Bukit Panjang LRT system renewal 'substantially completed' after 8 years

The renewal of the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (BPLRT) system has been "substantially completed" since works began in 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Oct. 15.

With this "comprehensive improvement" of the system, commuters "will experience better, more reliable rides on the LRT", said Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at a visit to Ten Mile Junction Depot on Oct. 15.

According to LTA, many of the core systems were approaching the end of their design life by the late 2010s.

The authority thus progressively made upgrades to the vehicles, the signalling system, the power supply system, the Operations Control Centre (OCC), the power rails on the tracks, and more.

Vehicle upgrades

In phases over the past eight years, LTA introduced new and upgraded light rail vehicles (LRVs) to replace all the first-generation ones that served the network since 1999.

Today, there are 19 new third-generation vehicles in operation.

They are equipped with condition monitoring systems that allow the staff to detect potential faults earlier, thus supporting pre-emptive maintenance.

They are also brighter and cooler, thanks to more energy-efficient LED lighting and upgraded air-conditioning systems that also improve ventilation.

Furthermore, commuters on board can plan their journeys better using the dynamic route displays.

The 13 second-generation vehicles, which continue to be in use since 2015, have also been upgraded to a new signalling system.

Signalling system upgrades

Following extensive testing and commissioning, the LRVs began operating on a new Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system from November 2025.

A signalling system tells the trains when to stop or move.

Similar to that currently used on the MRT lines, the new system allows the LRVs to run closer together safely, improving service frequency and punctuality.

In January 2026, LTA completed upgrades to the Operations Control Centre (OCC), and integrated it with the new signalling system.

After that, they commenced the decommissioning of the legacy signalling equipment.

Power system upgrades

LTA has also worked on strengthening the reliability and resilience of the power supply to the Bukit Panjang LRT network.

They have installed a new power supply intake source at Ten Mile Junction, while keeping the previous source at Choa Chu Kang MRT substation functioning as a back-up power supply.

Several transformers, switchboards, trackside infrastructure, and the control system have been upgraded to newer models that improve power efficiency and capacity.

A total of 16.6km ageing power rails across the Bukit Panjang LRT network are also getting replaced.

The work is currently 98 per cent finished, and on track to be completed by the end of 2026, LTA said.

Improved reliability

As a result of the renewals so far, the reliability performance of the Bukit Panjang LRT line has improved significantly.

This is measured by Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF), which refers to the average distance that a train travels before it encounters a delay of more than five minutes.

After the project started, the MKBF rose gradually from 43,000 car-km in 2018 to 248,000 car-km in 2023.

Then, it fell in 2024 and 2025 due to teething issues during the transition to the third-generation vehicles and the migration to the full CBTC signalling system.

However, from 199,000 car-km in 2025, the MKBF shot up to 443,000 car-km in September 2026.

This improvement came after the full upgraded fleet of vehicles was introduced and the migration to the new signalling system was completed.

Through careful coordination and sequencing, LTA managed to maintain daily LRT operations while carrying out the various renewal works.

Additional upgrades still ongoing

Commuters can look forward to further changes at the LRT stations across the line.

LTA has been working on upgrading communications at the stations, which include the passenger information display system, the public address system, and the emergency telephone.

Currently, 88 per cent of the planned improvements have been made, and LTA expects to complete it by the second half of 2027.

The authority also aims to replace the passenger lifts across all 13 stations on the line by February 2027.

They are close to meeting this target, as works at 11 stations will be done by the end of October, with only Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang stations remaining.

The new lifts will use energy-efficient motors, drives, and lighting.

Additionally, they will have more accessible features such as tilted floor indicators for better visibility, rear wall mirrors, side-mounted operating panels, and larger illuminated lift buttons.

At Ten Mile Junction Depot, Siow said that upgrading projects have been in the works across the entire the MRT and LRT systems.

LTA is expanding the capacity of the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) depot to run more trains, scheduled for completion in 2027.