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Information Kit

SMRT Corporation

Milestones
1987 Singapore’s first Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system begins operations with inaugural service between Yio Chu Kang and Toa Payoh on the North-South Line
1988 15 more stations open and the MRT system is officially launched by Mr Lee Kuan Yew
1990 Opening of Boon Lay MRT Station on the East-West Line marks the completion of the system
1999 Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (LRT) opens for passenger service
2000 SMRT Corporation Ltd lists on Singapore Exchange
2001  
  • SMRT Corporation Ltd & TIBS Holdings merge, creating Singapore’s 1st multi-modal transport company
  • SMRT Learning Journeys Programme (in collaboration with Ministry of Education) is launched
2002 Changi Airport MRT station opens
2003 SMRT attains ISO 9001:2000 certification for achieving quality standards in the provision of taxi services
2005 Launch of Raffles Xchange, 1st MRT station to be redeveloped for transit retail
2006  
  • SMRT invests in the mid-life upgrading of 66 first generation trains
  • Dhoby Xchange opens
2007  
  • Boon Lay Xchange opens
  • SMRT invests $26million to upgrade 700 Mercedes buses
2008  
  • SMRT launches Gift of Mobility Programme to provide taxi services for needy individuals with physical disabilities
  • ‘SMRT is Green’ is launched organisation‑wide as a commitment to environmental sustainability, which includes initiatives to green our fleet
  • SMRT puts Southeast Asia’s 1st Euro V-compliant bus on the roads
  • SMRT debuts SMRT Eco taxis, which use compressed natural gas
  • SMRT opens Choa Chu Kang Xchange, its first in the heartlands
2009   
  • Establishes SMRT Institute, an accredited educational institution that develops and delivers transport related training and education services
  • Singapore’s 4th rail line, Circle Line, commences service from Bartley to Marymount
  • Wheelchair Accessible Bus services are introduced
  • SMRT achieves ISO 14001 certification for the Environmental Management System
2010  
  • SMRT adds Euro V Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0530 to its bus fleet, which has greater fuel efficiency and full low floor for smoother passenger flow
  • Esplanade Xchange, on the Circle Line, opens
2011  
  • Additional track and platform at Jurong East Station opens, shortening waiting time to 2-3 minutes during peak periods
  • Train service from Caldecott to Harbourfront Circle Line stations commences, marking the completion of the line
  • SMRT adds MAN A22 buses to its fleet
  • SMRT Taxis adds Chevrolet Epica to its fleet
2012 Train service from Bayfront to Marina Bay Circle Line stations commences
2013  
  • SMRT adds MAN A22 buses to its fleet
  • SMRT introduces 30 new wheelchair-enabled London cabs
  • SMRT introduces 600 Prius Hybrid taxis to its fleet
  • Woodlands MRT Station is the 1st MRT Station in Singapore to be awarded the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark (Gold)
  • Woodlands Xchange opens and tenants are the first shop owners in Singapore to be certified with the Project: Eco shop label, where it was jointly developed by SMRT and the Singapore Environment Council
  • SMRT introduces new Bus Captain Progressive Career Scheme
2014  
  • SMRT adds 13 new trains to the North-South and east-West lines to improve commuter experience
  • SMRT signs Memorandum of Understanding with e2i and NTWU to jointly develop and operate the first Bus Career Development Centre
  • SMRT partners London-based taxi mobile application developer Hailo Network Holdings Limited to introduce a cashless payment taxi booking application to passengers and taxi drivers in Singapore
  • Singapore Rail Engineering Pte Ltd (SRE) was incorporated in June 2014. Together with Toshiba, it establishes a joint venture, Railise, to market and supply energy efficient propulsion systems to Mass Transit Operators globally.
  • SMRT introduces Adopt-A-Station/Adopt-An-Interchange, a community outreach programme that partners local schools to encourage gracious commuter behaviour
  • SMRT introduces a new progressive competency‑based career scheme for our rail employees
