The Tuas West Extension is a 7.5-kilometre long extension of the East West Line which opened for revenue service on 18 June 2017. The extension adds four new stations to the EWL, extending the line west to Tuas Link, the new western terminus of the line.
Four new stations, EW30 Gul Circle, EW31 Tuas Crescent, EW32 Tuas West Road and EW33 Tuas Link, were constructed as part of the extension. Originally scheduled to open in end-2016, the opening was delayed to mid-2017 to allow for more time testing the upgraded signalling system.
Introduction
First announced on 11 January 2011, the Tuas West Extension (TWE) would be an extension of the East West Line from Joo Koon to Tuas Link via a 7.5-kilometre-long MRT viaduct. Part of the viaduct would be integrated with a road viaduct along Pioneer Road. Four new stations, Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link, would offer enhanced connectivity to the Tuas industrial area.
Included in the project was a 26-hectare integrated Tuas MRT Depot, which provides stabling and maintenance facilities for up to 60 trains, including the 13 additional fourth-generation Kawasaki-Sifang C151A trains purchased for the TWE under Contract 151A (Variation Order) in 2012, as well as fifth-generation Kawasaki-Sifang C151B trains. The groundbreaking ceremony was held near Tuas Link station on 4 May 2012.
When the TWE was opened in 2017, it solely relied on the new Communication-based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system that was projected to be launched on the East West Line only in 2018. As such, westbound trains must switch to the newer CBTC signalling system at Pioneer before proceeding towards Joo Koon and beyond. Similarly, eastbound trains switch back to the old fixed-block signalling system at Pioneer. In May 2018, the new signalling system was implemented on the entire East West Line. As such, trains no longer need to switch signalling systems at Pioneer.
Stations
The four stations of the Tuas West Extension are:
EW30 Gul Circle
EW31 Tuas Crescent
EW32 Tuas West Road
EW33 Tuas Link
New Depot: Tuas MRT Depot
More photos on the TWE construction progress can be found in the individual articles of each station/depot.
Features
The Tuas West Extension utilizes slab track instead of ballasted track, which are directly secured to concrete rather than being secured to sleepers. Guard rails, previously present on all viaduct sections of the North South and East West Lines, are also no longer installed on the Tuas West Extension.
At Gul Circle, unused platforms at each level are reserved for a future line extension to Tuas South.
Platform screen doors (PSDs) are supplied by Chinese manufacturer Fangda, in contrast to Westinghouse-ST Electronics PSDs retrofitted to other overground stations along the North South and East West Line between 2009-2012.
Additionally, the gap between the train and the platform has been maintained without the use of gap filling material. Older North South and East West Line elevated stations have orange-dyed polymer concrete strips installed in 1999 to reduce the gap from 100mm to 75mm.
Train Service Hours
| Station | Destination | First Train | Last Train | |
| Mon-Sat | Sun & PHs | Daily | ||
| EW33 Tuas Link | Pasir Ris (→) | 0519 | 0549 | 2320 |
| EW32 Tuas West Road | Tuas Link (←) | 0534 | 0604 | 0045 |
| Pasir Ris (→) | 0521 | 0551 | 2322 | |
| EW31 Tuas Crescent | Tuas Link (←) | 0532 | 0602 | 0043 |
| Pasir Ris (→) | 0523 | 0553 | 2324 | |
| EW30 Gul Circle | Tuas Link (←) | 0530 | 0600 | 0041 |
| Pasir Ris (→) | 0526 | 0556 | 2327 | |
There are no changes to the first and last train timings for other stations along the East West Line.
Train Operations on the Tuas West Extension
As the Tuas West Extension uses the new Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) Signalling system, all Westbound East West Line trains will change from the Fixed-Block Signalling to CBTC at Pioneer MRT Station. The CBTC system between Joo Koon and Pioneer MRT Stations will also be permanently activated to allow trains to proceed down the line. Eastbound trains will also have to switch back to the Fixed-Block Signalling mode before moving off from Pioneer MRT Station towards Boon Lay.
For a start, every alternate Westbound train would proceed to Tuas Link after Joo Koon. Train services on the Tuas West extension would operate at an interval of four to five minutes during peak hours and at eight to ten-minute intervals during non-peak hours. There is no change to the service timings for the rest of the stations along the East-West Line. Trains terminating at Joo Koon will turn around at a cripple siding located between Joo Koon and Gul Circle stations.
Trains will no longer have to switch between signalling systems in 2018 when the entire East West Line switches over to CBTC.
Bus Service Amendments with the opening of Tuas West Extension
Main Article: Bus Service Enhancements for Tuas West Extension opening
The Tuas / Jurong Industrial Bus Service Network will undergo several changes, such as new Bus Services 247 and 248 under the Jurong West Bus Package as well as route amendments to existing bus services with the opening of the TWE.
A new Tuas Bus Terminal has also been built on the roof of the Tuas MRT Depot building, with access ramps leading to Tuas West Drive and Tuas Link 4. The new bus terminal will eventually replace the older bus terminal at the junction of Tuas West Drive and Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, which has been in operation since 1998.
As the terminal is not ready for opening, the new Bus Services 247 and 248 commenced operations at the old Tuas Bus Terminal instead. In addition, new bus stops have been spotted in the Tuas West & Tuas South area leading up to the Bus Service Network change.
Also check out: Bus Service Enhancements for Tuas West Extension opening
Tuas West Extension Open House
All four Tuas West Extension stations was opened to the public from 1200hrs to 2000hrs on Friday, 16 June 2017. Attendees can try out the train service between Gul Circle and Tuas Link stations for free, as well as participate in various games and activities arranged at the Open House.
A free shuttle bus service was provided from Pioneer & Joo Koon MRT Stations.
Also check out: Tuas West Extension Open House on 16 Jun 2017 for more details.
Tuas West Extension Promotional Roving Exhibitions
The Land Transport Authority held roving exhibitions to raise awareness in the few weeks leading up to the opening of the Tuas West Extension. The roving exhibitions will be held at the following venues on the following dates:
- 22, 24, 26, 30 May 2017
- 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15 June 2017
| Location | Time |
| Boon Lay Bus Interchange | 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs |
| Boon Lay MRT Station | 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs |
| Joo Koon Bus Interchange | 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs |
| Joo Koon MRT Station | 0700hrs – 0900hrs & 1100hrs – 1300hrs |
| Jurong East Bus Interchange | 0700hrs – 0900hrs |
| Jurong East MRT Station | 0700hrs – 0900hrs |
| Pioneer MRT Station | 0700hrs – 0900hrs |
However, on the morning and afternoon of 22 May 2017, the roving exhibition for the Tuas West Extension at the above locations did not appear.
Related Content:
- East West Line – Land Transport Guru
- Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) – Land Transport Guru
External Links & References:
- Tuas West Extension Opens on 18 June 2017 – LTA
- Tuas Depot set to take in trains next month – The Straits Times, 18 May 2017
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