Light Rail Transit

Light Rail Transit File:LRT Logo.png
Statistics
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Operator(s)
Number of lines	3
Number of stations	41
System length	28.6 km

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.

History

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.

Infrastructure

Network

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

Line	Commencement	Latest extension	Terminal	Stations	Length (km)	Depot	Operator
Bukit Panjang LRT	6 November 1999	N/A	Choa Chu Kang	13	7.6	Ten Mile Junction
Sengkang LRT	18 January 2003	2015	Sengkang	14	10.7	Sengkang
Punggol LRT	29 January 2005	2017	Punggol	14	10.3	Sengkang

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.

Depots

Depot	Line(s) served	Operator
Ten Mile Junction Depot	Bukit Panjang LRT
Sengkang Depot	Sengkang LRT Punggol LRT

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.

References

1. Daphne Chuah, "This Oasis opens for business today", Today, 15 June 2007
2. "Groundwork begins for new MRT lines", Christoper Tan, The Straits Times, 13 March 2006
3. "Other Rail Projects", Land Transport Authority, Retrieved 12 April 2006
4. "Development Plans for Jurong West", Housing and Development Board, Retrieved 12 April 2006
5. SPEECH BY MR YEO CHEOW TONG MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF DOVER STATION ON 23 OCT 2001, TUESDAY, 3.00PM, Ministry of Transport

Related Links

Railway Lines in Singapore		[ V • T • E ]
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)	North–South Line • East–West Line • North East Line • Circle Line • Downtown Line • Thomson–East Coast Line
	FutureJurong Region Line • Cross Island Line
Light Rail Transit (LRT)	Bukit Panjang LRT • Sengkang LRT • Punggol LRT
Cross-border	KTM Intercity
	FutureJohor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System
Others	Changi Airport Skytrain • Sentosa Express
	DefunctSentosa Monorail