Singapore's Land Transport

Singapore's Best-Kept Secret Revealed: The Visa/Mastercard Travel Hack You Never Knew!

2023-07-22T11:23:00.001+08:00

Welcome aboard, fellow adventurers! Are you ready to unravel the secrets of navigating Singapore's dazzling metropolis like a true local? At SG Transport Hacks, we've got your back with money-saving tricks and tips to make your visit an unforgettable journey. In this ultimate blog post, we'll unveil a jaw-dropping cost comparison of three travel options for a typical 3-day Singapore sojourn: the iconic EZ-Link card, the much-hyped Singapore Tourist Pass, and the ever-handy Visa/Mastercard. Get ready to save big, explore like a pro, and make memories that last a lifetime!

1. EZ-Link Card: Tap and Save with a Twist!

The EZ-Link card – a beloved companion of locals – may seem like the go-to choice, but is it really your best bet? While it offers the convenience of tap-and-go travel, let's dive deeper into its cost considerations. For an initial SGD 10, you get a card with SGD 5 stored value and a SGD 5 non-refundable cost. Factor in a typical SGD 1.19 fare per trip (less than 5.2km), and the total cost for 3 days with 6 trips daily comes to SGD 31.42. But don't forget about the SGD 5 refundable deposit! While you can get it back at the end of your journey, refunding isn't always a walk in the park. Limited operating hours and a SGD 1 refund processing fee might just take a pinch of adventure out of your trip.

2. Singapore Tourist Pass: Your Passport to Savings!

It's time to reveal the star of the show – the Singapore Tourist Pass! For SGD 34 for a 3-day pass, you gain unlimited access to Singapore's bustling buses and trains for 3 glorious days. With this pass in hand, you'll glide through the city like a breeze, enjoying every iconic sight without worrying about additional fees. No more math, no more fuss – just pure convenience and pocket-friendly delight! Embrace your inner explorer and tap away to your heart's content, knowing you've got the best deal in town.

3. Visa/Mastercard: The Unconventional Champion!

Wait, hold up! Did you know your trusty Visa or Mastercard could be your secret weapon to score significant savings too? By using your existing card for public transport, you'll enjoy the same SGD 1.19 fare per trip as the EZ-Link card users. Over 3 days with 6 trips daily, that's just SGD 21.42! No additional cards to carry, no deposits, no hassle. It's the ultimate hack for travelers who crave simplicity and value. Foreign-issued Mastercard or Visa contactless bank cards are accepted! Your fares will be automatically calculated and posted toy our credit card bill. An administrative fee of up to $0.60 will be applicable per day of use for fare payment. The total cost for 3 days with 6 trips daily and adminstrative fees comes to SGD 23.22.

Travel Hack #1: EZ-Link Card - Tap and Save with a Twist!
Total Cost: $1.19 x 6 trips x 3 days = $21.42
Additional Cost: $5 (non-refundable) + $5 (refundable deposit) = $10 (one-time cost)
Total Cost with EZ-Link Card: $21.42 (rides) + $10 (additional cost) = $31.42
Travel Hack #2: SG Tourist Pass - Your Passport to Savings!

Total Cost: $34 (for 3-day unlimited rides)
Travel Hack #3: Visa/Mastercard - The Modern Magic!

Total Cost: $1.19 x 6 trips x 3 days = $21.42
Additional cost for Visa*: $0.60 administrative fee x 3 days = $1.80.
Additional cost for Mastercard*: $0.60 administrative fee x 2 posting = $1.20
Total Cost with Visa = $21.42 + $1.80 = $23.22
Total Cost with Mastercard = $21.42 + $1.20 = $22.62
*Foot note for $0.60 administrative fee:
For Visa cardholders, this takes place once per day, with a single credit card charge combining all your fares each calendar day.
Mastercard users will instead notice a single transaction once every five days, or after $15 has been spent on transit fares, whichever is sooner.

Comparison: Which Travel Hack Reigns Supreme?

The winner is Visa/Mastercard.

