Reduced train services along the entire Circle Line (CCL) will take place from Saturday, 17 January 2026 to Thursday, 9 April 2026, to facilitate essential tunnel strengthening works between Mountbatten, Dakota and Paya Lebar stations.
Initially planned as a 13-week closure from Saturday, 17 January 2026 to Sunday, 19 April 2026, LTA announced on 26 March 2026 that normal CCL train services would resume on Friday, 10 April 2026, over a week ahead of schedule.
| Circle Line Reduced Services (Jan–Apr 2026) | |
| Affected Dates | Daily; 17 Jan 2026 – 9 Apr 2026 (early resumption) |
| Closures | Single-direction tunnel closure (1 at a time) 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 are 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.
Originally planned to run till Friday 17 April 2026, shuttle bus services will run instead till Monday 13 April 2026 as normal Circle Line train services resume on Friday 10 April 2026 due to early completion of works. Shuttle bus services operates at reduced frequencies on Friday 10 April 2026 & Monday 13 April 2026.
| CCL Shuttle Bus Services – Weekdays except Public Holidays (5 January 2026 – 13 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) |
|
Note: No operations for Shuttle 37B, 37C & 38 during evening peak hours on Chinese New Year Eve, 16 February 2026.
Publicity Posters
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.
10 Feb Progress Update
As of 10 February 2026, LTA had completed the installation of steel plates on all 152 tunnel rings in the inbound tunnel towards HarbourFront station. Finishing works – including welding, grouting and bolting – as well as testing procedures are still underway. These tests would confirm that the completed strengthened tunnel is robust and reliable for passenger services.
Works on the opposite outbound tunnel towards Dhoby Ghaut station are slated to begin in late February. [Link]
Early Completion of Works
On 26 March 2026, LTA announced that works are scheduled to be completed earlier on 9 April 2026 (instead of 19 April 2026 as planned) as some time savings were achieved, especially during the latter phases of works as the as the teams involved gained familiarity with the complex work processes.
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)
External Links & References:
- Train Service Adjustments to Circle Line for Tunnel Works – Land Transport Authority [1 Dec 2025]
- Service Announcement – Operations of Shuttle 37 and 38 during Train Service Adjustments along Circle Line [3 Jan 2026]
- LTA | Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & SMRT – Train Service Adjustments in Preparation for Circle Line Stage 6 (CCL6) Opening [26 Mar 2026]
- 🎉… – Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving | Facebook [26 Mar 2026]