TEL Stage 4 passenger service from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore to begins on 23 June

SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat announced on Tuesday (5 March) that passenger service on the fourth stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), spanning from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore, will commence on 23 June.

This development is set to enhance accessibility for individuals residing in and travelling to Singapore’s East Coast region.

The 10.8km stretch encompasses seven new MRT stations: Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, Siglap, and Bayshore.

These stations will seamlessly connect with the first three stages of TEL, spanning from Woodlands North to Gardens by the Bay.

To provide a sneak peek of the new facilities, passengers can enjoy free usage during a preview on 21 June, as highlighted by Minister Chee during a Committee of Supply (COS) debate on the Ministry of Transport’s (MOT) budget.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a Tuesday statement has stated that passengers can familiarize themselves with the new stations between 10 am and 9 pm on the preview day.

With the introduction of TEL Stage 4, approximately 235,000 households will be within a 10-minute walk of a TEL station, according to the LTA.

Commuters using the MRT line can save up to 50% of travel time, as mentioned by LTA.

For instance, a resident of Marine Parade will now take 20 minutes to reach Shenton Way on the TEL, compared to the current 40 minutes by bus and train.

On 6 February, LTA handed over the stations to TEL operator SMRT for a final set of tests.

This includes integrating TEL Stage 4 with the first three stages of the rail line, as well as conducting additional tests to ensure operational readiness to serve passengers.

Civil and structural works for the stations, along with testing and commissioning of trains and systems, have been completed.

LTA said after the opening of TEL Stage 4, trains will arrive at a frequency of three minutes during peak hours and six minutes at non-peak hours.

The expansion of TEL Stage 4 will extend Singapore’s rail network to over 210km, with the government aiming to reach about 360km by the 2030s, bringing eight in 10 households within 10 minutes of a train station.

In 2026, several more MRT stations are expected to be completed, including the Bedok South and Sungei Bedok stations, forming the fifth and final stage of the TEL.

Additionally, the Xilin station on a Downtown Line (DTL) extension will link the existing Expo station to Xilin, and then Sungei Bedok, serving as an interchange stop for both the TEL and DTL.

The East Coast Integrated Depot for trains and buses, designed with connecting tunnels to the TEL and DTL, along with viaducts from the East-West Line, is slated to be completed by 2026.

Previously, LTA had indicated that TEL Stage 5 and the depot would be ready in 2025, which is a one-year delay from the original 2024 deadline.

These setbacks were attributed to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, the DTL extension was also scheduled to be operational by 2025.