EZ-Link Card: $31.42 (including one-time cost), minus $4 if manage to refund the deposit
SG Tourist Pass: $34 (for 3-day unlimited rides)
Visa/Mastercard: $23.22 (Visa) or $22.62 (Mastercard) [WINNER]

Conclusion

Congratulations, fellow adventurers! You've unlocked the ultimate transportation secrets to conquer Singapore in style. As you set forth on your journey, keep in mind that cost savings and convenience go hand in hand. While the EZ-Link card offers the familiarity of tapping, the Singapore Tourist Pass steals the show with its unrivaled value at SGD 34. And for those seeking a touch of modern magic, your Visa or Mastercard is the surprise winner at just SGD 22.62/$23.22. So, whether you're a budget-savvy backpacker, a thrill-seeking family, or an intrepid solo traveler, choose the option that best fits your wanderlust dreams. Embrace the city's enchanting blend of culture, cuisine, and charisma as you explore the hidden gems that await. Hop on buses, ride the MRT, and immerse yourself in the heart of Singapore – your adventure of a lifetime starts now!

Latest Singapore MRT map featuring Thomson-East Cost Line (Updated Nov 2022)

2022-11-24T22:32:00.002+08:00

Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 3 (till Gardens by the Bay) finally opened in November 2022.

With this, the Singapore's MRT map is updated. Here is the latest iteration of operational MRT lines!

When fully operational, Thomson-East Coast Line will finally connect Changi Airport to city with a direct single train ride, without the need to change train at Tanah Merah.

Thomson-East Coast Line (Stage 3) opening soon

2022-08-04T13:26:00.000+08:00

If you're living around Tiong Bahru or Orchard, or working around Outram Park or Shenton Way, you must be witnessing new stations entrances emerging from the barricade removal.

Indeed, the third stage of Thomson-East Coast Line is going to launch soon.

Extract from LTA website, these are the new stations that will bring you faster commute to your favourite places.

Stage 3, around 2022: Direct access to the CBD and Marina Bay
Stations: 13
Interchanges: Stevens (DTL), Orchard (NSL), Outram Park (EWL & NEL), Marina Bay (NSL & CCL)
Stations: Mount Pleasant - Stevens - Napier - Orchard Boulevard - Orchard - Great World - Havelock - Outram Park - Maxwell - Shenton Way - Marina Bay - Marina South - Gardens by the Bay
Mount Pleasant
Stevens
Napier
Orchard Boulevard
Orchard
Great World
Havelock
Outram Park
Maxwell
Shenton Way
Marina Bay
Marina South

No firm date is announced yet. Usually with new line opening, LTA will organise a free tour with free train rides on the new section. Watch out for news very soon.

In the mean time, here's the MRT map for Thomson-East Coast Line!

Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 - Delayed to Q3 2021

2020-12-14T18:12:00.000+08:00

Originally slated to open by Q1 2021, Stage 2 of Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL2) is delayed till Q3 2021. This stage of TEL will offer more connectivity for residents of Woodlands, Springleaf, Lentor, Ang Mo Kio to Circle Line via a transfer at Caldecott station.

In the mean time, the MRT map is updated to reflect the schematics of the full Thomson-East Coast Line.

Updated Singapore MRT map featuring a full circle for Circle Line

2020-07-09T14:03:00.001+08:00

Circle Line finally comes full circle with the latest iteration of Singapore MRT map.

Latest MRT map featuring Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line

2019-03-30T18:55:00.000+08:00

This is how the future train map looks like.

Cross Island Line is work in progress. Only the eastern half is announced while LTA works with tree huggers on the alignment across central catchment area. Colour assigned to Cross Island is light green which is very similar to existing East West Line. It is very likely this is only a working colour and a new colour will be assigned when launched.

It is highly probable that Cross Island Line will be extended to serve the upcoming new Changi Airport Terminal 5. Proof? There is a missing station name CR1. The first station currently showing is CR2 Aviation Park.

