Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL)
Alstom Metropolis C851E Trains for North East Line (Photo: Land Transport Authority)
In service	2023 –
Manufacturer	Alstom
Constructed	Barcelona, Spain
Number built	36 Vehicles (6 trainsets)
Formation	6 cars per trainset DT–Mp–Mi–Mi–Mp–DT
Fleet number	7087/7088 – 7097/7098
Operators	SBS Transit
Depot(s)	Sengkang
Line(s) served	North East Line
Technical Data
Doors	8 per car
Electrification	1500 V DC overhead catenary
Track gauge	1435mm

The Alstom Metropolis C851E trains are the third generation of rolling stock for the North East Line (NEL). Six trains (formed of six cars each) were procured ahead of the opening of the 1.6 km North East Line extension to Punggol Coast station.

These trains will enter passenger service on 28 July 2023, and all six trains are expected to be operating by the third quarter of 2023, increasing the NEL fleet from 43 to 49 trains.

Background

Main Article: Alstom Metropolis – Contract 851E trains | Land Transport Guru

Contract 851E was initially offered solely for 11 Circle Line trains in March 2017. 6 more NEL trains were added under modified contract terms, and awarded to Alstom Transport in April 2018 as the sole bidder. In July 2019, 12 more CCL trains were added to the order.

Train	Line	Quantity	Formation*	Electrification	Signalling
Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL)	North East Line	6 trains (36 cars)	DT–Mp–Mi–Mi–Mp–DT	1500 V DC overhead catenary	Alstom Urbalis 300 CBTC
Alstom Metropolis C851E (CCL)	Circle Line	23 trains (69 cars)	Mc1–Tc–Mc2	750 V DC third rail	Alstom Urbalis 300 CBTC

*Formation legend | DT = Driving trailer, Mp = Motor car with pantograph, Mi = Motor car without pantograph | Mc = Motor car, Tc = Trailer car

For the North East Line, the 6 new trains will supplement the existing Alstom Metropolis C751A and Alstom Metropolis C751C trains when the 1.6 km long extension from Punggol to Punggol Coast opens in Year 2024.

The trains draw power from a 1500 V DC overhead catenary. They are fully automated (ATO GoA 4) and capable of unattended train operation. Each 6-car train is configured as follows (DT–Mp–Mi–Mi–Mp–DT): two Driving Trailer (DT) cars at each end, and four Motor Cars (Mp and Mi) in the middle. The second and fifth cars (Mp) of each train are equipped with a pantograph for power collection.

The trains are manufactured and assembled in Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, near Barcelona, Spain. They were progressively shipped to Singapore starting in April 2021, with initial deliveries having been delayed from the original target in 2020. Subsequently, the trains undergo rigorous testing and commissioning procedures before they are officially put into service.

Features

To enable a more robust maintenance regime, all six new trains are equipped with condition monitoring systems to gather data from onboard equipment. This enables continuous monitoring of equipment health and allows maintenance measures to be taken before faults happen, thereby helping to improve service reliability.

In addition, two of the six new trains are each fitted with an Automatic Track Inspection (ATI) System, which enables monitoring of the running rails, rail fasteners, and sleepers while the trains are in operation. The ATI system supplements existing track inspection activities for timely and more effective identification of rail and trackside components which require maintenance.