Decommissioning of C151 trains

Decommissioning of the first-generation North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL) trains, the Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151, began in June 2020. These trains are the oldest generation of rolling stock in Singapore, and their retirement marked the first time that local transport authorities had to dispose of old rolling stock.

Trains are scrapped locally at Toyotron Pte Ltd, which was awarded the disposal contract.

SMRT Kawasaki C151 train transported to scrapyard (Set 052)

The transporting of decommissioned trains takes place at night, from Tuas Depot to Toyotron’s premises at Gul Drive. Auxiliary police escorts are required for the transport of oversized loads by road.

On 11 March 2025, Toyotron (Pte.) Limited was issued a stop work order by the Ministry of Manpower, which was lifted in July 2025. This may have resulted in decommissioned trains being sent to Beng Cheng Metal Pte Ltd at Joo Koon Circle instead for scrapping from April 2025 till September 2025.

Decommissioned trains were later sent back to Toyotron for scrapping from October 2025.

Background

Main Article: Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151 & SMRT C151 End-of-Life upgrade / PMSM retractioning project

66 C151 trains were manufactured by a Japanese consortium project led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (along with Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corp and Kinki Sharyo). These trains entered service from 1987 onwards, with an unpainted aluminium body. These trains assumed their current interior and exterior appearance after the first round of refurbishment, carried out between 2004 and 2008, during which the trains received a new black and red external livery and had their interiors refitted with new fixtures.

In 2015, SMRT announced a second round of refurbishment, focusing on key engineering components on C151 trains that were not upgraded in the first round of refurbishment. Most significantly, the propulsion system was to be upgraded to an IGBT-VVVF inverter, coupled with PMSM traction motors. These upgrades were planned for the 19-second-generation Siemens C651 rolling stock by 2016, followed by the 66 C151 trains by 2019.

However, leading up to the commencement of the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF) in October 2016, the LTA took over the role of asset procurement replacement and upgrading. Coupled with changes in SMRT Corporation’s management structure, the mid-life upgrading of C651 trains was abruptly discontinued, and the planned C151 refurbishments were thus precluded. Only six C151 trains received the upgraded IGBT-VVVF inverters and PMSM traction motors.

In October 2016, the LTA announced its intention to replace all 66 first-generation C151 trains with brand-new ones, favouring the procurement of new trains over continuing to refurbish old trains.

Alstom Movia R151 train (Car 13807) outside Tuas Depot

The tender was subsequently awarded to Bombardier in July 2018 (which was acquired by Alstom in January 2021). Replacement Alstom Movia R151 trains progressively entered service from June 2023.

Disposal & Re-purposing of Trains

In May 2019, LTA called a tender for the disposal of 66 C151 trains under Contract R151D – Disposal of Decommissioned Trains. This tender was awarded to Toyotron Pte Ltd for S$828,000.00 (Payable to LTA) on 16 December 2019.

Several train cars could be preserved by several public and private organisations, such as schools for educational and training purposes. In addition, some train cars may also be converted into recreational spaces. Interested parties could email LTA at lta-train-repurpose@lta.gov.sg for more information.

LTA would progressively hand over the remaining C151 trains to Toyotron Pte Ltd for dismantling, scrapping and disposal as part of Contract R151D. The gradual phase-out would be in tandem with the introduction of replacement R151 trains.

C151 train in Bishan Depot (Photo: Khaw Boon Wan Facebook)

C151 train in Bishan Depot (Photo: LTA Facebook)

Start of decommissioning (June 2020)

A media event was held on Tuesday, 22 June 2020, at Bishan MRT Depot attended by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan. A C151 train was symbolically powered down, marking the official start of the withdrawal of all C151 trains from service.

Decommissioning of the First-generation NSEWL Trains (Photo: Land Transport Authority Facebook)

Early retirement

In the wake of the derailment of a C151 train in September 2024, Transport Minister Mr Chee Hong Tat mentioned in a Parliamentary Ministerial Statement that the authorities planned to retire all C151 trains by end-2026, before they reach their 38-year service mark. The structural integrity of the trains had been assessed by an independent assessor in 2012, who concluded that the trains have a total service life of 38 years.

