| EW8CC9 Paya Lebar 巴耶利峇 | பாய லேபார் |
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| Address | 30 Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 409006 (EWL) 15 Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 409049 (CCL) |
| Lines Served | East West Line Circle Line |
| Operator | SMRT Trains (EWL & CCL) |
| Structure | Elevated (EWL) Underground (CCL) |
| Platform | Island (EWL) Double Island (CCL) |
| Opened | 4 Nov 1989 (EWL) 17 Apr 2010 (CCL) |
Paya Lebar MRT Station (EW8/CC9) is an interchange station along the East-West Line (EWL) and Circle Line (CCL). It is built along Paya Lebar Road, near the junction with Sims Avenue. Connecting the elevated EWL station with the underground CCL station, it was the first elevated-underground interchange station built.
The station is named after the Paya Lebar estate located where Paya Lebar Air Base is now, whose name in Malay refers to a “broad swampland”, an apt description of the area in its early days. Paya Lebar Station is misleadingly named, located far from the original estate, but its role as a major transport node has influenced the misnaming of nearby buildings such as Paya Lebar Square.
Paya Lebar Station serves the Geylang East area, with a mix of commercial, industrial and residential developments. It is located near Aljunied, Eunos and Geylang East Industrial Estates, and within walking distance of housing estates at Geylang Serai and Haig Road. Nearby shopping malls include Paya Lebar Square, Tanjong Katong Complex, City Plaza and Kinex.
First / Last Train Timings
| East West Line – (EW8) Paya Lebar |
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| Destination | First Train | Last Train | |
| Weekdays & Sat | Sun & Public Holidays | Daily | |
| EW1 Pasir Ris | 6:12am | 6:40am | 12:22am |
| Connecting to CG2 Changi Airport | – | – | 11:38pm |
| EW33 Tuas Link | 5:47am | 6:13am | 11:43pm |
| Circle Line – (CC9) Paya Lebar |
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| Destination | First Train | Last Train | |
| Weekdays & Sat | Sun & Public Holidays | Daily | |
| CC1 Dhoby Ghaut | 5:40am | 6:07am | 11:49pm |
| CC7 Mountbatten | – | – | 12:26am |
| CC29 HarbourFront | 5:40am | 6:07am | 11:04pm |
| CC26 Pasir Panjang | – | – | 11:34pm |
| CC23 one-north | – | – | 11:50pm |
| CC17 Caldecott | – | – | 12:18am |
| CC11 Tai Seng | – | – | 12:26am |
Note:
Station Layout
| L2 | EWL Platform A | East West Line towards EW1 Pasir Ris |
| EWL Platform B | East West Line towards EW33 Tuas Link | |
| L1 | Street level | Bus stops, Taxi stand, pick-up/drop-off point |
| EWL Ticket Concourse | Faregates, Ticketing Service Kiosks, Passenger Service Centre | |
| B1 | CCL Ticket Concourse | Faregates, Ticketing Service Kiosks, Passenger Service Centre |
| B2 | CCL Platform A | Circle Line via CC10DT26 MacPherson |
| CCL Platform C | Circle Line terminating trains | |
| CCL Platform D | Circle Line terminating trains | |
| CCL Platform B | Circle Line via CC4DT15 Promenade |
Platforms & Train Services
East West Line (L2):
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| Platform A: East West Line towards EW1 Pasir Ris via EW7 Eunos (→) Platform B: East West Line towards EW33 Tuas Link via EW9 Aljunied (←) |
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Paya Lebar station’s elevated East West Line platform level has two platforms in an island platform arrangement.
A new wing at the West end of the station accommodates escalators and stairs that lead directly to the Circle Line concourse and serves as a paid link between the EWL and CCL.
Circle Line (B2):
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| Platform A: Circle Line via CC10DT26 MacPherson (→) Platform C: Circle Line terminating trains (→) |
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| Platform D: Circle Line terminating trains (→) Platform B: Circle Line via CC8 Dakota & CC4DT15 Promenade (←) |
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The underground Circle Line platform level has four platforms in a double island platform arrangement, the first time this design was used in an underground station. Platforms A and C are grouped together on one island, while Platforms B and D are grouped on the other island.
Refer to the platform display screens for the destination and service information of upcoming trains.
The middle track is served by both Platforms C and D and is used to facilitate train withdrawals to the nearby Kim Chuan Depot or train turnarounds, returning towards MacPherson station.
Concourse
East West Line and Circle Line station concourses are at Level 1 and Basement 1 respectively.
The CCL concourse level is also equipped with an unpaid corridor which allows pedestrians to commute between CCL station exits without having to enter the rail network. The roof of the middle track also functions as a linkbridge, which connect to the lifts serving both island platforms.
Civil Defence Shelter
The underground Paya Lebar Circle Line station is a designated Civil Defence shelter.
Station Amenities
- Public Toilets at Concourse Level (EWL – L1; CCL – B1)
- Retail Shops at Concourse Level (EWL – L1; CCL – B1)
- Bicycle racks at station exits
- ATMs and Self-service Machines at concourse level (EWL – L1; CCL – B1)
Exits
Paya Lebar MRT station has five exits at ground level (A, B, C, D and E), all of which provide barrier-free accessibility.
Exit B also leads to Basement 1 of Paya Lebar Square.
