Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures – MRT & LRT Early Closures & Reduced Frequencies

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) adjusted train service operations from Friday, 17 April 2020 to 1 June 2020 as a result of a decline in rail ridership during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period.

These train service adjustments involve daily Early Closures for all MRT & LRT Lines, as well as a reduction in train frequencies.


Refer to the Main Article (Transport Arrangements for the Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures) for Bus Service Suspensions, and enhanced safe distancing due to the Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.


Reduction in Train Service Frequency

MRT Lines

MRT train service frequency across the rail network would be reduced from 17 April 2020 till 1 June 2020.

Train Line Current Train Frequencies
(as of 14 April 2020)
Frequency from 17 April 2020
(For the Circuit Breaker period)
Peak Periods Off-Peak Periods Peak Periods Off-Peak Periods
North South Line No more than 3 mins Around 5 mins No more than 5 mins
(17 April only)
3 mins (from 20 April)
Around 10 mins
East West Line
North East Line
Circle Line
Downtown Line
Thomson-East Coast Line Around 7 mins Around 12 mins Around 7 mins Around 12 mins

On Friday, 17 April 2020, the reduced train frequencies “caused some crowding in some stretches” during the usual morning peak hours” along the North South Line, East West Line as well as the Circle Line, according to a Facebook post by Transport Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan.

In the Facebook post, he also shared that train frequencies for the Circuit Breaker period would be further “refined” by LTA effective Monday, 21 April 2020. Train frequency was increased to every 3 minutes during peak hours.

With Circuit Breaker in place, Singaporeans are working and staying at home, except essential workers. Demand for buses…

Posted by Khaw Boon Wan on Friday, 17 April 2020

LRT Lines

During off-peak hours in the Circuit Breaker period from 17 April 2020, train service on the Sengkang-Punggol LRT line will only operate a single loop service.

Note: In the LTA press release Annex, the last train departing from Punggol on the LRT East Loop is stated towards Damai (in the Cove > Damai direction). However, actual off-peak East Loop single loop service is in the Damai > Cove direction.

Bukit Panjang LRT services will continue to operate as per normal, with Service A (via Senja) only operating during weekday peak hours since 1 December 2019 as part of the Bukit Panjang LRT Overhaul.


MRT & LRT Daily Early Closure

Daily Early Closure across the rail network was implemented from Friday, 17 April 2020 until Monday, 1 June 2020, the end of the circuit breaker period.

Line Departing from Terminating at Last Train Timing
North South Line NS1 Jurong East NS28 Marina South Pier 2220 hrs
NS7 Kranji 2357 hrs
NS28 Marina South Pier NS1 Jurong East 2325 hrs
East West Line EW1 Pasir Ris EW33 Tuas Link 2255 hrs
EW33 Tuas Link EW1 Pasir Ris 2239 hrs
EW4CG Tanah Merah CG2 Changi Airport 2328 hrs
CG2 Changi Airport EW4CG Tanah Merah
(connects towards Tuas Link)
2256 hrs
EW4CG Tanah Merah
(connects towards Pasir Ris)
2340 hrs
North East Line NE1 HarbourFront NE17 Punggol 2330 hrs
NE17 Punggol NE1 HarbourFront 2300 hrs
Circle Line CC1 Dhoby Ghaut CC29 HarbourFront 2255 hrs
CC29 HarbourFront CC1 Dhoby Ghaut 2230 hrs
Downtown Line DT1 Bukit Panjang DT35 Expo 2255 hrs
DT35 Expo DT1 Bukit Panjang 2300 hrs
Thomson-East Coast Line TE1 Woodlands North TE3 Woodlands South 1955 hrs
TE3 Woodlands South TE1 Woodlands North 1955 hrs
Sengkang LRT STC Sengkang East & West Loops 0005 hrs
Punggol LRT PTC Punggol East & West Loops 0007 hrs

There would be no change to the timing of the last train service for the Bukit Panjang LRT at 11:30pm as part of the Bukit Panjang LRT Overhaul implemented since 13 January 2019.


Thomson-East Coast Line Early Closure & Late Opening

During the circuit breaker period, Early Closure & Late Opening will be implemented for the Thomson-East Coast Line between TE1 Woodlands North and TE3 Woodlands South.

Train Service will commence at about 6:30am and end at about 8:00pm.

This arrangement thus supersedes the original Early Closure & Late Opening planned on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays between 3 April – 26 July 2020.


Cancellation of Early Closure for Rail Renewal Work

All planned Early Closures for rail renewal work were cancelled during the circuit breaker period. Last train timings were adjusted as per the above table.

For April 2020, Planned Early Closures for the East West Line between Tanah Merah—Aljunied were cancelled. The first round of Early Closure held before the start of the circuit breaker period took place.

For May and June 2020, all Planned Early Closure for the North South & East West Line between Choa Chu Kang—Jurong East and Buona Vista—Boon Lay were cancelled.


Reference

2 thoughts on “Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures – MRT & LRT Early Closures & Reduced Frequencies

  • 26 April 2020 at 2:57 PM
    Permalink

    svc 12 – 20 mins freq
    svc 15 – 20 mins freq
    svc 36 – 20 mins freq
    svc 62 – 20 mins freq
    svc 75 – 17 mins freq
    svc 82 – 20 mins freq
    svc 83 – 20 mins freq
    svc 84 – 20 mins freq
    svc 119 – 20 mins freq
    svc 136 – 20 mins freq
    svc 970 – 18 mins freq
    svc 973 – 19 mins freq
    svc 976 – 17 mins freq

    Reply
  • 26 April 2020 at 2:44 PM
    Permalink

    svc 62 – 20 mins freq
    svc 82 – 20 mins freq
    svc 83 – 20 mins freq
    svc 84 – 20 mins freq
    svc 119 – 20 mins freq
    svc 136 – 20 mins freq
    svc 970 – 18 mins freq
    svc 973 – 19 mins freq
    svc 976 – 17 mins freq

    Reply

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