangements, according to the Land Transport Authority.
| CCL Shuttle Bus Services – Weekdays except Public Holidays (5 January 2026 – 17 April 2026) | ||
| Shuttle | Operating Hours | MRT Stations Served |
| Shuttle 38 | 6:30am – 9:30am & 5pm – 8pm 6 – 10 mins frequency |
Paya Lebar ↔ Dakota ↔ Mountbatten ↔ Stadium (Bidirectional) |
| Shuttle 37A | 7am – 9am 3 – 5 mins frequency |
Serangoon → Tai Seng → MacPherson → Paya Lebar (One-way) |
| Shuttle 37B | 5:30pm – 7:30pm 3 – 5 mins frequency |
Tai Seng → Bishan (One-way; express) |
| Shuttle 37C | Tai Seng → Serangoon (One-way; express) |
|
Tunnel Strengthening Works
The tunnel strengthening works are being carried out to address a known issue called tunnel squatting, a natural ground movement that can occur over time. This condition is associated with sections of the CCL that were constructed in soft marine clay. If not rectified, tunnel squatting may eventually lead to service disruptions or structural issues.
LTA has monitored these areas for the past decade, and a detailed scan conducted after earlier strengthening works between Promenade and Nicoll Highway stations in 2023 identified three localised tunnel sectors between Stadium and Paya Lebar stations that require attention.
Expert consultants engaged by LTA have confirmed that train operations can continue safely, while each of the affected tunnel sections between Stadium and Paya Lebar stations—totalling about 450 metres—is closed in stages to facilitate strengthening works.
The strengthening process involves deploying heavy machinery and multiple work teams to install steel plates around the circumference of the affected tunnel segments. To carry out these activities safely and effectively, extended engineering hours are required. LTA plans to complete the works ahead of the opening of CCL6.
In preparing for these works, LTA reviewed international practices in cities such as Shanghai, Taipei, Busan, Barcelona and Lisbon, where similar engineering challenges have been encountered. In some of these locations, full-scale tunnel loading tests have been used to determine safe operating conditions against long-term tunnel squatting, and similar approaches are being adopted for the CCL.
Affected MRT Stations
- CC1NS24NE6 Dhoby Ghaut
- CC2 Bras Basah
- CC3 Esplanade
- CC4DT15 Promenade
- CC5 Nicoll Highway
- CC6 Stadium
- CC7 Mountbatten
- CC8 Dakota
- CC9EW8 Paya Lebar
- CC10DT26 MacPherson
- CC11 Tai Seng
- CC12 Bartley
- CC13NE12 Serangoon
- CC14 Lorong Chuan
- CC15NS17 Bishan
- CC16 Marymount
- CC17TE9 Caldecott
- CC19DT9 Botanic Gardens
- CC20 Farrer Road
- CC21 Holland Village
- CC22EW21 Buona Vista
- CC23 one-north
- CC24 Kent Ridge
- CC25 Haw Par Villa
- CC26 Pasir Panjang
- CC27 Labrador Park
- CC28 Telok Blangah
- CC29NE1 HarbourFront
- CE1DT16 Bayfront
- CE2NS27TE20 Marina Bay
Gallery: (Infographic)
See Also:
- Shortened Operating Hours for Rail Renewal Work
- Circle Line Single Platform Service between Telok Blangah & HarbourFront Stations (Jan–May 2024)
- Reduced Circle Line Service on Late Nights (June 2023)