SINGAPORE \u2013 Rail operator SMRT Trains is teaming up with China\u2019s Guangzhou Metro Group (GMG) in a joint bid to operate the upcoming Cross Island Line (CRL) when the authorities reopen the tender for the Republic\u2019s longest fully underground line.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters at Bishan Depot on Aug 5, SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming said the Chinese rail operator has \u201cextensive experience\u201d in using a fixed overhead conductor rail power system, which is what trains plying the new line will use<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Only the North East Line \u2013 operated by SBS Transit \u2013 employs an overhead system. All other MRT lines use a third rail, which supplies power to the trains.<\/p>\n Noting that GMG operates a network with a daily ridership of more than nine million passengers, or roughly three times that of Singapore\u2019s MRT network, Seah said the Chinese operator\u2019s experience \u201cwill complement SMRT\u2019s strengths and create long-term value for Singapore\u201d.<\/p>\n Both companies signed an agreement in June to team up for the bid.<\/p>\n Spanning about 67km across 27 stations from Changi Airport Terminal 5 to Gul Circle, the CRL will be Singapore\u2019s eighth MRT line and is being built in three phases.<\/p>\n The third and final phase<\/span><\/a>, which comprises four stations, will serve residents and workers across the western industrial estates and substantially improve connectivity to the rest of the island, said Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow on July 31.<\/p>\n Although the tender for the line\u2019s operator had been called in May 2023, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in November 2024 that it decided not to award the contract.<\/p>\n SMRT Trains and a joint venture between SBS Transit Rail and the subsidiary of French public transport operator RATP Dev had submitted bids, but the authority said then that the tenderers\u2019 proposals had not \u201cadequately reflected the uncertainties of operating the line when service commences in six years\u2019 time\u201d.<\/p>\n The CRL\u2019s first phase is slated to be completed in 2030.<\/p>\n Besides the tie-up with GMG for the CRL bid, SMRT Trains has also partnered the Chinese company in setting up a joint facility at Bishan Depot to trial new innovations before they are rolled out on a larger scale.<\/p>\n The SMRT-Guangzhou Metro Rail Innovation Laboratory, launched in June, allows digital solutions that GMG developed and actively uses to be adapted for the Singapore operator\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n At present, the lab is testing the adaptation and integration of three systems already in use by GMG.<\/p>\n One of them is a commuter analysis feature that uses fare gate data to determine commuter movements, with crowded stations represented by large red circles.<\/p>\n Used in tandem with artificial intelligence, SMRT Trains can then take a more proactive approach, whether in managing crowds or scheduling trains, said its deputy head of engineering Reuben Lim.<\/p>\n Also being tested is a system that allows staff a comprehensive view of station operations and facilities \u2013 including the real-time condition of facilities such as lifts and escalators. Certain systems can also be remotely operated.<\/p>\n Another monitoring system integrates information on the track, tunnel and rail systems, so teams can better detect anomalies, analyse trends and understand defects by location, type and seriousness.<\/p>\n (From left) Strides Premier CEO Ang Wei Neng, Strides Holdings president Tan Peng Kuan, SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai, SMRT Group CEO Ngien Hoon Ping, SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming, SMRT Group CFO Phua Yung Keat, Stellar Lifestyle president Tony Heng and SMRT Group chief engineering officer Ang Hang Guan at the Bishan Depot Admin Building on Aug 5.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Separately, Seah said Mandai Depot is currently undergoing upgrading as part of a project dubbed Depot 4.0, in which automation and digital solutions are tapped to improve maintenance quality. <\/p>\n Slated for completion by mid-2027, the refresh will double the depot\u2019s train overhaul capacity and halve the overhaul time for Thomson-East Coast Line trains from 24 days to 12 days.<\/p>\n In 2025, SMRT completed a two-year, $7 million project to upgrade Bishan Depot<\/span><\/a>, doubling the facility\u2019s monthly train overhaul capacity from two to four.<\/p>\n In the nearer term, SMRT will launch what it terms Bus 4.0 at the end of August.<\/p>\n Seah said it will be similar to Depot 4.0, but will differ in scale. \u201cBus 4.0 will transform the entire bus operations and maintenance from end to end,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n On cross-border rail, Seah described the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link<\/span><\/a> as one of \u201cimmense national significance\u201d, saying it is undergoing extensive testing, and operations will begin only when there is full confidence that it is safe and ready for service.<\/p>\n The railway link\u2019s operator, RTS Operations \u2013 a joint venture between SMRT and Malaysian public transport firm Prasarana \u2013 will continue updating the two grantors, LTA and Malaysia\u2019s Ministry of Transport, on the progress of tests.<\/p>\n The grantors will then announce the opening date in due course, with the announcement of fares to follow after consultations with key parties.<\/p>\n Passenger service is expected to start at the end of 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n SINGAPORE \u2013 Rail operator SMRT Trains is teaming up with China\u2019s Guangzhou Metro Group (GMG) in a joint bid to operate the upcoming Cross Island…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1864,"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-74491","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\/74491","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=74491"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74491\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=74491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=74491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=74491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Testing new innovations<\/h2>\n
Upgrades to Mandai Depot, bus operations<\/h2>\n
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JB-S\u2019pore RTS<\/h2>\n
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