Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 大众捷运系统 (地铁) Sistem Pengangkutan Gerak Cepat துரிதக் கடவு ரயில்
Info
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Locale	Singapore
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	5
Number of stations	154 (102 in operation, 52 under construction or planning)
Daily ridership	2.879 million (2015)
Operation
Began operation	7 November 1987
Operator(s)	SMRT Corporation SBS Transit
Technical
System length	118.9 km (73.9 mi)

The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a super fast train system in Singapore. It's like a giant network of train lines that connects different parts of the city. When you want to travel, you hop on a train at a station, and it takes you to where you want to go. Sometimes, you might need to change trains to reach your final stop.

About 2.879 million people use the MRT every day! The whole system is about 170.7 kilometers long and has 106 stations. The trains run from early morning (5:30 am) until late at night (1:00 am), except on special holidays like Christmas Eve. During busy times, a train comes every 2–3 minutes. Even during quieter times, you only wait about 5–7 minutes. Two main companies, SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit, operate the MRT.

There are currently 5 main MRT lines. These lines connect at special stops called interchanges, making it easy to switch between them. The lines are the North South Line, East West Line, North East Line, Circle Line, and Downtown Line. The Circle Line opened in different parts from 2009 to 2012. The first part of the Downtown Line started running in December 2013.

In December 2011, the MRT network had a big power issue on the North-South Line. Trains stopped in the dark for a while. This event helped the MRT system learn and improve its safety measures even more.

MRT Network Lines

The MRT system has several important lines that help people travel across Singapore. Each line has its own route, number of stations, and length.

Growing the MRT Network

Singapore's government wants to make the MRT system even bigger and better. The goal is for trains to become the main way people travel around the city. They plan to expand the train tracks from 67 kilometers in 1995 to over 160 kilometers. By 2020, they expected 4.6 million people to use the MRT daily! This expansion will make Singapore's train network as good as, or even better than, those in big cities like New York and London.

Downtown Line Expansion

The Downtown Line is being built in three parts. The first part opened in December 2013, connecting Bugis to Chinatown. The second part will link Bukit Panjang in western Singapore. The third part will connect Expo in eastern Singapore. When finished, this line will be 40 kilometers long with 33 stations.

Thomson-East Coast Line

The Thomson-East Coast Line will be 30 kilometers long with 22 stations. It will connect to many other lines, making it easy to travel across the island. This line is expected to be fully open by 2024.

Jurong Region Line

The Jurong Region Line will be a medium-sized train line. It will serve areas like West Coast, Tengah, Choa Chu Kang, and Jurong. This line is expected to open in 2025.

Cross Island Line

The Cross Island Line will be a very long line, about 50 kilometers! It will go across the entire island of Singapore, connecting places like Tuas, Jurong, Ang Mo Kio, and Changi. This new line will give people another way to travel from east to west and will connect to all other major lines. It's expected to open in 2030.

Other Extensions

• North South Line Extension: A short 1-kilometer extension to Marina South Pier opened in 2014.
• Tuas West Extension: This extends the East West Line from Joo Koon to Tuas Link. It includes four new stations and is expected to serve over 100,000 people daily. It was completed in 2016.
• Circle Line Stage 6: A 4-kilometer extension from Marina Bay to HarbourFront is planned for completion by 2025.
• Downtown Line Extension: This extension will run from Expo through the Sungei Bedok area and is expected to be ready by 2024.
• North East Line Extension: A 2-kilometer extension from Punggol is planned for 2030. It will help future residents in Punggol North get to the city.

Station Facilities

Queenstown MRT Station has many useful facilities for passengers.

Every MRT station has important facilities to make your journey easy and safe. You'll find at least four ticket machines, restrooms, and a passenger service center. The service center helps control what happens in the station and can talk to the train operator. Many stations also have public phones and are easy to access for people with disabilities. Some stations even have ATMs, small shops (kiosks), and a bus stop nearby.

