Punggol LRT line

Planning and construction At the launch of the Punggol 21 housing concept in August 1996, prime minister Goh Chok Tong announced plans for a light rail (LRT) system in Punggol. According to Mohinder Singh, the planning director of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the LRT system was not part of the original 1991 Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Concept Plan, but was later jointly developed by the Housing Development Board (HDB), URA, and LTA during the planning of Punggol 21. The Sengkang and Punggol LRT systems (SPLRT) were planned in tandem, with these agencies collaborating to integrate transport and housing for optimal service. In July 1998, communications minister Mah Bow Tan confirmed the government's decision to proceed with the Punggol LRT system, with 19 stations planned on the route. The contract for the design and construction of the SPLRT was awarded to a joint venture for S$656 million (US$million). The joint venture comprised Singapore Technologies Industrial Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation. was appointed to operate the Punggol LRT along with the North East Line and the Sengkang LRT line. Construction of the Punggol LRT line began in June 2000 and was completed in June 2004. Due to limited funding from the 1997 financial crisis and low projected ridership, the SPLRT was initially constructed for single-car operations, even though it had been designed for two. Nevertheless, provisions were made for future conversion to two-car operations during the expected equipment replacement cycle, which was expected to occur within 15 to 20 years. The LTA conducted tests on the line before handing it over to SBS Transit in December 2004 for additional trial operations. The opening ceremony on the day itself was officiated by transport minister Yeo Cheow Tong. Early ridership remained low, especially due to the SARS outbreak. The East Loop initially operated unidirectional services in the peak flow direction. Morning services from 5:20am to 3:00pm ran anti-clockwise from Kadaloor to Punggol, while evening services from 3:00pm to 12:35am operated clockwise from Punggol to Kadaloor. After requests by residents to open Oasis station, the station opened on 15 June 2007. Sam Kee station opened on 29 February 2016 to serve the Punggol Waterway Park and SAFRA Punggol Clubhouse. Punggol Point station opened on 29 December 2016. Samudera station opened on 31 March 2017 to serve Marina Country Club. Bidirectional services on the West Loop commenced on 29 September 2018 in response to increased ridership. In May 2024, CNA reported that a post on the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) website had mentioned Teck Lee station was scheduled to open in August. However, the information was later removed. The LTA later clarified that the planned opening of Teck Lee station was part of its broader efforts to improve public transport connectivity for students in anticipation of the upcoming SIT campus in Punggol. As announced by the LTA on 31 July, Teck Lee station opened on 15 August 2024. Improvements On 31 October 2012, the LTA announced plans to increase passenger capacity of the SPLRT to cater to increased ridership. The upgrading works involved retrofitting 16 of the 41 one-car trains for two-car operations while purchasing 16 additional cars. After tests for two-car operations on the Punggol LRT began on 5 December 2016, two-car operations officially commenced on the East Loop from 29 December. The works included replacing the power rail and its assemblies, along with conducting maintenance on the signalling switch machines and cables. Additionally, the crossheads supporting the viaducts were to be reinforced and the viaduct bearings replaced, following the discovery of cracks on the crossheads during routine inspections. The maintenance works took place on selected Sunday mornings from 14 January to 25 February 2018. On these days, the affected loops ran unidirectional services from 5:30am to 7:00am. Rectification works on the concrete plinths and elevated slabs were conducted on Sunday evenings between 27 May and 7 October. These works involved breaking up the existing concrete plinths, realigning the finger joints, and recementing them into position. Maintenance works during service hours continued in 2020, 2021, and 2022. On 9 June 2024, the signalling system's power supply failed during upgrading works. As a result, no trains could be launched on that morning, with services only resuming at 10:12am. On 5 February 2021, the LTA announced plans to purchase 17 two-car trains for the SPLRT, which were expected to be delivered from 2024 to 2027. The Sengkang Depot would also be expanded to to ensure additional capacity and maintenance space for the new trains. The depot expansion also included the construction of two new reception tracks to reduce train launching time. In February 2022, the contract for the depot expansion was awarded to Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd for S$157 million (US$ million), and the contract for the new fleet of trains was awarded to Mitsubishi Corporation for S$439 million (US$ million). ==Network and operations==

