MEDIA RELEASES
03 October 2025
Train Service Adjustments along East-West Line from 29 Nov to 8 Dec 2025 to Facilitate Track Connection to the East Coast Integrated Depot and Operationalise New Platform at Tanah Merah MRT station
To prepare for the opening of the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID) in 2026, LTA and SMRT are undertaking construction works to connect the tracks from the existing East-West Line (EWL) to the Depot and to connect a new platform at Tanah Merah station. These works will be carried out over ten days from 29 November to 8 December 2025. During this period, train services on the East-West Line between Bedok and Tampines stations and between Tanah Merah to Expo stations will be affected:
Specifically, there will be no train service between Bedok and Tampines stations, and between Tanah Merah and Expo stations. Simei and Tanah Merah MRT stations will be closed. Shuttle bus services will be operated as an alternative to maintain connectivity. Specifically, Shuttle 7 will ply between Bedok and Tampines stations at a frequency of 3 to 5 minutes; while Shuttle 8 will ply between Bedok and Expo stations at a frequency of about 10 minutes. Please refer to Annex A for details of the shuttle trains and bus services. Commuters may wish to use existing public bus services to connect to alternative MRT lines like the Downtown Line (DTL) as an alternative.
Due to the works, trains will also run at reduced frequencies of five minutes between Tampines and Pasir Ris EWL stations[1], and eight minutes between Paya Lebar and Bedok EWL stations. Train frequencies between Expo and Changi Airport stations will run every 5 minutes at peak. During the closure, the affected MRT stations and bus stops are expected to be crowded, and journey times may take up to an additional 30 minutes. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance and check LTA’s MyTransport.SG mobile app, as well as LTA’s and SMRT’s social media channels for the latest updates. SMRT staff will be stationed at affected stations to assist commuters during the train service adjustment period.
Commuters can also refer to station posters at all MRT stations or pick up a brochure on recommended alternative travel options from the passenger service centres. Where possible, commuters passing through the affected EWL stations are strongly encouraged to consider alternative MRT routes, which may offer shorter travel times.[2]
Need for Service Adjustment
In December 2024, LTA and SMRT had completed works to connect part of the EWL tracks between Tanah Merah and Simei stations to the ECID. For the upcoming train service adjustments, the following key works will take place:
- Connecting new reception tracks from EWL to the ECID;
- Connecting new eastbound and westbound tracks to the EWL, and modifying existing track connections along the EWL to enable the trains to move to the new reception tracks; and
- Enabling the operation of a new platform at the existing Tanah Merah station.
These works will span 4.8km in 12 locations, and require an uninterrupted closure window for workers to safely install new tracks, sleepers, and the third rail on the new eastbound and westbound tracks, as well as on the reception tracks leading to the ECID. This is followed by reinstatement of power cables and stringent testing of the signalling, power and communications systems. Please refer to Annex B for a map view of the locations of the works.
To ensure safe working conditions, trains will not operate along the affected segment of the EWL and the demarcated safety buffer zone adjacent to work areas. To minimise closure duration, LTA has completed preparatory works, such as viaduct structures and supporting works for the connection. Given the greater extent of works compared to last year, a longer period of service adjustment is needed.
Train frequencies in sectors adjacent to the work area must be reduced as the track works will limit the trains turning around from eastbound to westbound tracks and vice versa. This means that we are only able to operate shuttle trains along sectors between Paya Lebar and Bedok stations, between Tampines and Pasir Ris stations, and between Expo and Changi Airport stations. The headway on these train shuttles have been optimised with trains running on both bounds of the tracks along these sectors.
New Tanah Merah Eastbound Platform
Since 2016, Tanah Merah station has been undergoing modification works to allow it to serve as an interchange station between the EWL and the future extended Thomson East-Coast Line (TEL). These works include building new viaducts, adding a new platform, and expanding the concourse area. The new viaducts and platform are needed to allow the TEL to operate from two tracks at Tanah Merah station, when Tanah Merah station becomes the terminus station for the line in the East.
As part of the works, eastbound EWL service will be shifted to operate from a new Platform A at Tanah Merah station from 9 December 2025. Commuters heading eastbound to Pasir Ris from Tanah Merah must board trains from Platform A. Consequently, passengers transferring between Platform A (towards Pasir Ris) and the shuttle train to/from Changi Airport will need to make the transfer via the station concourse. Westbound commuters from Tanah Merah will not be affected.
Figure 1: Configuration of Tanah Merah station platforms
Strengthening Rail Capacity with ECID
The new ECID will increase capacity for train launches and withdrawals, enabling greater flexibility to adjust service patterns and respond more quickly to incidents. The four-in-one depot will integrate three train depots and one bus depot within a single site, serving the EWL, the TEL and the Downtown Line (DTL). The extension of the TEL to Tanah Merah station, in tandem with the opening of Changi Airport Terminal 5 in the next decade will also provide seamless connectivity between airport terminals, as well as downtown and the upcoming RTS Link to Johor Bahru.
From 9 December 2025, EWL trains will be able to be launched and withdrawn from the ECID. A final round of train service adjustments will be required in the first half of 2026 to fully decommission the Changi Depot which is currently serving the EWL, after train services are fully transferred. More details will be provided in advance when ready.
We will continue to plan our works carefully to minimise inconvenience to commuters and will provide timely updates should further service adjustments be required. We thank commuters for their understanding and patience during this train service adjustment period, as we continue to improve the resilience of our rail network and infrastructure.
ANNEX A – Shuttle trains and bus service arrangements
ANNEX B – Location map of works area
[1] Headways are estimated based on peak hours
[2] For example, a commuter traveling from Pasir Ris/Tampines to Raffles Place is encouraged to travel via the DTL, transfer at MacPherson station to the CCL, and interchange at the CCL/EWL Paya Lebar interchange before continuing their journey along the EWL to Raffles Place. This will result in a shorter traveling time overall.