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Entire East-West Line to have shorter operating hours on weekends in March

SMRT said the shorter operational hours on the East-West Line will allow maintenance and rail renewal works to be carried out concurrently. (Photo: Getty Images)
SMRT said the shorter operational hours on the East-West Line will allow maintenance and rail renewal works to be carried out concurrently. (Photo: Getty Images)

All 35 MRT stations along the East-West Line (EWL) will have their operational hours shortened in March on weekends and two weekdays to carry out maintenance and rail renewal work, said rail operator SMRT on Friday (19 January).

Affected stations will close early at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays in March, and open late at 8am on Saturdays and Sundays.

“The shorter operational hours on all 35 MRT stations in the month of March will allow multiple teams to carry out maintenance and rail renewal works concurrently. This will also accelerate the implementation of the Communications-Based Train Control system on the EWL by June 2018,” SMRT said.

The arrangements will include two weekdays during the week-long school holiday in March – Monday (12 March) and Wednesday (14 March) – during which stations will close early at 10.30pm.

Information on the shuttle bus arrangements for the planned closures will be announced at a later date.

Affected East-West Line operations in March. (Source: SMRT)
Affected East-West Line operations in March. (Source: SMRT)

Since 5 January this year, ten MRT stations along the EWL – from Paya Lebar to Pasir Ris and from Tanah Merah to Changi Airport – have had their operating hours shortened on weekends. These will continue till the first weekend of February and recommence in March.

Ongoing shortened operating hours along eastern stretch of East-West Line in January and February. (Source: SMRT)
Ongoing shortened operating hours along eastern stretch of East-West Line in January and February. (Source: SMRT)

Four shuttle bus services travelling between the stations and to other MRT lines will continue to operate in February during the affected weekend.

Affected North-South Line operations in February

Separately, there will be no train service between City Hall and Raffles Place MRT stations on the North-South Line (NSL) from 2 to 4 February.

During that period, train services between Orchard and Marina South Pier MRT stations will also continue to operate at longer intervals of 10 to 15 minutes after 11pm on Friday and Saturday (2 and 3 February), and before 7am on Saturday and Sunday (3 and 4 February).

Period of longer intervals for trains running between Orchard and Marina South Pier MRT stations in January and February. (Source: SMRT)
Period of longer intervals for trains running between Orchard and Marina South Pier MRT stations in January and February. (Source: SMRT)

Since 5 January, train services on the southern stretch of the NSL between Orchard and Marina South Pier MRT stations have had their operating hours shortened on weekends. Similarly, these will continue till the first weekend of February and recommence on selected days in March.

Previously, 17 EWL stations – from Tiong Bahru to Tuas Link – and two NSL stations – Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak – had their operating hours shortened on weekends from 8 December 2017 till the end of the year.

Both stretches were also fully closed on 10 and 17 December, both Sundays in the month.

Commuters are advised to get the latest updates on affected train services and alternative transport arrangements on SMRT’s website, as well as through the company’s social media channels.

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