  • SMRT appoints energy managers in accordance with the Energy Conservation Act to report on energy consumption as well as greenhouse gas emissions
  • SMRT progressively installs buses with Telematics Solutions towards Saving Fuel and Safety Driving to encourage safe and eco‑driving
2015   
  • SMRT completes sleeper replacement works on the North-South line
  • SMRT crosses the 2 billion car-km mark
  • Singapore Bus Training and Evaluation Centre (SG BTEC), Singapore’s first team-based bus training centre, opens
  • SMRT remembers Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Trains and selected bus services operates overnight during the period of National Mourning.
  • SMRT celebrates SG50 with free travel on SMRT buses and trains. Free giveaways at 10 stations and 5 bus interchanges
  • Singapore Rail Engineering enters into an agreement to set up a joint venture with Faiveley Transport to establish Faiveley Rail Engineering Pte Ltd to market and supply Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services for Rolling Stock Components in South East Asia (excl. Thailand)
  • SMRT wins at the Institute of Risk Management's Global Risk Awards 2015. Internationally recognised by risk management professionals world wide, this is a first for Singapore's corporate sector
  • NTUC confers on SMRT the Plaque of Commendation (Gold) Award as a recognition of our strong labour relations
  • Kallang Wave Mall at the Singapore Sports Hub officially opens
  • SMRT Advertising & Properties and The X Collective are incorporated
  • SMRT Services (formerly SMRT Engineering) oversees rail-related technical services and supports capabilities locally and overseas
  • SMRT celebrates the official opening of the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Inclusive Playground which has special needs friendly play features to encourage inclusive play
  • SMRT establishes an Environmental Sustainability Committee to oversee our green sustainability efforts
  • SMRT equips two trains with the Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor-based propulsion systems which can achieve energy savings of close to 40%
  • SMRT collaborates with Pathlight School to support inclusiveness and celebrate abilities of people with special needs by unveiling 50 commissioned works of art featuring transport themes drawn by Pathlight students and alumni
  • The SMRT Trains Engineering Programme is launched to develop a sustainable pipeline of engineering professionals
  • SMRT – Temasek Cares AED on Wheels is launched, a three-year pilot programme where 100 SMRT taxis have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed in their vehicles
  • SMRT supports Wheels@Ubin, a community project which brought 100 wheelchair users on a tour to Pulau Ubin to celebrate SG50 
 2016    
  • Sponsored by SMRT, the JurongHealth Mobility Park is the first‑of‑its‑kind in Singapore to feature life-size public transportation models to help patients rehabilitate
  • Seven SMRT engineers are accredited as Singapore’s first Chartered Engineers in Railway and Transportation Engineering
  • Strides, a private hire vehicle business, offers limousine services, chauffeured services and car rental services
  • 2getthere Asia, a joint venture between SMRT Services and 2 Getthere, is set up to market, install, operate and maintain the Automated Vehicle systems for customers in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region
  • SMRT transitions to the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF) on 1 October, following shareholders' vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 29 September
  • Postgraduate certificate in Urban Railway Engineering, a 3-year course jointly run by Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) and SMRT Institute (SMRTi), is launched
  • SMRT is delisted from SGX-ST on 31 October
  • SMRT Trains hosts the Community of Metros (CoMET) Annual Meeting for the first time, attended by top executives and officials from the world’s largest and busiest metros
  • SMRT Corp convenes inaugural Singapore Rail Technology Conference to promote rail reliability with sharing of best practices among experts from Asia and Europe
  • SMRT Corp’s inaugural Green Forum for the sharing of sustainability practices is launched 
2017