The derailment spurred the accelerated withdrawal of these trains, and the final day of passenger service was on 26 September 2025.

Repurposed Train Cars

Drama filming use – Cars 3095, 1095

Exterior of traincars 1095 & 3095 in KMRT Livery

Interior of traincar 3095 for Third Rail filming

On 5 March 2022, train cars 3095 & 1095 (i.e. one head car and one intermediate car) were transported to Changi Exhibition Centre for the filming of local TV Drama ThirdRail, which was released on 25 October 2022.

SAFTI City – Cars 3003, 1003, 1004, 3004

4 carriages from Trainset 003/004 (Car 3003, 1003, 1004 & 3004), comprising two head and two intermediate cars, were relocated to SAFTI City, an urban training facility used by the Singapore Armed Forces for training purposes.

Within the compound, these two trains occupy a mock MRT station named “NES8 Poyan station”.

The train was decommissioned in November 2023 and relocated to SAFTI City in December 2023. The other 2 carriages in the train set (cars 2003 & 2004) are believed to have been scrapped.

Preserved train carriage (from trainset 003/004) at SAFTI City (Photo: 8World)

Preserved train carriages (from trainset 003/004) at SAFTI City (Photo: 8World)

SAFTI City Phase 1 with Preserved C151 Train 003/004 (Photo: MINDEF)

A total of 18 train carriages are preserved at SAFTI City Phase 1.

SAF Preservation – Car 3097

On 2 Mar 2024, Car 3097 was not sent for scrapping alongside other carriages in the trainset (Cars 1097 & 2097). This car is believed to be preserved at Nee Soon Camp for Singapore Armed Forces training purposes.

In July 2023, a government tender for “Relocation and Refurbishment of Train Cabin at Tuas Depot” was put up by the Ministry of Defence. As part of the tender notice, the site briefing was held at Nee Soon Camp.

St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (Bedok) – Car 3032

Train Car 3032 was moved to St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (Bedok), where it is repurposed as a patient rehabilitation aid, alongside a donated public bus and taxi.

It was transported to the venue in the early hours of 30 April 2025. Other train cars from this set (Cars 1032 & 2032) were scrapped.

C151 Car 3032 at St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (Bedok)

Preserved Car 3032 at St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (Bedok)

Upcoming Preservation – Singapore Rail Test Centre (2 trains)

According to an article on Lianhe Zaobao, an LTA spokesperson mentioned that 2 first-generation (C151) trains will be sent to the Singapore Rail Test Centre for testing purposes.

These older trains, with their simpler design, utilise simulated systems that make them more suitable for testing new metro technologies and equipment, such as air conditioning, braking, and pneumatic systems, which are intended for newer trains.

Upcycled Seats

Up-cycled C151 Train Seat at Blk 290 Yishun Street 22

Up-cycled C151 Train Seat at Blk 204 Yishun Street 21

In March 2022, 10 sets of two-seater train seats were placed around the Yishun neighbourhood.

Location	Seat Colour	System Map
Block 108 Yishun Ring Road	Blue	Yes
Block 122 Yishun Street 11	Red	Yes
Block 204 Yishun Street 21	Green	No
Block 290 Yishun Street 22	Blue	Yes
Block 450 Yishun Ring Road	Blue	Yes
Block 462C Yishun Avenue 6	Red	Yes
Block 606 Yishun Street 61	Green	No
Block 626 Yishun Street 61	Green	No
Block 627 Yishun Street 61	Green	Yes
Block 641 Yishun Street 61	Blue	Yes

In addition, 6 sets of refurbished two-seater train seats were taken in by the charity Rainbow Centre.

Since then, numerous train seats have been upcycled by the 15 PAP Town Councils. Some town councils have provided the location of the seats, such as that from Choa Chu Kang Town Council here.