Exits A & E are part of the East West Line station, while Exits B, C, D & F at the Circle Line station.
| Exit | Location | Nearby |
A  |
Paya Lebar Square (Street level) |
Certis Cisco Centre, Geylang United Temple, Lifelong Learning Institute, Paya Lebar Road, Paya Lebar Square, SingPost Centre |
| B |
Paya Lebar Square (Level 1 / Basement 1) |
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| C |
Paya Lebar Road | Aljunied Industrial Estate, Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery, Geylang East Industrial Estate, Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah, Masjid Wak Tanjong, Paya Lebar Road, Sri Sivan Temple, Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens |
| D |
Sims Avenue | City Plaza, Geylang Serai Community Club, Grandlink Square, Joo Chiat Complex, Kinex, Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah, Paya Lebar Road, Sims Avenue, Tanjong Katong Complex, Wisma Geylang Serai |
| E |
Paya Lebar Quarter (Level 1) |
City Plaza, Geylang Serai Community Club, Joo Chiat Complex, Kinex, PLQ 1, PLQ 2, Sims Avenue, SMRT HQ (via PLQ 3), Tanjong Katong Complex, Wisma Geylang Serai |
| F |
PLQ Mall (Basement 2) |
PLQ 3, PLQ Mall, SMRT HQ (via PLQ 3) |
Transport Connections
Paya Lebar station connects to several bus stops in the vicinity, as well as taxi stands and passenger pick-up points.
Bus
There are four bus stops linked to Paya Lebar station.
| Bus Stop | Exit | Bus Routes |
| Paya Lebar Stn Exit B (81111) Paya Lebar Rd |
A / B | 24, 28, 43, 43e, 70, 70A, 70M, 76, 134, 135, 137, 154, 155 |
| Paya Lebar Stn Exit C (81119) Paya Lebar Rd |
C | 24, 28, 43, 43e, 70, 70M, 76, 134, 135, 137, 154, 155 |
| Paya Lebar Stn Exit D (81129) Paya Lebar Rd |
D | 24, 28, 43, 43e, 70, 70M, 76, 134, 135, 154, 155 |
| Aft Paya Lebar Quarter (82011) Sims Ave |
E | 2, 7, 13, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 51, 67, 76, 154, 155 |
Road
Taxi stands and pick-up/drop-off points are located next to station exits:
| Exit | Road | Provisions |
| A | Eunos Road 8 (Paya Lebar Square) | Taxi stand (I23), pick-up/drop-off point |
| C | Paya Lebar Road (Northbound) | Taxi stand (I22), pick-up/drop-off point |
| D | Sims Avenue | Pick-up/drop-off point |
MRT Bus Bridging Service
In the event of a MRT service disruption affecting Paya Lebar station, MRT Bridging Buses may be activated to ply affected stretches of the East West Line or Circle Line. In which case, the buses can be boarded from the following bus stops:
| Towards | Bus Stop | Exit | |
| East West Line (EWL Bridging Bus) |
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| EW1 Pasir Ris | Paya Lebar Stn Exit B (81111) Paya Lebar Rd |
A / B | |
| EW33 Tuas Link | Paya Lebar Stn Exit C (81119) Paya Lebar Rd |
C | |
| Circle Line (CCL Bridging Bus) |
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| CC1NS24NE6 Dhoby Ghaut | Paya Lebar Stn Exit B (81111) Paya Lebar Rd |
A / B | |
| CC29NE1 HarbourFront | Paya Lebar Stn Exit D (81129) Paya Lebar Rd |
D | |
In the event of a large-scale rail disruption affecting multiple stations, a special bridging bus service may be activated in addition to the usual bus bridging services.
- (Service EW3) Tampines – Bedok – Paya Lebar
In addition, passengers can board free regular bus services at the following bus stops when activated:
- East West Line
Bus Stops 81111 & 81119 - Circle Line
Bus Stops 81111 & 81129
Passenger Usage Patterns
Paya Lebar is an important interchange station linking the East-West Line with the Circle Line, and as such, encounters large numbers of transfer passengers between the two lines. It also benefits shopping malls, as well as commercial and industrial developments in the vicinity, hence passenger traffic through this station is relatively high.
Construction
Circle Line Stage 2 (CCL2) Contract 823 for the construction and completion of Mountbatten, Dakota and Paya Lebar stations and tunnels was awarded to Japanese and local companies Nishimatsu-Lum Chang Joint Venture. This comprised 1.66km of bored tunnel and 150m of cut-and-cover tunnels, as well as canal upgrading from Paya Lebar to Tanjong Katong (including box bridge culverts at Geylang, Guillemard and Dunman).
A significant engineering challenge during Circle Line station construction involved underpinning works, which was required to facilitate removal of obstructing piled foundations of existing EWL viaduct piers. The vertical loading of existing piers was transferred to a new frame system, comprising transfer beams, jacks and barrette piles, and monitored by real-time monitoring of piers and viaducts. This was the first such operation carried out in Singapore on a live MRT viaduct.
Private properties around Paya Lebar were also gazetted for government acquisition for the CCL construction in 2001, with one exception. Hock Kee House (next to Exit D) was constructed on footing resting on thick marine clay, and despite precautionary measures taken to stabilize the building during construction, continued excavation would render the building unsafe. The decision to acquire Hock Kee House was made in 2005 on short notice, with residents given about seven weeks to vacate, and the building was torn down thereafter. Residents received ex gratia payment in addition to statutory compensation under the Land Acquisition Act.
During weekends/Public Holidays peak hours, shuttle train services plying between Paya Lebar and Caldecott will turnaround at the middle track.
From 17 January 2026, shuttle train service will be replaced from Paya Lebar-Caldecott into Serangoon-one-north instead.