Not only that, Thomson-East Coast Line may also be extended to provide additional connectivity to the East Coast region. Lastly, existing East West Line may also be extended to connect existing Changi Airport terminals (1, 2, 3) with the new Terminal 5. However, Changi Airport may be asked to fund part of the construction cost, and a people mover system would still be needed to provide links to passengers transiting to and fro the new Terminal 5.

Three MRT lines connecting to the new Changi Airport Terminal 5 would enhanced connectivity to Changi Airport. If the Thomson-East Coast Line is extended, Singapore will finally have a direct MRT line that connects to the city centre.

An untimely post

2019-03-30T17:58:00.000+08:00

It has been almost 5 years since my last post. Ever since I left the industry almost a decade ago, the updates have been far and few. I remembered the days where I rushed to publish new posts on latest updates, and yet at the same time debate with myself how much I should write without revealing breaking OSA. One of my highlights in those blogging days was to get a call from a veteran journalist of a major local newspaper scooping for insider information. I did not manage to reveal much (as much as I would very much like to), and that probably is why it was the only call I had ever received.

The land transport industry have changed much over the past 5 years:

Bus contracting is now a reality with Government taking revenue risk
New rail financing framework in place
~~Uber,~~ Grab and Go-Jek widely available which called for regulation
Bicycle-sharing boomed and now busting
e-Scooter is proliferating (together with many incidents like this)
No more carrying an extra ez-link card with Account-Based Ticketing

What will the next 5 years look like?

A little video on expanded BSEP

2014-12-24T22:08:00.000+08:00

It is heartening to see the fruits of labour continue to grow. Looking forward to expanded BSEP (aka BSEP II) from 2015 to 2017.

Eastern Region Line is 4 years late and merged with Thomson Line to be Thomson-East Coast Line

2014-08-16T09:50:00.000+08:00

LTA announced that Eastern Region Line would be delayed by 4 years, with completion date pushed to 2024. Originally announced as part of the Land Transport Review in 2008, it was planned to be fully operational by 2020. Now, it will be merged with Thomson Line to run as a single line, and renamed as Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). The original Eastern Region Line will be Phase 4 and Phase 5 of the TEL.

Thomson-East Coast Line (Thomson segment)

Alignment of Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) with working names of East Coast stations. (Downtown Line Stage 1 and 2 are missing)

There are several things worth noting in the announcement released by LTA on 15 Aug 2014.

1. Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line which are twin lines are finally recognised as one entity with the announced merger and renaming to Thomson-East Coast Line.

2. With the merger, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will have one operator only. The natural question is who will win the bid to operate the line. While there will be due diligence to conduct tender exercise to appoint the operator, it is not premature to postulate the outcome. This is especially true with declining bus margins and introduction of bus tendering regime. History has showed that rail margins are higher than bus margins, though a new balance may be in the cards with the teething transition to new rail financing framework.

3. There maybe a Thomson-East Coast Line extension on the cards, TELe which is likely to link to the new Changi Airport Terminal 5.

JOINT NEWS RELEASE BY THE LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY & SINGAPORE LAND AUTHORITY - THOMSON-EAST COAST LINE: NEW MRT LINKS IN THE EAST

1.       The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is pleased to announce the rail alignment and station locations for the Eastern Region Line, which will run with the Thomson Line as a single line. When completed, this will be Singapore’s sixth rail line, to be known as the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).
2.       The 13-kilometre East Coast stretch of the TEL will connect commuters living in the eastern parts of Singapore and who are not directly served by the rail network currently, such as those in Tanjong Rhu, Siglap, Marine Parade, Upper East Coast and Bedok South, to the heart of the city. As part of the 43-kilometre long TEL, the East Coast stretch will also connect commuters to the North-South corridor. Fully underground, this new stretch will have nine stations, including one interchange station with the Downtown Line (DTL). In all, TEL will have 31 stations, of which seven are interchanges.
3.        In addition, LTA has finalised the alignment of the DTL3 Extension (DTL3e). This new extension will be 2.2 kilometres long and consists of two stations, including the interchange station with the East Coast stretch of TEL. It will improve public transport accessibility to the Changi Business Park and Expo areas. By linking the TEL and DTL, this extension also improves public transport connectivity in the eastern areas of Singapore, and helps relieve crowding on the East-West Line (EWL).

