Singapore’s East-West Line (EWL) got itself some bad press just a few months ago due to a major disruption caused by damaged tracks along the west end of the route. This rendered MRT train services unable to properly function between Jurong East and Buona Vista for almost a week, upending thousands of locals’ schedules and causing an uproar in its process.
While everyone’s still poring over their Spotify Wrapped 2024 results, it seems like the East-West Line – also casually referred to as the ‘green line’ – is already eager to jump into its ‘new year, new me’ era. The east end of the MRT line is getting itself some brand new train tracks that’ll connect it to a new East Coast Integrated Depot that’s currently still under construction, and this is supposed to help improve efficiency of daily train processes for everyone.
That said, growth lies within discomfort, and in order to facilitate these works, the East-West Line will be facing some temporary pauses and adjustments for a couple of days this December, from the 7th to the 10th. Here’s everything you need to know so that you don’t find yourself in a pickle when commuting to or from the east of Singapore.
When are the temporary East-West Line MRT disruptions this December?
The East-West Line will face some temporary disruptions and adjustments in timings for the laying of new train tracks at its east end this December 7 to 10, 2024 – that’s four days, from Saturday to Tuesday.
Which MRT train stations along the East-West Line are affected?
There will be no train services at Simei MRT station. This means that commuters will not be able to get from Tanah Merah to Tampines or Pasir Ris stations via Simei, which sits between them.
Trains between Tampines and Pasir Ris will still be running, but at five-minute intervals.
Similarly, trains between Tanah Merah and Expo MRT will be running at longer eight-minute intervals, while trains between Expo and Changi Airport will arrive at an 11-minute frequency. Those heading to the airport via public transport would want to take extra heed and plan ahead to avoid being late for flights.
Will there be shuttle buses to make up for the EWL disruption?
Yes, there are shuttle bus services already pre-arranged to help bridge the gap during the four days that Simei MRT will remain closed. The shuttle bus – dubbed Shuttle 7 – will operate between Simei, Tampines, and Tanah Merah MRT stations.
What are the operating hours of this Shuttle 7 bus?
Shuttle 7 will follow the East-West Line’s usual operating schedule, so there will be no changes in first and last departure timings. You can now heave a sigh of relief as your morning commute to work and late-night hangouts won’t be affected over these four days. Shuttle services will run every three to five minutes.
Are the shuttle buses free-of-charge from December 7 to 10?
Unfortunately, you can’t hop onto the Shuttle 7 shuttle bus for free. Fares will be the same as that of MRT train fares, calculated by distance travelled. Make sure you bring your EZ-Link card along or have your other payment methods (SimplyGo!, credit card, or debit card) ready for boarding.
How much extra time should I factor in for my commutes during this period?
According to the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA), passengers should factor in five to 20 minutes of additional travel time during these few days in December, depending on their routes and chosen destinations.
Will the rest of the East-West Line be affected?
No, the rest of the EWL will be running as per normal from December 7 to 10, so everyone else – including westsiders – can go about their routines as per usual. Provided another surprise track fault doesn’t happen that is. Fingers crossed.
In other MRT-related news…
The spanking new Punggol Coast MRT station will be opening this December 10, 2024 at 3pm, and this will help shorten trips to town for North-Easties by 15 minutes.
Find out more about December’s EWL train adjustments here.
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