SINGAPORE— Starting from Changi, and running through places like Pasir Ris, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah, West Coast and terminating at Jurong Industrial Estate, the new 50km Cross Island Line is projected to relieve the load on existing lines, such as the East-West Line and North-East Line.

To be completed by around 2030, this new train line will also serve as an alternative for Punggol residents heading to Pasir Ris, as it will reduce a 40-minute bus journey currently, to only 10 to 15 minutes, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said yesterday.

A new 20km Jurong Region Line, meanwhile, will open around 2025, which will provide greater connectivity to areas such as Jurong West, Jurong Industrial District, West Coast and new developments in Tengah. Commuters from the North will be able to bypass Jurong East Station and enter Jurong directly via the Jurong Region Line at Choa Chu Kang.

Besides serving residents in the West, it also aims to serve students from the Nanyang Technological University and workers in Jurong Industrial Estate and Jurong Island.

The two new lines were welcomed by commuters yesterday. Punggol resident Koh Cheng Chong, 56, noted there is currently only one bus service plying between Punggol and Pasir Ris. Nearby Sengkang, meanwhile, has two bus services towards Punggol.

“The new line linking Punggol and Pasir Ris will be excellent for many people, as now, we can only take a bus or take a big detour on the MRT, which is very crowded,” said Mr Koh, who noted that more people are moving into Punggol.

Choa Chu Kang resident Joanne Tan, meanwhile, said the Jurong Region Line could cut down on the waiting time for commuters at the Jurong East interchange. “The waiting time is extremely long,” she said. “During peak hours, I have to wait for three or four trains to pass before I actually can get on.”

The two new lines, along with extensions to the Circle Line, North East Line and the Downtown Line, will double the rail network to 360km by 2030.