A new Hyundai Rotem J151 MRT train, destined to enter service in 2027, was spotted in South Korea earlier this month (May 2023).
As seen in videos uploaded by trainspotters in South Korea, the locomotive-hauled J151 train was spotted in transit, with videos filmed at Osong station, Daejeon station, and Changwonjungang station. 62 of these 3-car trains were ordered for the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL).
Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) was awarded the contract to supply trains for the JRL. Contract J151, which was awarded in February 2020, is valued at S$416.5 million.
Set to open in three stages from 2027 to 2029, the 24-km fully-automated Jurong Region Line will significantly improve transit connectivity in the western part of Singapore and bring 60,000 more households in Jurong within a 10-minute walk from a train station. Construction of the line began officially began in early 2023.
The medium-capacity J151 trains have smaller carriages to navigate through tight curves. Furthermore, onboard emergency batteries on each train are capable of driving the train to the closest station for passenger evacuation in the event of a power outage. In addition, trains are fitted with advanced condition monitoring and diagnostic systems to detect train faults, and several trains will also be equipped with an Automated Track Inspection system to monitor the real-time condition of the running rail for defects.
So they keep on testing until 3-5 years?
One JRL carriage looks like two LRT carriages.
Furthermore, the JRL will start with 3 carriages, which means one JRL train is equivalent to three LRT trains during peak hours (when two LRT carriages is deployed), and six LRT trains during off-peak hours (when one LRT carriage is deployed).
I mean, just by looking already can approximate the scale.
Therefore, the JRL is definitely more than just a feeder to the new areas from the NSEWL and CRL main lines. Really can expect bus routes to get rationalized when the JRL opens.
Maybe one LRT line is equivalent to one feeder bus routes, but the JRL is equivalent to three feeder bus routes.
Bus route rationalization in Choa Chu Kang, Jurong West and Teban Garden is definitely going to happen when the JRL opens.