SMRT Trains facts for kids
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A C151 train operated by SMRT Trains.
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| Public | |
| Industry | Public Transport Operator |
| Founded | Singapore (1987) (as Mass Rapid Transit Corporation) |
| Headquarters |
2 Tanjong Katong Road, #08-01, Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ 3), Singapore 437161
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Area served
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Singapore |
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Key people
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| Services | Railways |
| Parent | SMRT Corporation |
SMRT Trains Limited is a company in Singapore that runs most of the country's train services. It's a part of a bigger company called SMRT Corporation.
The company started as Singapore MRT Limited after the train services became private in 1995. On December 31, 2001, its name changed to SMRT Trains Limited. This was to avoid confusion with another train line, the North East MRT Line, which was run by a different company. Today, SMRT Trains manages most of Singapore's train lines, except for the North East Line and the Downtown Line.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
How SMRT Trains Started
SMRT Trains Limited was created to manage the train services. These services used to be run by a government company called Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC).
Early Days of Train Services
The company "Singapore MRT Limited" was officially formed on August 6, 1987. It signed an agreement with MRTC, which was a government-run group until 1997.
On November 7, 1987, MRTC launched Singapore's first MRT train section. It had five stations, from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh.
In 1995, MRTC joined to form the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The train operations then became part of SMRT Corporation. Later, in 1998, a company called "Singapore LRT Limited" was created for light rail services. On December 31, 2001, both Singapore MRT Limited and Singapore LRT Limited combined to become SMRT Trains.
New Way to Pay for Trains
On July 15, 2016, SMRT Trains and its smaller company, SMRT Light Rail, finished talks about a new way to pay for train services. This new plan, called the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF), covers the North-South, East-West, Circle Lines, and the Bukit Panjang LRT.
The government first announced this plan in 2008. It was an improved version of an older plan from 1996. The new plan was first used for the Downtown Line in 2011. From October 1, 2016, SMRT started a 15-year contract under this new plan. This meant the government took over ownership of all SMRT's train assets.
Singapore's Main Trains
SMRT Trains operates many different types of trains on its two main lines: the North South Line and the East West Line. These trains include models like the C151, C651, and the newer R151.
SMRT also runs the C830 and C830C trains on the Circle Line. They are also allowed to operate the T251 trains on the Thomson-East Coast Line.
The main color for most SMRT trains is black with a red stripe. Some trains have special colors. For example, the C651 trains are white and red. The C801 trains are blue and red. Newer trains like the C151B and C801A have a "pixelated" design with white, red, black, and yellow stripes.
Train Models and Details
| Name | Image | Maximum Speed (km/h) | Trains built | Cars built | Cars per set | Lines served | Built | Number In Service | Introduction into service | Withdrawn from service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Service | ||||||||||
| C151 |  |
90 | 80 | 66 | 396 | 6 | North–South Line East–West Line |
1986 – 1989 2006 – 2008 |
53 | 7 November 1987 | 22 June 2020 – |
| C651 |  |
19 | 114 | 1993 – 1994 2016 – 2018 (cancelled) |
5 | 2 May 1995 | 6 September 2020 – | ||||
| C751B |  |
21 | 126 | 1999 – 2001 | 6 | 8 May 2000 | 14 March 2021 – | ||||
| C151A |  |
35 | 210 | 2011 – 2014 | 35 | 27 May 2011 | N/A | ||||
| C151B |  |
45 | 270 | 2015 – 2017 | 45 | 16 April 2017 | |||||
| C151C |  |
12 | 72 | 2017 – 2018 | 12 | 30 September 2018 | |||||
| R151 |  |
106 | 636 | 2020 onwards | At least 18 trains in operation | 4 June 2023 | |||||
| C830 |  |
78 | 40 | 120 | 3 | Circle Line | 2006 – 2008 | 40 | 28 May 2009 | ||
| C830C |  |
24 | 72 | 2014 – 2015 | 24 | 26 June 2015 | |||||
| C851E | N/A | 23 | 69 | 2019 onwards | 0 | From 2026 onwards | |||||
| T251 |  |
100 | 90 | 91 | 364 | 4 | Thomson–East Coast Line | 2015 – 2020 | 91 | 31 January 2020 | |
- In Singapore, trains are often named by their "contract" number, not a "class" name like in other countries.
Light Rail Transit (LRT)
SMRT Light Rail runs one LRT line, the Bukit Panjang LRT Line. This line helps people connect from the towns of Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang to the main train lines. It links to the Downtown Line at Bukit Panjang and the North South Line at Choa Chu Kang.
LRT Train Models
| Name | Image | Maximum Speed (km/h) | Trains built | Cars per set | Lines served | Built | Numbers In Service | Introduction into service | Withdrawn from service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Service | |||||||||
| C801 |  |
55 | 48 | 19 | 1 | Bukit Panjang LRT | 1997 – 1999 | 18 | 6 November 1999 | 26 November 2023 – |
| C801A |  |
13 | 2014 – 2015 | 13 | 19 November 2014 | N/A | ||||
| C801B | N/A | 19 | 2019 – 2022 | 0 | From Q3 2024 onwards | |||||
- Like the MRT, LRT trains are also named by their "contract" number.
Important Events
- In 1993, before the start of service, a maintenance vehicle left oil on the tracks between Clementi and Jurong East. Several trains had trouble braking. On August 5, 1993, a train stopped longer than usual at Clementi station. Another train behind it could not stop in time and bumped into it. About 156 passengers were hurt in this incident.
- Pasir Ris rail accident: On March 22, 2016, two SMRT staff members were sadly hit by a train near Pasir Ris station. After an investigation, it was found that SMRT had not followed some important safety rules for many years. Steps were taken to improve safety for workers.
- Joo Koon rail accident: On November 15, 2017, two trains bumped into each other at Joo Koon. This event resulted in 28 people getting hurt. This was the second time a train collision happened after the one in 1993.