 

  • Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, JTC and SMRT Corp sign Memorandum of Understanding to launch a joint ‘Mobility-as-a-Service’ Laboratory, the first of its kind in the region aimed at improving commuters’ travel experience by seamlessly integrating train and bus networks with next-generation transport modes
  • Sleeper Replacement Programme on the North-South and East-West Lines completed
  • Trial of the new signalling system on the North-South Line begins
  • The Tuas West Extension opens, adding four new stations on the EWL
  • SMRT Trains celebrates 30 years of MRT operations with a series of activities and initiatives to engage the public and community 
2018

 

  • SMRT collaborates with Singapore Red Cross’ Community Health on Wheels, a community-based mobile health programme that reaches out to the elderly in the heartlands.
  • SMRT and LTA commence works to renew and enhance the North-South and East-West Lines’ power supply system
  • SMRT launches first C151 trains from Bishan Depot
  • Renewal works for the Bukit Panjang LRT system commence
  • Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange opens, offering the first one-stop service center in a bus interchange. 
2019

 

  • Corporate headquarters moves from North Bridge Road to Paya Lebar Quarter
  • North-South East-West Line Operations Control Centre relocates from Victoria Street to Kim Chuan Depot
  • SMRT Trains achieves 1 Million Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF) for all train lines
  • New Singapore Rail Standards, an initiative by SMRT, Land Transport Authority (LTA), SBS Transit, Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) and Enterprise Singapore is launched
  • SMRT Trains signs an MoU to Improve Rail Maintenance Capabilities with SBS Transit and ST Engineering to foster greater knowledge-sharing and grow local rail maintenance and engineering capabilities
  • Canberra Station on the North-South Line is opened
  • Yishun Integrated Transport Hub, a fully barrier-free bus interchange with commuter-friendly and inclusive facilities is opened
  • SMRT Buses signs an MoU with five Social Service Agencies to support and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and dementia and help them better integrate into society
  • SMRT awarded the LTA Thomson-East Coast Line Retail Contract to manage the retail spaces across the rail line
  • “Communities in Stations” concept with a weekly Farmers Market at Bishan MRT Station in partnership with Central CDC is launched
2020

 

  • The new Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 1 commences service
  • SMRT Corp, HOPE Technik, and Sheares Healthcare, with the support of Temasek Foundation, have joined hands to launch the COMET (COVID-19 Multi-Passenger Enhanced Transporter) initiative which retrofits existing SMRT buses into safe transporters to ferry passengers safely
  • SMRT Corp and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad forms RTS Operations Pte Ltd, a Joint Venture Operations Company to design, build, operate and maintain a Light Rail Transit cross-border system crossing the Straits of Johor to connect Woodlands North Station in Singapore and Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  • SMRT Trains signs a contract with Bombardier Transportation for the provision of long-term service support for the 106 Bombardier MOVIA trains for the North-South and East-West lines, with support from the Land Transport Authority
2021
  • SMRT Trains sustained more than 1 million Mean Kilometers Between Failure for the North-South, East-West and Circle Lines
  • Deployed robot cleaners at train stations
  • 17 MRT stations and all bus interchanges certified as Dementia Go-To Points by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)
  • SMRT Engineering established a three-year collaboration with AI.SG to build capabilities in artificial intelligence
  • RTS Operations Pte Ltd formed as a joint venture between SMRT Corp and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to design, build and finance the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link
2022
  • Singapore Rail Discovery Centre, the first-of-its-kind permanent exhibition dedicated to the local MRT network, was launched.
  • SMRT launched Comic Connect, a collaboration with local art community to produce wall murals showcasing Singapore’s heritage in vicinity of train stations.
  • Thales and SMRT Trains Partner on Next-Generation Rail Signalling Technologies for Greener Rides in Singapore.
  • Introduced NaviLens, a first-in-Asia app for visually impaired to all bus interchanges operated by SMRT Buses
  • Launched new B2B company, EVCo to provide full digital EV services, towards decarbonising mobility and enhancing sustainability.
  • ChargEco formed to accelerate Singapore’s decarbonisation, wins tender to build public EV charging points.


