Jurong Region Line

The Jurong Region MRT Line, or JRL, is a future rapid transit line currently under construction. Targeted for full completion in 2029 (originally 2028), it will be the seventh MRT line in Singapore, employing a fully automated and driverless mode of operation.

First announced in January 2013, the line will connect serve residents of Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and the future developments in the Tengah area, and connect to main activity nodes in Jurong West, such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Jurong Industrial estate, including Jurong Island and the future Jurong Gateway. The line will be fully overground.

The alignment of the line and its stations was announced on 9 May 2018. Construction commenced in 2023.

Timeline & History

• 2001: Plans for an LRT system in the Jurong region surfaced as part of Concept Plan 2001
• 17 Jan 2013: Jurong Region Line formally announced as part of the Land Transport Master Plan 2013
• 25 Aug 2015: West Coast Extension announced
• 09 May 2018: Station working names and alignment announced
• 01 Feb 2021: Jurong Region Line opening mentioned to be delayed by 1 year from 2026-2028 due to COVID-19 in a written reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to a Parliamentary Question
• Aug 2021: Contract for construction of Remote Stabling Facility near Peng Kang Hill cancelled
• May 2023: Limited tender for operator called by LTA
• 2027-2029: Updated projected opening date (Phase 1 to 3)

The Jurong Region Line (JRL) is 24 kilometres long with 24 stations. When fully opened in Year 2029, it will extend the reach of the rail network to existing and upcoming developments in the Jurong area. This includes residential areas around Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Batok, Jurong West, West Coast and the future Tengah town, as well as high-activity areas such as the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Jurong Industrial estate.

The line comprises multiple branches:

• Main Branch from Choa Chu Kang to Jurong Pier, via Tengah and Boon Lay
• West branch from Bahar Junction to Peng Kang Hill at NTU
• East branch from Tengah to Pandan Reservoir via Jurong East

The line will have interchange stations at Boon Lay, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong East, with additional interchanges with the future Cross Island Line. From Pandan Reservoir, a possible extension to Haw Par Villa could be built in the future, pending the outcomes of ongoing feasibility studies.

The JRL will be served by Tengah MRT Depot, which will house the Operations Control Centre and provide stabling and maintenance facilities for about 100 trains.

To manage the noise impact on nearby residential areas, the above-ground JRL will be built with noise barriers along viaducts. The LTA is studying noise-dampening wheels and better lubrication for the JRL trains to minimise noise at the source.

When announced initially, there was a stabling facility planned near Peng Kang Hill Station to further enhance the launching and withdrawal operations of trains instead of relying solely on the main depot. The construction of this stabling facility was to be part of Contract J115 – Design and Construction of Peng Kang Hill Station, Remote Stabling Facility and Viaduct for Jurong Region Line. However, LTA did not award the contract to any tenderer in August 2021. Instead, a replacement contract, Contract J115A – “Design and Construction of JW5 Station and Viaduct for Jurong Region Line” was published on 30 August 2021.

Opening Delay

COVID-19 was cited in a Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Prioritising Early Completion of Jurong Region MRT Line on 1 Feb 2021 as a cause which affected the progress of the construction of the JRL. The effect of COVID-19 includes a manpower crunch, disruption to supplies and the need for strict safe management measures at work sites.

As such, JRL would open in phases from 2027 to 2029 instead, with an estimated delay of about a year.

Train Stations

All station names here are working names and subject to changes.

Phase 1 – Jurong Region Line (West) –  2027 JS1NS4BP1  Choa Chu Kang JS2 Choa Chu Kang West JS3 Tengah JS4 Hong Kah JS5 Corporation JS6 Jurong West JS7 Bahar Junction JS8EW27  Boon Lay JW1 Gek Poh JW2 Tawas
Phase 2 – Jurong Region Line (East) – 2028 JE1 Tengah Plantation JE2 Tengah Park JE3 Bukit Batok West JE4 Toh Guan JE5EW24NS1  Jurong East JE6 Jurong Town Hall JE7 Pandan Reservoir
Phase 3 – Jurong Region Line (West) Extension – 2029 JS9 Enterprise JS10 Tukang JS11 Jurong Hill JS12 Jurong Pier JW3 Nanyang Gateway JW4 Nanyang Crescent JW5 Peng Kang Hill

West Coast Extension

In August 2015, transport minister Lui Tuck Yew announced that a West Coast Extension was under study, which would extend the JRL from Pandan Reservoir to Haw Par Villa, forming an interchange with the Circle Line. If found to be feasible, the extension will be completed by 2030.

As of September 2022, this extension is still under study.

Service Pattern

2 Train Service patterns will operate on the Jurong Region Line, which we refer to as JRL West and JRL East. The system is designed to support train intervals of 90 seconds but will operate 2 to 3-minute intervals at the start of operations.

Jurong Region Line (West)

When opened in 2027, JRL West Trains will run from Choa Chu Kang, turn around at both Boon Lay and Tawas, and head back to Choa Chu Kang, calling at Bahar Junction thrice.

When the Third Phase is open (2029), trains from Choa Chu Kang turn around at both Jurong Pier and Peng Kang Hill before heading back to Choa Chu Kang.

Jurong Region Line (East)

Opening in 2028, the JRL East branch will operate between Tengah and Pandan Reservoir Stations. A possible extension to Haw Par Villa is currently undergoing feasibility studies.

Operator Tender

LTA called a limited tender for to appoint the JRL operator in May 2023. The tender is only open to the existing rail operators in Singapore (SMRT Trains & SBS Transit Rail), with foreign operators allowed to participate as minority partners of joint ventures with these existing operators.

The successful tender will be paid a service fee to operate and maintain the JRL for the first licensing period of nine years, with the possibility of a two-year extension.

LTA would award the operator license for JRL by end-2024.

Rolling Stock

62 Hyundai Rotem Contract J151 trainsets comprising of 3 cars each were procured for the Jurong Region Line. Each car is 18.6m long and 2.8m wide and powered by a power-supplying third rail. The trainsets can accommodate a possible expansion to 4 cars.

These trains are built in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem Company.

Fares

The Jurong Region Line will charge distance-based fares as set by the Public Transport Council.

Public transport journeys on buses and trains can be paid for using Mastercard, NETS & Visa contactless bank cards, Mastercard/Visa cards added to mobile wallets, SimplyGo EZ-Link cards, SimplyGo Concession cards or NETS prepaid cards.

Concession fares are applicable for students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities as well as adults under the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme with the respective concession cards.

In addition, monthly concession passes for adults and other concession groups are also available for unlimited travel at a flat price.

External Links & References:

• Jurong Region Line – LTA
• Jurong Region Line may be extended to join Circle Line – Straits Times
• New Jurong Region Line to boost access for NTU students – Straits Times
• Jurong Region Line to serve NTU, Tengah estate, Jurong Industrial Estate – Channel NewsAsia
• Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Prioritising Early Completion of Jurong Region MRT Line – Ministry of Transport
• Tenders Called to Appoint Operators for Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line – LTA