East-West Line

East-West Line: East meets west and beyond

Crossing the island from Tuas Link to Pasir Ris, and measuring about 57km, the East-West Line (EWL) is the longest train line in operation in Singapore. It started as part of the North-South Line (NSL) and was expanded southwards towards Outram in 1987.

The ‘original’ line, ending at Boon Lay MRT station, was completed in 1990. Today, the line will take you from Changi Airport to recreational spots in Pasir Ris or towards the famous food enclaves of Geylang and Tiong Bahru. A few stops at major interchanges in the city fringe and Central Business District later, the line heads west through the ‘school district’ of polytechnics and universities at Dover and Clementi before it heads into the sprawling Jurong township and Tuas industrial estate.

In all, there are 35 stations on the EWL, with Jurong East MRT station being one of the busiest rail interchanges/terminal stations on the EW and NS Lines.

Train and Station Features

Train and Station Features

Length of rail
57km

Number of stations
35

Number of interchanges
9

In February 2002, the Changi Airport MRT extension was added to connect commuters from Tanah Merah MRT station to the Singapore Expo, Changi Business Park, Changi South Industrial and Changi Airport.

Passengers at Tuas West Road MRT station

In June 2017, the Tuas West Extension opened with four new stations: Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link, improving the accessibility and connectivity for over 100,000 people working in the area. Travel time and traffic congestion during peak hours was also reduced.

LTA previously embarked on the renewal of six core systems on the North-South East-West Line (NSEWL). This includes replacement of sleepers and the third rail system. LTA has also implemented a new signalling system which will allow shorter waiting time, a new power system with better fault detection and a new track circuit system for faster fault recovery.

As part of our long-term fleet renewal, 106 Alstom MOVIA R151 rolling stock will be progressively introduced into the fleet to replace all Siemens C651 and Kawasaki-Nippon Sharyo C751B rolling stock starting from end-2022. This is the seventh generation of rolling stock on the NSEWL.

Design and Architecture

Design and Architecture

As one of the early community enclaves in Singapore, this area was named after the red coloured lateritic soil found on the hill. The colour palette of Redhill MRT station echoes, giving the station its distinct identity and making it a landmark for the community.

Dover is the first elevated station with two platforms alongside a central rail line. Rising 21m above ground, it was the first time a station was constructed while the line was in operation. Efficient design and practical construction methods were used to overcome the challenges of working within multi-lane carriageways. The station is distinctive with its stainless steel columns which reach up to the station’s iconic curved roof, offering an airy and spacious environment below.

In line with Singapore’s positioning as a hub for meeting and conventions, the Expo MRT station was built to serve the Singapore Expo Centre. Being close to the airport, the station’s design celebrates a sense of arrival. In response to the tropical climate, the open layout and high roof encourage cross ventilation through the station. Internally, materials were chosen to enhance natural light and minimise the need for artificial lighting with polished metal surfaces reflecting daylight, while externally, cladding deflects sunrays to avoid heat build-up.

Engineering Marvels

Engineering Marvels

As the EWL extension was in a very built-up, largely industrial area with a lot of traffic, utility lines and workers. Steps were taken to prevent excessive disruptions to ongoing operations and ensure the safety of buildings, roads, vehicles and people.

Utility lines had to be diverted before work started on the foundation. This required a lot of planning, digging and coordination with stakeholders.
Traffic diversions, in a heavy traffic area with many of heavy vehicles were necessary as part of the construction and building of the new line.
Extra safety precautions were taken for lifting at height as precast segments had to be raised off the ground as high as 25m – almost 10 floors high.