Bukit Panjang LRT expands train-car fleet

SINGAPORE – Two new train-cars were put into service at the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) system today (Nov 19), joining its existing fleet of 19 train-cars.

It marks the first addition to the BPLRT since the system was launched in 1999. The two train-cars have a capacity of 105 passengers, similar to train-cars of the existing fleet.

The two train-cars are the first of the 13 new train-cars to be put into service by the end of next year. They arrived in Singapore in June and went through extensive reliability testing at Bukit Panjang depot.

All 13 new train-cars will be delivered, tested and deployed by end of next year, and is expected to increase peak-hour capacity of this LRT system by about 50 per cent.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the 13 additional train-cars will result in trains arriving more frequently. Headways between the Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang LRT stations will be reduced to 2.2 minutes from 2.5 minutes with the addition of all the train-cars.

The LTA said another four train-cars have arrived and are undergoing testing before entering service. The remaining seven train-cars will be “progressively” delivered by next June and be put into service by the end of next year, they said.