Some EWL stations to close earlier for a few days in April, May
Reuters file photo
SINGAPORE — Some MRT stations along the East-West Line (EWL) will close at 11pm on a few days over the next few weeks to allow for track maintenance and renewal work at railway junctions, said rail operator SMRT on Friday (March 31).
The affected stations are from Lakeside to Joo Koon, and between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport.
There will be no train services from 11pm from Lakeside to Joo Koon in both directions on April 14 and April 21.
Likewise, on April 28 and May 5, there will no train services between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport, also in both directions, from that time.
Parallel bus services will be available for commuters on the early-closure days. SMRT staff will also be on hand to guide them and provide information on alternative routes. More information on these services will be available within the next few weeks.
“More time is needed as the replacement of the rails at railway junctions, where the crossing, switch and running rails are located, is a complex process. By closing stations about an hour earlier each night, engineers will have double the time available to work on the tracks,” the train operator said.
SMRT added that another round of early closures could be expected in June along other stretches of the North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL).
The renewal of railway junctions is part of an ongoing multi-year, multi-project effort to improve the NSEWL, Singapore’s oldest, longest and most heavily utilised MRT line.
“We are confident that the renewal of railway junctions, where crossing, switch and running rails are located, will be expedited with the additional time gained by closing selected MRT stations earlier,” said SMRT Trains managing director Lee Ling Wee.
“Past occasions that called for the early closure or late opening of MRT stations resulted in the successful and timely renewal of ageing track infrastructure,” he added.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report got one of the early closure dates wrong. It has since been amended. We are sorry for the error.
