{"id":33856,"date":"2026-03-06T01:54:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T17:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=33856"},"modified":"2026-03-06T01:54:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T17:54:38","slug":"new-jrl-station-in-tengah-opening-of-line-delayed-to-mid-2028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=33856","title":{"rendered":"New JRL station in Tengah, opening of line delayed to mid-2028"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->A new station will be built on the Jurong Region Line (JRL) between Tengah and Choa Chu Kang, and is slated to open in the mid-2030s, said Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He also told the House that the opening of the JRL has been delayed by six months to the middle of 2028 due to construction delays and testing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The first stage of the JRL \u2013 which comprises 10 stations that will connect Choa Chu Kang to Boon Lay and Tawas within Jalan Bahar \u2013 was slated to open in end-2027. It was <!-- -->previously delayed by a year<!-- --> due to the Covid-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWe will do our best to complete the works as soon as possible,\u201d said Mr Siow during the debate on his ministry\u2019s budget on March 4. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Transport Ministry is projected to spend $16.15 billion in financial year 2026, up 1.4 per cent from $15.93 billion in the 2025 financial year.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jurong Region MRT Line opening postponed to mid-2028 due to construction delays, testing\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LgyKHF0ss0s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the interim, two shuttle bus services will be introduced to connect residents from selected JRL stations to \u201ckey destinations\u201d in the region until the line opens, he said in response to Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast-Jurong West GRC).<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On the new JRL station in Tengah, Mr Siow said it will serve future residents of the Forest Hill district in Tengah and open in tandem with the completion of nearby housing developments. Work has started on the new station, located at Jalan Lam Sam. It will bring the total number of JRL stations to 25.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In a statement on March 4, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it had worked with its JRL contractors to boost manpower and deploy more equipment to speed up construction, but could not make up the lost time from earlier delays due to the pandemic. <\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/NieTg\/1\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA also cited the complexity of the project as a factor. The JRL <!-- -->\u2013 Singapore\u2019s seventh MRT line \u2013 <!-- -->is being built entirely above ground in a densely populated area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Sections of the line are built close to HDB blocks and over major roads and expressways, including the PIE. Construction of the rail viaduct over the PIE could be done only at night, with road closures in place, LTA noted. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Certain works also took longer than planned, LTA said, citing the construction of a viaduct over a 25m-wide canal. It said its contractors had to carry out more extensive ground preparation around the canal to ensure the stability of the viaduct and other structures.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/11706e77cf7c6103a3801d0257e9b877c1da1c5e40d7bdffe752092363a2fd2a?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/11706e77cf7c6103a3801d0257e9b877c1da1c5e40d7bdffe752092363a2fd2a?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/11706e77cf7c6103a3801d0257e9b877c1da1c5e40d7bdffe752092363a2fd2a?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/11706e77cf7c6103a3801d0257e9b877c1da1c5e40d7bdffe752092363a2fd2a\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Choa Chu Kang West station under construction on Feb 26.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: JASEL POH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The JRL will open in three stages, with Stage 1 now set for mid-2028. LTA said it would provide updates on Stages 2 and 3 as work progresses. Stage 2, from Tengah to Pandan Reservoir, is currently slated to open in 2028. Stage 3, which will extend the JRL into Nanyang Technological University and towards Jurong Pier, is scheduled to open in 2029.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA said the interim shuttle bus services will begin in end-2027 to improve transport capacity and connectivity between areas due to be served by the line. More details will be announced later, it added. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In his speech, Mr Siow also gave updates on upcoming MRT projects.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/kb6dk\/1\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Construction of the third phase of the Cross Island Line (CRL) is slated to start in 2027, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA said engineering studies have been completed on phase three, which will run from Jurong Lake District to Tuas. Further details on alignment and station locations will be shared when ready, said LTA in response to queries. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Phase 1 of the line \u2013 comprising 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill \u2013 is on track to open in 2030. Phase 2, which will extend the line westwards to the Jurong Lake District, is also progressing steadily, with tunnelling works under way, LTA said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The CRL-Punggol Extension is also making progress, with station design and construction in progress, LTA added. Phase 2 and the CRL-Punggol Extension are slated for completion in 2032.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The CRL <!-- -->is Singapore\u2019s eighth MRT line, and <!-- -->will link developments across the eastern, western and north-eastern parts of the island.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Responding to MPs who sought updates on future rail lines, Mr Siow said LTA will begin engineering studies in 2026 for the Seletar Line, Tengah Line and West Coast Extension of the JRL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For the Seletar Line, LTA will \u201cprioritise studying a corridor to serve Sengkang West and Serangoon North\u201d, he said, with possible connections to the CRL and Circle Line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">As for the West Coast Extension, studies will centre on the first phase, which will extend the JRL from the JE7 station near Teban Gardens to a future CRL station in West Coast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA said it would study the feasibility of subsequent phases of these lines. The development of new rail lines in Singapore typically begins with feasibility studies to assess viability, followed by engineering studies to decide the alignment and detailed design.