Light Rail Transit (Singapore) facts for kids

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a special train system in Singapore. It's like a smaller version of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network. The LRT helps people get from their homes to the bigger MRT stations. It started running on 6 November 1999 with the Bukit Panjang LRT line, connecting to Choa Chu Kang. As of 2016, there are three LRT lines and 43 stations in total.

What is the LRT?

Even though Singapore already had a good MRT system, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) decided to build the LRT. This was because LRTs are cheaper and easier to build than new MRT lines. The LRT helps reduce traffic jams without the huge cost and effort of building more MRT lines. Building the first LRT line, from Bukit Panjang to Choa Chu Kang, started in 1996. It began service on 6 November 1999.

The LRT system also serves the areas of Sengkang and Punggol. Construction for the Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT began in January 2000. The Sengkang East Loop opened on 18 January 2003. The Sengkang West Loop and Punggol East Loop opened on 29 January 2005. Some plans for new LRT lines were stopped in 2008 because there wasn't enough space to build them above ground.

LRT Milestones

Here are some important dates for the LRT system:

• 6 November 1999: All Bukit Panjang LRT stations opened.
• 18 January 2003: Sengkang and all Sengkang LRT East Loop stations opened.
• 29 January 2005: Punggol, Thanggam to Renjong, and Cove to Kadaloor stations opened.
• 15 June 2007: Oasis station opened.
• 15 November 2007: Farmway station opened.
• 10 December 2010: Ten Mile Junction station closed.
• 20 June 2011: Damai station opened.
• 30 December 2011: Ten Mile Junction station reopened.
• 1 January 2013: Cheng Lim station opened.
• 29 June 2014: Nibong to Soo Teck stations opened.
• 27 June 2015: Kupang station opened.
• 29 February 2016: Sam Kee station opened.

LRT Lines

Singapore's LRT system has 3 lines and 43 stations.

The Bukit Panjang LRT Line started on 6 November 1999. It is run by SMRT Trains. This line is a single loop. It connects to the MRT North South Line at Choa Chu Kang Station. It also connects to the Downtown Line at Bukit Panjang.

The Sengkang LRT Line opened on 18 January 2003. The Punggol LRT Line opened on 29 January 2005. These lines are run by SBS Transit. Each line has an East and West loop. The loops meet at either Sengkang or Punggol stations. Both lines also have tracks that run next to the North East Line below them.

The Trains (Rolling Stock)

The LRT lines use special trains called Automated People Movers. At first, these trains had only one car. But because more people started using them, most trains were joined together. The Bukit Panjang LRT Line started using two-car trains when enough C801A trains were ready. The Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines started using two-car trains around 2015. In these two-car trains, passengers cannot walk between the cars. You have to get off at a station and then get on the other car if you want to switch.

There are four types of trains used on the LRT:

• Bombardier Innovia APM 100 C801: These were the first trains for the Bukit Panjang LRT Line. 19 single-car trains started running on 6 November 1999.
• Bombardier Innovia APM 100 C801A: These are the second type of trains for the Bukit Panjang LRT Line. 13 single-car trains started running on 19 November 2014.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover C810: These were the first trains for the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines. 41 single-car trains started running on 20 June 2003.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover C810A: These are the second type of trains for the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines. 16 single-car trains started running in 2016.

Safety on the LRT

To keep passengers safe, authorities announced on November 24, 2015, that they would put up barriers at the edge of the platforms. This helps stop people from accidentally falling onto the tracks. These barriers were put in at all LRT stations except Ten Mile Junction LRT Station. Ten Mile Junction already had special platform screen doors. This station was also the only LRT station with air conditioning, and the doors helped keep the cool air inside, saving electricity. The new barriers were installed between 2016 and 2018. The stations at Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang got them first because more people use those stations. These barriers do not have moving doors, possibly to save money.

Train Arrival Times

On the Bukit Panjang LRT Line, trains usually arrive about every 2.2 minutes between Choa Chu Kang LRT Station and Bukit Panjang LRT Station. Between Petir LRT Station and Senja LRT Station, trains arrive about every 4.4 minutes. At all stations, you can see when the next two trains will arrive. For the Sengkang LRT Line and Punggol LRT Line, there are no specific times stated, but you can see the arrival time of the next train at Fernvale LRT Station only.

At Ten Mile Junction LRT Station, trains arrive less often, only every 20 minutes. This is probably because fewer passengers use this station.

Related pages

• Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)

Images for kids

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  Junction in track of Singapore LRT

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  A lift at Petir LRT station.

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  Fare gates at Compassvale LRT station.

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  Choa Chu Kang LRT station, one of the stations on the BPLRT.

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  Sengkang LRT station, one of the stations on the SKLRT.

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  Punggol LRT station, one of the stations on the PGLRT.

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  LRT trains are parked at the top level of Sengkang Depot.