 

SMRT Trains

Facts and Figures
Types of trains

 C151, C651, C751B, C151 A, C151B, C151C, R151 on NSEWL

C830, C830C on CCL

CT251 on TEL

No. of trains
 

172 (NSEWL) as of Jul 2023

*Due to progressive decommissioning of old trains and commissioning of new trains

64 (CCL)

 

No. of lines 5
Daily Ridership  1.4 million on NSEWL in 2022

390,000 on CCL in 2022
No. of depots 6
No. of underground & elevated stations EWL: 7 underground, 28 elevated

NSL: 11 underground, 16 elevated

CCL: 30 underground

TEL: 20 underground
 
Total route length (NSEWL, CCL & TEL) (km) 167 km
No. of stations

112 MRT stations

*Last updated: August 2023

 

Technical Terms
12 car Push-out A 12-car rescue operation will be launched in the event of a train breakdown. This involves connecting a rescue train to the defective train and towing it to the nearest station. The defective train will then be sent back to depot.
Train Fault Faulty/ defective train due to:
 
  • Train circuit failure
  • Power trip
  • Platform door fault
Signal Fault Fault on the signal code generator which controls/ defines train speed(s)
 
  • Defective signal connector (transmits information from the train to the station)
  • Fault in signalling equipment along the track

A signalling fault will cause a loss of traction power and the train will stop.
Track Fault Track circuit failure due to:
 
  • Cable fault that leads to a loss in traction power
  • Damaged Insulating Rail Joints (IRJs)
    • IRJS provide insulation along the running rail between two track circuits
Power Fault Traction power loss due to:
 
  • Faulty cable due to deterioration over time
  • Faulty cable coupled with tunnel leakage that will cause a power trip in the circuit breaker
    • Tunnel leakage is a common occurrence in SMRT’s train lines
    • But not in its main NS/ EW lines as those are equipped with a drainage system
  • Electrical earth fault that disrupted power supply, which in turn interrupted the signalling system
3rd Rail The third rail is an insulated steel rail that runs parallel to the entire length of track. It feeds electricity to the train through collector shoes, which are metal blocks under the train
Re-signalling Replacement of the signalling system to improve train frequencies and to help reduce waiting time for commuters.
 
  • Upgrade will allow trains to run at intervals of 100 seconds at peak periods, compared to the existing intervals of 120 seconds
  • This would translate to shorter waiting times for passengers and,
  • A potential 20% improvement to existing capacity
Rail cracks Cracks in the third rail that are mainly caused by metal fatigue contributed by a combination of temperature and age.

Usually found in the joints of the rails or when the track curves.
Restricted Manual (RM) Mode In RM Mode, the train is operated manually and its speed is limited to a maximum speed of 18km/h. The train will be placed in “Forward”, “Stand-By” or “Reverse” mode, according to the demand of operation. This mode is normally used when the train is inside depot or when ATC (Automatic Train Control) system fails.
Automated Mode (AM) Normal mode of fully driverless operation
AM allows the train operator to just handle operating the doors and to look out for obstacles. ATO system (system that automatically operates the train) is activated in AM mode, based on ATP (Automatic Train Protection) speeds and station stopping profiles. AM mode is usually used during normal service hours.
CCD (Current Collector Device) Part of the train that makes contact with the power-supplying third rail. Each train has 24 CCDs
WILD (currently being installed at selected stretches of the NSEWL) Fibre optic sensors automatically detect and identify the locations of any wheel defect on all our operational trains during revenue hours
When a wheel defect is detected, an alert is sent to the Operations Control Centre and Rolling Stock Maintenance Controller so that immediate actions can be taken to rectify the fault
Preventive Maintenance Early detection of faults to allow engineers to identify and rectify them quickly, so as to avoid causing inconvenience to passengers This is possible through SMRT’s adoption of new technologies such as:
 
  • Automated Current Collector Devices (CCD) Detection System
  • Wheel Impact Load Detection (WILD) System
  • Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) System
Predictive Maintenance Identify potential technical issues before they cause service disruptions
 