Route and service The Punggol LRT line (PGLRT) is a fully elevated automated guideway transit line, with a route length of . On dynamic passenger information displays and static signs on the LRT platforms, yellow indicates the east loop, and red indicates the west loop. The two loops of the PGLRT have been described as a pair of "butterfly wings" that converge at Punggol station, which connects the LRT to the North East Line (NEL) and the future Cross Island Line (CRL) on the Singapore MRT. On the East Loop, the line heads south before curving southeast and running along the median of Punggol Field. After Coral Edge station, the line turns northwards along Punggol East to Riviera before turning west to Kadaloor. The loop continues along Punggol Drive before turning south toward Punggol station. The line continues along Punggol Way as it turns south after Samudera station. A spur connects the PGLRT to the Sengkang LRT line across the Tampines Expressway. The PGLRT is operated by SBS Transit. Since 2018, the PGLRT has been part of the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF). Previously, the operator (the owner of the rail assets) had to bear the cost of maintaining and upgrading trains and signalling. Under the NRFF, the LTA and SBS Transit share the profits and financial risks in operating the line and the LTA will take control of its operating assets on 1 April 2033. SBS Transit operate the line under a 15-year licence which will expire on 31 March 2033. To ease the morning crowds riding on the NEL, from 27 December 2025, free fares apply to those tapping in at any of the stations on the SPLRT on weekday mornings before 7.30am, or between 9am and 9.45am. Stations The PGLRT has 15 stations – 7 stations on the East Loop, 7 stations on the West Loop, and Punggol station which serves as an interchange for both loops. Each station was positioned to serve residents within a radius. == Infrastructure ==

Rolling stock .|alt=An elevated view of the Sengkang Depot building, a modern, large structure with a curved roof, situated next to an elevated LRT track. Some trains were parked on the top level where the LRT trains are tabled. Below the tracks are roads with traffic lights and some vehicles. The Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines (SPLRT) utilise the Crystal Mover Automated People Mover (APM) rolling stock manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The rubber-tyred trains are fully automatic and can accommodate up to 105 passengers per vehicle. The SPLRT has an initial fleet of 41 APMs, with 16 more APMs delivered under contract C810A. The APMs are configured for single car or two-car operations, In February 2022, the LTA ordered another fleet of 17 two-car APMs from Mitsubishi for S$439 million. This was followed by another order for eight more two-car trains in May 2023, costing S$87 million. The new trains are set to replace the 25 one-car trains and half of the 16 two-car trains, bringing the overall SPLRT fleet to 33 two-car APMs. The APMs have a top speed of , with a maximum operational speed of . They are powered by 750 V DC third rail located on one side of the guideway. Each vehicle is long and wide. The exterior has a crystal-like design with a polyhedral nose reflective of its namesake. Mitsubishi describes the curved sides of the APM as a design choice to "soften" the sharpness of its polyhedral shape. The exterior is painted pearl white and indigo blue. As driverless vehicles, the APMs do not include a driver cabin. Instead, detrainment doors at both ends of the cabin allow emergency evacuation of passengers onto the track. The emergency stop button and emergency notice system are located at the right-side corner of the vehicle's front, while line maps and service information are displayed on the left. The interior features white side panels and ceiling, a grey floor, grayish-blue seats, and handrails and grip bars accented in a wine color. The cabins are air-conditioned. The SPLRT trains are maintained and stabled on the second floor of Sengkang Depot. Located between the Layar and Tongkang LRT stations on the Sengkang LRT line, the depot also houses the trains of the North East Line. Train control and power system The Punggol LRT line is fully automatic The power system of the SPLRT includes a 22 kV AC power intake and distribution network, a 750 V DC traction power system, and a 400 V AC system for station services. Power is supplied via two 22 kV AC feeders from the North East Line to improve reliability and take advantage of the 66 kV tariff. The AC supply is distributed through a closed ring network to prevent power disruptions during single outages. At each station, the AC supply is stepped down to 400 V AC using service transformers for mechanical and electrical needs. Traction power substations (TPSS) further step down the 22 kV AC to power rectifiers that convert it to 750 V DC for train operations. Each TPSS is equipped with an inverter system to return excess energy from regenerative braking back to the 22 kV distribution network. In 2004, the SKLRT had three traction power substations (TPSS), with one on standby to maintain operations during outages; it presently has five operational substations, which will increase to eight with the planned expansion of Sengkang Depot. Station facilities All Punggol LRT stations are equipped with lifts connecting passengers from the ground level to the station concourse, and from the concourse to the platform level. Each station also has at least one wider faregate for wheelchair users and tactile flooring to guide the visually-impaired from the ground floor to the platforms. The stations are also equipped with fire extinguishers and fire phones. Emergency stop buttons on both sides of the station platform, when activated, cut off traction power supply and halt incoming trains. The barriers at the other LRT stations lack doors and instead have fixed openings for boarding, as the limited space on LRT platforms cannot accommodate the power, communications, and signal control systems required for platform screen doors. Following a few track fatalities reported on the LRT, especially after a 33-year-old woman was found dead at Cove station along the East Loop, SBS Transit has implemented the VAnGuard track intrusion detection system on the SPLRT to enhance safety. When an intrusion is detected, operations control centre staff can press the emergency stop button to halt services on a specific loop. The system also triggers an alarm when intruders or foreign objects are detected. In addition to track intrusions, the system can spot unattended items on station platforms, allowing staff to provide assistance or undertake security precautions. ==Notes and references==

Notes Citations Sources • • • ==External links==