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Several new MRT stations are slated to open in 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the middle of 2026, Stage 6 of the Circle Line will open and complete the loop between HarbourFront and Marina Bay, with three new stations: Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the second half of the year, the final stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line will open, adding Bedok South and Sungei Bedok stations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/delayed-opening-of-tel-stage-5-irks-some-residents-others-resigned-to-the-longer-wait?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">after earlier delays<\/p>\n<p><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Downtown Line 3 Extension is also set to open in the second half of 2026. It will add Xilin station and Sungei Bedok station, which will serve as an interchange with the Thomson-East Coast Line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA said the new stations will move it closer to its goal of having eight in 10 households within a 10-minute walk of a train station by the 2030s.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"[FULL] Globally oriented, people-centric: Jeffrey Siow on tackling Singapore\u2019s transport issues\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gdTclEl3CQE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Siow also gave an update on plans to rejuvenate older MRT stations along the North-South and East-West lines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Works to upgrade Yishun station are slated to begin in 2027, with a new entrance built on the station\u2019s southern side to cater to higher ridership. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The station\u2019s toilets, wayfinding and signage will be upgraded, while work on its facade will improve lighting and natural ventilation. The concourse will also be expanded to ease commuter flow, LTA said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Siow added that LTA is studying other stations for rejuvenation, including Admiralty, Khatib and Sembawang.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA said it is focusing on stations such as these three, where ridership is expected to increase due upcoming developments. Works may be needed to improve the stations\u2019 capacity and accessibility, it added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Turning to the issue of crowding \u2013 particularly on the North-East Line \u2013 Mr Siow said he has brought back free morning off-peak travel on the NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT to encourage more commuters to shift out of the morning peak.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">So far, around 8 per cent of passengers have started their commutes at one of six NEL stations before 7.30am, or between 9am and 9.45am, after free morning off-peak travel was introduced in October 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cCrowdedness has come down, akin to the effect of adding two extra trains or 20 buses,\u201d Mr Siow said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA said 14,500 passengers have signed up for the free travel scheme since it was enhanced on Dec 27, taking the total number to 25,500. About 2,100 passengers benefit daily, it added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the longer term, new MRT links such as the CRL and the Seletar Line are expected to ease congestion in the north-east, Mr Siow said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Responding to WP Non-Constituency MP Andre Low\u2019s suggestion on express train services, Mr Siow noted that such services can shorten journeys for some passengers but typically require a separate set of tracks and additional signalling systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">That would mean greater land take, higher costs and more time needed for construction, he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On Mr Low\u2019s proposal for skip-stop services, Mr Siow said this is technically possible, but regular trains would have to wait at stations to let express trains pass, significantly affecting passengers on those services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">During the debate, Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West) sought an update on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/final-market-study-being-done-to-determine-jb-spore-rts-link-fares-msian-transport-minister?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">fares for the upcoming cross-border Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link<\/p>\n<p><\/a> between Johor Bahru and Woodlands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke on Feb 13 said the proposed fare range was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/asia\/se-asia\/proposed-rts-link-fare-of-5-to-7-affordable-for-many-malaysian-workers-but-costlier-than?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">between $5 and $7<\/p>\n<p><\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Siow told the House he has not discussed the fares with his Malaysian counterpart. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cUnder the terms of our bilateral agreement, it is the operator, RTSO, who has to determine the fares,\u201d Mr Siow said, adding that RTSO will announce the fares in due course.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The RTS Link, slated to begin operations by the end of 2026, will provide a direct, five-minute connection from Woodlands North station on the Thomson-East Coast Line to Bukit Chagar in downtown Johor Bahru. <\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base podcast aspect-landscape podcast-embed\" title=\"podcast embed\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/coe-watch\/playlists\/coe-watch\/embed\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;falseclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"eager\" height=\"500\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/new-jurong-region-line-station-added-in-tengah-opening-of-line-delayed-to-mid-2028-jeffrey-siow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 A new station will be built on the Jurong Region Line (JRL) between Tengah and Choa Chu Kang, and is slated to open&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}