  • Implemented monitoring and tracking systems and processes
Train Withdrawal A faulty train is withdrawn from service
ISO 55001 Certification ISO 55001 Certification specifies requirements for the management of infrastructural assets.
It is an internationally – recognised standard and adopted as a benchmark for SMRT’s management of rail infrastructure and assets
Maintenance Regime (Cleanliness) Total sum of maintenance applied to SMRT’s rail assets
  • Exterior of trains are thoroughly cleaned every 3 weeks
  • Interior of trains are cleaned daily

 

 

 

SMRT Light Rail

Facts and Figures
    Types of trains   ECX
  NCX
    No. of trains
 

  30 as of February 2023

*Due to progressive decommissioning of old trains and commissioning of new trains

    No. of stations   13
    No. of depots   1
    Length of Line   8 km
 

SMRT Buses

SMRT Bus Fleet
  • Size of SMRT Bus Fleet is about 1,200 buses.
  • 54 bus services routes and all services are wheelchair accessible. 
  • Annual ridership is about 226 million passenger journeys.
SMRT Buses No. of Services
Trunk

27

Feeder / Intra- Town

14

Express

5

Cross Border

1

Total

47

Last updated: August 2023 

 

SMRT Bus Models Licensed Capacity
Mercedes-Benz Citaro*

38 Sitting and 50 Standees

35 Sitting and 55 Standees

Mercedes-Benz OC500LE* 34 Sitting and 56 Standees 
MAN A22*

38 Sitting and 52 Standees

35 Sitting and 56 Standees

MAN A22 Euro 6* 33 Sitting, 53 Standees 
MAN A24 (Bendy Bus)* 51 Sitting, 80 Standees 
MAN A95 (Double-decker Bus)* 57 Upper deck sitting, 28 Lower deck sitting and 50 Standees 
MAN A95 Euro 6 (Double-decker Bus)* 57 Upper deck sitting, 25 Lower deck sitting and 57 Standees
Enviro500 (Double-decker Bus)* 55 Upper deck sitting, 28 Lower deck sitting and 51 Standees
Volvo B5* 28 Sitting and 56 Standees
Volvo B9 (Double-decker Bus)* 55 Upper deck sitting, 27 Lower deck seated and 53 Standees
ADL Enviro 500 3Door (Double-decker Bus)* 51 Upper deck sitting, 18 Lower deck sitting and 63 Standees
Linkker LM312* 28 Sitting, 55 Standees
Yutong E12* 28 Sitting, 52 Standees
Yutong E12 (Double-decker Bus)* 55 Upper deck sitting, 13 Lower deck sitting and 52 Standees

* Wheelchair Accessible Bus

Last updated: August 2023

 

Technical Terms
Bus Contracting Model (BCM) Adopted on 1 September 2016, the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) brings all public buses and related infrastructure such as integrated transport hubs, under the ownership of the government. The BCM sees LTA planning bus services centrally, while public transport operators bid for the right to run services along the bus routes. Bus operators are paid fees to run bus routes at service standards set by LTA. The tendering process drives competition in the bus industry and encourages operators to become more responsive to changes in ridership and commuter needs. This in turn will raise the reliability of bus services and improve waiting times for commuters. The model also spurs operators to step up recruitment, staff training, upgrading and professionalising the bus workforce.
BSRF (Bus Service Reliability Framework)

Previously known as the Quality Incentive Framework, it assesses the regularity of a bus service using the concept of Excess Wait Time (EWT) and On-Time Adherence (OTA). Under the BSRF, bus operators are given incentives to improve their EWTs and OTAs.

Career Progression Framework for SMRT Bus Captains (BCs) BCs will receive tailored training under the SMRT BC Scheme to be equipped with skills to provide better service to commuters and increase their productivity level. These include basic driving skills as well as service and supervisory skills. The scheme also includes training plan to enable career progression into supervisory positions.

Last updated: August 2023