Time Savings and Greater Accessibility for Commuters in the Thomson and Eastern Areas of Singapore
4.        TEL will create new links in the east and bring about time savings for commuters who travel to the Central Business District today by bus, or to the northern part of Singapore. For instance, a resident from East Coast travelling to Orchard will almost halve his journey time from 75 minutes to 45 minutes. A Republic Polytechnic student staying at Marine Parade can reach home in an hour, 20 minutes faster than the bus ride currently.
5.        In addition, the TEL stations are designed with more entrances and exits. As part of our efforts to improve first and last mile connectivity, some of these entrances on the East Coast stretch will also be connected to longer underpasses of up to 400 metres. These underpasses shelter commuters against the weather, reduce the time taken to walk to and from the station, and improve safety, particularly for the elderly and children, by removing the need to cross roads.

Several Firsts for Singapore’s Rail Network
6.        The world’s first four-in-one train and bus depot will be built with the TEL. This first-of-its-kind depot will house buses, as well as trains for the TEL, EWL and DTL. At 36 hectares, the four-in-one depot can house around 220 trains and 550 buses. While building such a depot involves complex planning and significant engineering challenges, by integrating the train and bus depots, we will save 44 hectares of land, or an area of approximately 60 football fields.
7.        LTA will also build Singapore’s first underground bicycle parks at MRT stations. Located at four of the stations^[1] along the East Coast stretch of the TEL, these bicycle parks will be useful for commuters who wish to cycle to the MRT stations from their home or workplace.

TEL East Coast Stretch to be Operational by 2023
8.        The East Coast stretch of TEL will be completed in two stages. The first seven stations from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore will be ready in 2023, while the remaining two stations, the DTL3e and the depot will be completed in 2024.
9.        When fully operational in 2024, the 31 stations on TEL are expected to serve about 500,000 commuters daily in the initial years, rising to one million commuters daily in the longer term.
10.      All efforts have been made to minimise land acquisition. Unfortunately, the Government will still need to acquire six landed properties along Amber Road and one three-storey walk-up apartment along Tanjong Katong Road for the development of the TEL. In addition, nine part lots will be acquired.
11.      The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has gazetted the properties affected by acquisition today. Landowners who are affected will receive acquisition notices. SLA will work closely with affected owners and assist them throughout the acquisition process.
12.      Should members of the public require additional information, they may call the following hotlines

i. On Thomson-East Coast MRT Line

LTA Hotline: 1800 2255 582

ii. On land acquisition matters

SLA Hotline: 1800 323 9829

Enclosed:
Annex A – Alignment of TELAnnex B – Alignment of DTL3eAnnex C – Examples of time savings via travel on TEL

Latest MRT map in new design... with future lines Downtown Line, Thomson Line, North South Line extension.

2014-08-03T08:56:00.000+08:00

Released in July 2014, this latest iteration of the Singapore's MRT system map sports a new font and bolder look.

The empty space at the bottom left is reserved for Tuas West Extension, while the empty space at bottom right is reserved for future Eastern Region Line.

Circle Line extension would join up HarbourFront and Marina Bay, to serve a new plot of future development currently occupied by the ports.

I wonder how future designers would fit in Cross Island Line which is likely to cut through via Clementi, King Albert Park, Ang Mo Kio, Hougang to Pasir Ris. Another spur of Cross Island Line (possibly part of North Shore Line) is likely to cut through Pasir Ris, Punggol to Woodlands North.

Even more challenging is to squeeze in the tapestry of spur lines of Jurong Regional Line at the west end.

The designer is trying to keep a general sense of geospatial layout of the MRT system map. Going forward, with new MRT lines coming onboard, this would be a challenge.

