2 new MRT lines serving Tengah & Seletar being studied, could link up at Greater Southern Waterfront

Two new potential MRT lines, the Seletar and Tengah lines, are currently being studied for feasibility.

The proposed new lines could serve areas like Woodlands, Sengkang West, Queensway, and Kallang, and be completed in phases starting in the 2040s.

This was announced at the Ministry of Transport (MOT)'s Committee of Supply debate on Mar. 5 by transport minister Chee Hong Tat.

Chee also shared that Singapore's train network is set to expand with the implementation of the West Coast Extension (WCE).

The WCE will extend the Jurong Region Line (JRL) to connect with the Circle Line (CCL) and Cross Island Line (CRL).

West Coast Extension

Chee said that the government plans to proceed with the WCE in two phases.

The first phase will extend the JRL from Pandan Reservoir Station to connect with the CRL at West Coast Station by the late 2030s.

In the second phase, the JRL will be further extended from West Coast Station to connect with the CCL at Kent Ridge Station by the early 2040s.

For residents in the west travelling to the city center, the WCE will save them up to 20 minutes' journey times, he added.

"The WCE will also enhance the overall resilience of our rail network, by providing an alternative via the Cross Island Line, and to the city centre via Circle Line," Chee said.

Ongoing rail projects

Chee also shared updates on ongoing rail projects.

CCL Stage 6, which will close the circle between HarbourFront and Marina Bay stations, is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026.

Additionally, Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 5 (TEL5) stations and the Downtown Line 3 Stage 3 extension are on track to open in the second half of 2026.

Meanwhile, parts of the Jurong Region Line will open from 2027, starting with Choa Chu Kang to Boon Lay and Tawas, followed by Tengah to Pandan Reservoir, and eventually connecting to NTU Campus and Jurong Pier.

Starting in 2030, the CRL, Singapore's eighth MRT line, will be progressively opened.

In all, MOT will be adding new stations or lines every year until the end of this decade, said the transport minister.

2 potential new MRT lines

The government has also identified potential new lines, with feasibility studies ongoing.

The new lines could serve new and growing developments, as well as existing towns which currently do not have direct access to the rail network.

One such rail line, tentatively called the Seletar Line, could serve areas such as Woodlands, Sembawang, Sengkang West, Serangoon North, Whampoa, Kallang, and the Greater Southern Waterfront.

Another potential rail line, tentatively called the Tengah Line, could supplement the transport network in the west and northwest regions to serve areas such as Tengah, Bukit Batok, Queensway, and Bukit Merah.

Chee said that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking into potentially linking both lines into a single line, since they could meet at the Greater Southern Waterfront, and is conducting feasibility studies on the possibility of this.

This linkage would allow "for more seamless connectivity and better efficiency for commuters", Chee added.

The lines, if implemented, could serve more than 400,000 households who will be within a 10-minute walk from this new combined line, Chee said.

The lines can be expected to be completed in phases from the 2040s if studies confirm that they are feasible.

Top photo from MOT