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Train services between Tampines & Tanah Merah on track to resume on Dec. 11, track works 40% completed
Pray for good weather.
December 09, 2024, 01:49 AM
Almost 40 per cent of track works between Tampines and Tanah Merah are completed, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) updated in a Facebook post on Dec. 8.
Should there be no unforeseen complications, such as bad weather, regular train services on this section of the East-West Line (EWL) are expected to resume as planned on Dec. 11 (Wednesday).
The four-day-long operation serves to facilitate the connection of tracks from the EWL to the East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID). Opening in 2026, the depot will enhance rail efficiency and resilience, LTA said.
Over a hundred contractors & engineers working around the clock
Over a hundred LTA and SMRT contractors and engineers have been working around the clock on 8- and 12-hour shifts, LTA group director of rail (electrical and mechanical) Chia Choon Poh said.
A safety briefing was conducted at 11:30pm on Dec. 6 night and track works commenced at around 1am on Dec. 7.
Eight new tracks have since been installed and welded together, and these tracks will connect EWL to ECID.Should weather conditions permit, the engineers will switch on the power supply and conduct signalling test on Dec. 9 while Dec. 10 is reserved as a buffer for additional testings.
Shuttle trains to run
Over the weekend, LTA and SMRT staff were deployed to affected train stations to assist commuters with their journeys.
To prepare commuters for the train suspension, SMRT staff gave out leaflets and advised commuters on alternative travel options since last week.
To manage crowd flow, SMRT has deployed five times more manpower at affected stations, President of SMRT Trains Lam Sheau Kai said.
Shuttle trains and buses have been arranged to minimise inconvenience caused to commuters.
The shuttle trains are running at the following intervals:
- Tampines and Pasir Ris: Every five minutes
- Tanah Merah and Expo: Every eight minutes
- Expo and Changi Airport: Every 11 minutes
Infographic by Mothership
From Dec. 9 to 10, during peak hours, alternate trains heading towards Tanah Merah station will end their service at Paya Lebar station to maintain peak hour frequency.
Shuttle bus services running from Tanah Merah to Tampines
A shuttle bus service (Shuttle 7) also runs between Tampines, Simei, and Tanah Merah stations, from the first to last train timings.
It operates at a frequency of three to five minutes.
Photo from LTA
Photo from LTA
Top images via LTA Facebook
