Service changes on CCL and TEL for rail expansion works

Commuters of the Circle Line (CCL) and Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) can expect upcoming changes to services to facilitate rail expansion works. The series of temporary adjustments, which include shifts in operation hours and shuttered train platforms, will last from October 2023 to May 2024. LTA and SMRT will provide alternative travel options to ply the affected stretches to minimise the disruptions experienced by commuters.

CCL services will end at 10:00pm on 15, 22, 29 October and 5 November 2023 for the testing of a new Automatic Train Supervision system. Responsible for regulating the movement of driverless trains, the system will enable the operations of 23 new trains, three new stations and the expanded Kim Chuan Depot when Stage 6 of the CCL commences passenger service in 2026.

A shuttle train will cover the stretch to and from HarbourFront and Labrador Park stations between 20 January and 24 May 2024 to bridge commute services during the single platform closure period

Come 20 January 2024, both Telok Blangah and HarbourFront stations will operate on one platform each until 24 May 2024. During this period, a shuttle train will serve commuters travelling between HarbourFront station and Labrador Park station, at 10-minute intervals. The closed platform at both stations will facilitate track works to connect the CCL HarbourFront station to the new CCL Stage 6 extension. 

SMRT said in a joint press release with LTA that CCL trains servicing the rest of the rail line will travel alternately up to Kent Ridge and Labrador Park station before turning around. This will help to maintain peak-hour train intervals at the busy stretches of stations between Kent Ridge and Paya Lebar. When the changes are implemented, commuters can expect to wait for approximately 5 minutes at stations between Kent Ridge and Labrador Park. 

Commuters affected by the single platform closure at Telok Blangah and HarbourFront stations can travel via the 11 public bus services available in the area as an alternative to the CCL. LTA will provide an additional shuttle bus plying HarbourFront, Telok Blangah, Labrador Park and Kent Ridge stations during weekday peak hours at 10 to 15-minute intervals. Commuters travelling to and from Haw Par Villa and Pasir Panjang stations can also tap on existing bus services serving the stations from Haw Par Villa to HarbourFront.

Shuttle bus service will be made available as an alternative travel option to the TEL for commuters 

On the TEL, services will start later and end early from 3 November 2023 to 28 January 2024. Trains will start operating at 8:00am during weekends and terminate services at 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. However, TEL operation hours will remain unchanged on 11 and 12 November in view of Deepavali. These adjustments are needed to facilitate the rigorous integrated testing of systems across the TEL stages to prepare for the opening of TEL Stage 4 for passenger service next year. Two shuttle bus services travelling between Woodlands North and Caldecott station, and between Caldecott and Outram Park station will be provided as alternatives for commuters. These shuttle buses will have a frequency of about 5 to 10 minutes.

Station staff will also be deployed to offer assistance at the affected stations during the service adjustment period. For a better commuting experience, commuters can plan their journeys in advance through leveraging real-time information available on LTA's MyTransport.SG mobile app and LTA's and SMRT's social media platforms.