Train services on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) will be adjusted in August and October to facilitate ongoing system renewal works. These adjustments comprise early closures over two weekends in August and a full Sunday closure in October.
2 These adjustments are to facilitate the upgrading of BPLRT’s Operations Control Centre (OCC), which has been in operation since 1999. The OCC controls and monitors the signalling, power supply and communications systems as well as station facilities. The upgrading works are being carried out in phases to minimise inconvenience to commuters. Works include migrating to an interim OCC to allow the existing OCC to be upgraded, as well as the subsequent transition back to the upgraded OCC when works are completed in three years’ time.
3 To facilitate testing and commissioning of the interim OCC, BPLRT train services will end earlier at 10.30pm over two weekends, on 12, 13, 19, and 20 August, instead of 11.30pm currently. There will also be a full-day closure on Sunday, 1 Oct 2023, to facilitate the migration to the interim OCC.
Dates |
Change in BPLRT service |
12, 13, 19 and 20 August 2023 (Saturdays and Sundays) |
Train services will end one hour earlier at 10.30pm |
1 October 2023 (Sunday) |
No train services (full day closure). |
Alternative transport arrangements
4 During the affected weekends in August, commuters can take existing bus services that serve Bukit Panjang and/or Choa Chu Kang to continue their journeys after 10.30pm. These include Services 67, 171, 920, 922, 960, 963, 972, 972M, 973, 974 and 976. During the full Sunday closure on 1 October 2023, an additional shuttle bus service will be provided along the LRT Service B route (Annex A).
New and Refurbished LRVs entering passenger service
5 The ongoing renewal of the BPLRT system also includes the introduction of 19 new Light Rail Vehicles (LRV) to replace the existing ones in service since 1999. These new LRVs will be progressively delivered, and tested upon arrival.
6 13 LRVs that were introduced in 2015 are also being upgraded to support the new Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system. Two of these LRVs have completed the upgrade and re-entered passenger service on 29 July 2023. The upgrading works for another two LRVs will follow, with the CBTC upgrade for all 13 LRVs expected to complete in 2025.
7 When the renewal of BPLRT is completed in 2026, the BPLRT would be upgraded significantly with 19 new vehicles and 13 retrofitted vehicles, enhanced signalling and power systems as well as condition monitoring capabilities to support reliability of the system.
