Light Rail Transit

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) is the light rail component of Singapore's rail network, consisting of localised rail systems acting as feeder services to the Mass Rapid Transit network. The first LRT line was opened in 1999 and the system has since expanded to three lines, each serving a public housing estate, namely Bukit Panjang, Sengkang and Punggol.

Conception
The concept of having rail lines which could bring people from door to door without requiring the use of road-based buses was much favoured by the government transport planners, especially with the increased emphasis on a rail-based public transport network. For intra town travel, LRTs were favoured over buses because trains run on dedicated elevated guideways, bypassing any traffic congestion and traffic lights on the roads, and do not add to road traffic. Train arrival and departure times are also almost guaranteed this way. It is also cleaner as the trains are electrically powered, and therefore lessens the effects of air pollution.

Network
The following table lists the Light Rail Transit lines that are currently operational:

Facilities
Since the LRT was built in the 1990s, plans for barrier-free facilities were included during the planning stages. All stations are equipped with these facilities, thus there will be no difficulty for the handicapped. Barrier free facilities include, lifts, ramps, tactile guidance system, toilets with handicapped friendly facilities, all stations include wide faregates. These barrier free facilities will be included in all future LRT stations.

Rolling stock
The trains on the LRT system are fitted with rubber tyres, rather than steel wheels, on specially-constructed guideways from which its power is also sourced. All cars are fully automated and driverless, and are controlled from their respective depots.

19 Bombardier Innovia C801s operate on the Bukit Panjang LRT. Capable of operating at a maximum speed of 55 km/h, its pioneers can be traced to as early as 1990, when Westinghouse and Adtranz (acquired by Bombardier) co-operatively built the skytrain system for the Singapore Changi Airport with the same design. However, the Bombardier stock was fraught with unreliability and technical glitches. The CX-100 cars can be coupled to operate in pairs during peak hours.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries C810s are the newer rolling stock of the Singapore LRT system, operating on the Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, it currently maintains a cleaner record of reliability. The Crystal Movers are now used on Changi Airport Skytrain system.

With the further expansion, 13 Bombardier INNOVIA C801As were being ordered for the Bukit Panjang LRT, which makes up to 32 trains in total and began operation on 19 November 2014 while 16 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries C810As were ordered for the Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT, which makes up to 57 trains in total and began operation on 5 April 2016.

Fares and ticketing
The Light Rail Transit uses the same ticketing system as the Mass Rapid Transit. It uses the contactless EZ-Link smart card and a standard single trip ticket.

Safety
Numerous incidents have occurred on the Bukit Panjang LRT since its inception in 1999. Two Bombardier Innovia C801 trains collided head to back at Phoenix station in 2000, the Land Transport Authority fined SMRT $10,000 for the collision. The Bukit Panjang LRT had its service disrupted for more than 100 times. Again in 2002, a dislodged train wheel caused the entire system to be shut down for a few days, as it crippled the power system and the rail at the accident site was damaged and had to be repaired.

On 24 November 2015, LTA announced the installation of Platform Barriers at all 42 LRT stations on entire system to prevent falls.