All MRT stations in Singapore are either above ground (elevated) or underground. None are at street level. Underground stations and trains have air-conditioning to keep you cool. Elevated stations have special half-height doors on the platforms.

Train Types (Rolling Stock)

The MRT system uses different types of trains, called "rolling stock." Most trains are powered by 750V DC electricity. Trains on the North East Line have 6 cars, while those on the Circle Line and Downtown Line have 3 cars.

Some of the oldest trains, called C151, were built between 1986 and 1989. They were updated in 2008 to keep them running well. Newer trains, like the C651s and C751Bs, were added later.

For the North East Line, 25 six-car trains called C751A were built. The Circle Line uses 40 three-car trains called C830.

The Downtown Line uses 88 three-car trains called Bombardier Movia C951. These started arriving in 2012.

Newer trains are also being added to other lines. For example, 24 C830C trains were ordered for the Circle Line and 18 C751C trains for the North East Line. These started service in 2015. The Thomson-East Coast Line will use 91 four-car CT251 trains, starting in 2019.

Even the North South and East West Lines are getting new trains! 57 C151B trains were ordered to improve these lines, with the first ones delivered in 2015. More C151C trains are also being built.

Fares and Tickets

MRT stations have two main areas: a "paid" area and an "unpaid" area. You can only enter the paid area by going through special gates called "fare gates." These gates read your ticket and keep track of where you start and end your journey.

You can buy tickets for a single trip or use special cards that you can top up with money. Single-trip tickets are green and are only good for the day you buy them. Cards that you can use many times, like the EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards, need to have a certain amount of money on them.

The ticketing system is connected, so you only pay once for your whole journey, even if you switch between lines run by different companies. You just tap your card when you enter and when you exit.

The EZ-Link card was introduced in 2002, and the NETS FlashPay card came out in 2009. These are "contactless" cards, meaning you just tap them on the reader.

Safety Measures

CCTV cameras help monitor activities at City Hall station to keep everyone safe.

The MRT operators work hard to keep everyone safe. You'll see safety posters and hear announcements in trains and stations. All underground stations have special doors on the platforms called "platform screen doors." These doors open only when the train arrives, preventing people from falling onto the tracks. Half-height platform screen doors are also being added to above-ground stations.

On above-ground platforms, there's a yellow line 70 centimeters from the edge. Passengers must stand behind this line for safety. There are also rules (bylaws) to prevent unsafe actions, like smoking or leaving things on the tracks. Breaking these rules can lead to fines.

In the past, there were some accidents, like a train collision in 1993. These incidents led to even more safety improvements, like the decision to install platform screen doors at all stations.

Security Measures

Security checks, like those at Tampines MRT station, help keep passengers safe.

Security has become very important for the MRT system. After some events around the world, Singapore increased security measures. Now, you might see unarmed guards patrolling stations and trains. They sometimes check bags.

Announcements often remind passengers to report anything suspicious and not to leave their belongings unattended. Cameras (CCTVs) have been upgraded in all stations and trains to record what happens. Trash bins and mailboxes were moved away from platforms to prevent bombs from being hidden in them. Taking photos without permission is also not allowed in MRT stations.

In 2005, the Singapore Police Force created a special unit called the Public Transport Security Command (Transcom). These armed officers patrol the MRT and LRT systems to keep everyone safe.

Images for kids

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  Canberra station, a new station on the North South line.

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  An SMRT Active Route Map Information System panel showing where a train is and its next stops.

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  A Dynamic Route Map Display inside a C751A train on the North East Line.

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  "Please do not talk" stickers were used on MRT trains during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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  Expo MRT station has a cool, futuristic design.

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  Bras Basah station has a water feature that lets sunlight into the station.

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  Wayside signal equipment used on the North South and East West lines.

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  Several MRT trains parked at Ulu Pandan Depot.

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  Maps showing the locations of Brickland and Sungei Kadut stations.

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  Different types of ticket machines at Bright Hill MRT station.

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  Ticket barriers at Woodlands North station, where you tap your card to enter or exit.

See also

In Spanish: Metro de Singapur para niños