Singapore plans two new rail lines, potential launch in 2040s pending feasibility studies

SINGAPORE: Two new rail lines serving over 400,000 households could be operational in the 2040s, pending feasibility studies by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The Seletar Line could serve areas including Woodlands, Sembawang, Sengkang West, Serangoon North, Whampoa, Kallang, and the Greater Southern Waterfront. The other, tentatively named the Tengah Line, could supplement the transport network in the west and northwest regions, covering Tengah, Bukit Batok, Queensway, and Bukit Merah. Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat announced the potential new lines in parliament on Wednesday (5 March) as part of the Ministry of Transport’s (MOT) Budget 2025 plans. LTA’s preliminary assessments indicate that the two lines could converge at the Greater Southern Waterfront. “Our feasibility studies will therefore look into the possibility of linking the two lines into a single line, for more seamless connectivity and better efficiency for commuters,” said Chee. LTA stated that further details would be provided as studies progress.

S$1 billion investment to enhance rail reliability

Chee acknowledged the growing challenge of maintaining high reliability standards as Singapore’s rail network expands, with a mix of ageing and new rail systems. To address this, the government will invest up to S$1 billion (US$742 million) over the next five years to strengthen rail reliability. This will fund condition monitoring systems for proactive and targeted maintenance, new technologies to improve rail maintenance efficiency, and workforce training and upskilling programmes for rail workers. “Together, these efforts to expand the rail network, enhance the management of rail assets, and upskill our rail workforce will allow us to continue delivering convenient, reliable, and resilient public transport for our commuters,” said LTA.

Updates on the West Coast Extension

Chee also provided updates on the West Coast Extension, which LTA has been studying. This extension will link the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) to the Circle Line (CCL) and will be executed in two phases. Phase 1, expected by the late 2030s, will extend the JRL from Pandan Reservoir station to connect with the Cross-Island Line (CRL) at West Coast station. Phase 2, expected by the early 2040s, will extend the JRL from West Coast station to Kent Ridge station, linking it to the CCL. Once completed, the extension could reduce travel times by up to 20 minutes for commuters in the west heading towards the city centre. “The West Coast Extension will also enhance the overall resilience of our rail network by providing an alternative via the CRL and to the city centre via CCL,” Chee added. Additional details, including station locations, will be announced later.

Rail expansion timeline

New stations and lines will continue to be added annually until the end of this decade.

• Hume station on the Downtown Line (DTL) opened last month.
• Phase 2 of the CRL—comprising Turf City, King Albert Park, Maju, Clementi, West Coast, and Jurong Lake District stations—will break ground in the first half of this year.
• CCL Stage 6, which will close the loop between Marina Bay and HarbourFront via three new stations (Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road), remains on track for completion in the first half of 2026.
• Three new stations—Bedok South, Xilin, and Sungei Bedok—part of the Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 5 and DTL 3 extension, are slated to open in the second half of 2026.
• JRL Stage 1 is set to open in 2027, followed by Stages 2 and 3 in 2028 and 2029, respectively.
• The CRL will progressively open from 2030, connecting the eastern, western, and northeast regions.

“Rail projects are major investments. They require careful planning, considering current and future land-use needs, engineering feasibility, and potential environmental impact,” said Chee. He emphasised the need for political stability and a strong government to execute long-term infrastructure plans that span multiple terms of government.