Kawasaki Heavy Industries & CRRC Qingdao Sifang CT251

Kawasaki Heavy Industries & CRRC Qingdao Sifang CT251
In service	2020 –
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Heavy Industries with CRRC Sifang
Constructed	2015 –
Number built	364 Vehicles (91 trainsets)
Formation	4 cars per trainset DM–M–T–DM
Fleet number	2001 – 2091
Operators	SMRT Trains
Depot(s)	Mandai East Coast (Future)
Line(s) served	Thomson-East Coast Line
Technical Data
Car body	Welded aluminium
Doors	10 per car
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Track gauge	Standard Gauge (1435mm)

The Kawasaki Heavy Industries & CRRC Qingdao Sifang CT251, alternatively the T251, is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train operating on the future Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). Entering service in 2020, these were the Thomson-East Coast Line’s first generation of rolling stock.

Ninety-one trainsets comprising four cars each were procured, manufactured from 2015 onwards by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and CRRC Sifang in Qingdao, China. They will be the first trains in Singapore to feature ten passenger doors per carriage (five on each side).

Background

Awarded to Japanese-Chinese consortium Kawasaki Heavy Industries and CSR Qingdao Sifang (now CRRC Qingdao Sifang) in May 2014, Contract T251 (CT251) for the procurement of rolling stock called for of 91 trainsets of four cars each, at a total value of S$749.8 million.

The consortium beat Alstom, Hyundai Rotem, Bombardier/CSR Changchun, CAF and CSR Zhuzhou/Siemens for the lowest cost offered. In addition, the consortium also delivered 92 six-car trainsets for the North South and East West Lines under contracts C151A, C151B and C151C.

Kawasaki was responsible for the overall project management, design, manufacturing of bogies and procurement of major components. CRRC Qingdao Sifang was in charge of manufacturing, final fitting and assembly of complete MRT trains and factory testing. Kawasaki (Singapore) was responsible for the delivery of complete MRT trains to the depot, on-site testing and commissioning.

The first of these trains were delivered in May 2018, ahead of the Thomson-East Coast Line opening, and equipped with the Alstom Urbalis 400 CBTC signalling system. All 91 trains are expected to be delivered by 2022.

Former RTS Link Rolling Stock

Plans for the Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) to use the same rolling stock as TEL (i.e. the CT251 trains) first surfaced at the Joint Statement issued at the Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Putrajaya held in December 2016. These plans were then affirmed in the legally-binding Bilateral Agreement signed by both countries on 16 January 2018.

However, technical changes to the project initiated by Malaysia to reduce project cost led to the full decoupling of the RTS Link from the Thomson East Coast Line, thus precluding the use of CT251 trains on the RTS Link. The RTS Link would be built as a medium-capacity MRT line, similar to the Jurong Region Line (JRL) and its Hyundai Rotem CJ151 rolling stock. These plans were affirmed in the Restated Bilateral Agreement signed on 30 July 2020.

History

—

Current Design

All CT251 trains are comprised of four cars with open gangway connections between all cars. Each car has five doors on each side, instead of four on other MRT trains, to facilitate quicker and smoother boarding and alighting. The interior features longitudinal seating, with tip-up seats for additional standing space (future units). Perch seats were also included at the ends of train carriages, similar to C951 trains on the Downtown Line.

Each train car features a different colour scheme. Seats next to each door are designated as priority seats and use a different colour.

After the first trainset was delivered, it was announced that about 60 of the fleet of 91 four-car trains would also have tip-up seats, which offers more standing space for commuters during rush hours. There would be 10 rows of tip-up seats per train, making up 25 per cent of the seat bays.

Two of the CT251 trains would also be fitted with the automatic track inspection system, comprising cameras, lasers and sensors which would help to detect defects on the tracks, such as rail cracks, missing track-rail fasteners or even foreign objects.

Train Formation

Each four-car trainset is formed of two driving trailers (DT), one motor car (M) and one trailer car (T). As such, the running configuration of a CT251 trainset is DM1–M–T–DM2.

Every car is identified by a five-digit number ranging from 2001x to 2091x, where the first digit is always 2, and the last digit x is carriage identifier.  Trainsets are identified by their first four digits, i.e. Set 2001, Set 2002 and on to Set 2091.

As such, a sample Set 2005 will contain the carriage numbers 20051-20052-20053-20054. Depending on the direction of travel, the sequence may be reversed.

Train Delivery

Accidents & Incidents

—

Gallery:

Other Photos:

External Links & References

• Singapore’s Land Transport Authority Orders 364 MRT Cars for New Line – Kawasaki
• LTA receives first of 91 trains for Thomson-East Coast Line – Straits Times
• Tip-up seats, extra doors, track inspection systems for Thomson-East Coast Line trains – Straits Times
• Joint Statement by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Putrajaya on 13 December 2016 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Joint Statement by Singapore and Malaysia on Resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System Link Project – Ministry of Transport

Back to Trains