Most Confusing Expressway: SBS Bus 30 got lost

2014-01-04T07:49:00.001+08:00

Enough had been said about the saga of the newest and most expensive expressway ever built in Singapore. Snarling traffic jams leading to hours of delays, expensive cab fare ($70-80) etc. Marina Coastal Expressway has been called many names -- Most Congested Expressway, Motorists Complain Everyday, Ministers Cockup Everytime.. just to name a few.

A little unknown saga also boiled with public buses, as captured by the video at the end of this post. Due to realignment of road network, SBS bus service 30 was diverted to CBD to continue its journey to Sheares Ave / ECP. However, the bus driver missed a turn and got lost in the interim road network of Marina Bay. Luckily there were lucky souls on board of the bus and alerted the bus driver. And more lucky souls on the road who spotted the rare guest of a double deck bus showing up at places it was not supposed to be. Together with the help of alert passengers and a good samaritan traffic marshal, the bus managed to make a U-turn at a roundabout to continue its original journey.

Enjoy the rare 15-min-long footage at the end of the page. Video courtesy of SBS9684T.

A map showing the route that Bus 30 had taken. Number 2 label should read: 'SBS traffic marshal alighted' instead of 'Some passengers alighted'.

Service 30 making its way through CBD. Still doing good so far. [01:52]

Bus was supposed to make a left turn towards ECP (Changi), but it missed. [04:51]

After missing the turn, the bus driver slowed down at the intersection, but then continued at full speed again. [05:00]

Someone realised the mistake [05:30]. At the intersection to Marina Bay Gardens [05:53], bus driver pondered to turn left for re-routing, but then proceeded straight again at the guidance of traffic marshal.

The bus driver could have made a left turn at the intersection ahead to join back MCE.

But bus driver missed a turn again. [06:49]

A passenger told the bus driver that he should have turn left. Bus driver, in realising his second mistake, let out a LOUD sigh. [07:44]

A traffic marshal raising his right hand and gestured that the bus driver should have gone that way. The bus driver stopped at the intersection and traffic marshal boarded the bus to guide the bus driver. "Go one round", said the traffic marshal. [09:02]

Service 30 double deck bus made a rare visit to Marina South Pier (left) due to the misadventure. [09:58] Traffic marshall apologised to everyone on board. [10:16]

The saviour of the day -- roundabout at the end of Marina Coastal Drive. [10:53]

A passenger was overheard saying this:
This is a newly opened road. He (bus driver) should have turned there. But now he comes here. Luckily there's a roundabout here. If there's no roundabout, how does the bus turn back?

Bus retracing its way back along Marina Coastal Drive. Marina South Pier on the right. [12:06]

Turning right from Marina Coastal Drive towards MCE. [12:40]

Traffic marshal alighted from bus. [13:19]

Traffic marshal waved goodbye. [13:48]

Bus entering MCE tunnel. [14:27] Bus driver approached the tunnel slowly as he was unsure if the tunnel has sufficient height clearance for the double deck bus.

Bus on its way back home (Bedok Interchange). [14:55]

Countdown to the new year with FREE rides on Downtown Line 1

2013-12-17T07:51:00.004+08:00

It's Christmas and the spirit of giving is in the air, especially with SBS Transit.

In addition to giving free rides on newly launch bus Service 49, SBS Transit is also dishing out free rides on the new Downtown Line 1 (DTL1) from 22 Dec 2013 to 1 Jan 2014 (both dates inclusive).

DTL1 is the latest MRT line with six new stations -- Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown -- which begins service on 22 Dec 2013.

To enjoy the free ride on DTL1, you must enter and exit through any of the six DTL1 stations. If you are transferring from the other lines, you need to tap out at the fare gate of the interchange stations and tap in again at the fare gate of the DTL1 station to enjoy the free travel for DTL1 leg. If not, you will be charged the full fare of the entire journey (inclusive of surcharge of up to 25 cents!)

Celebrate Downtown Line 1 opening with free all-day travel
from 22 December 2013 to 1 January 2014

DTL1 stations added to Free MRT Pre-Peak Travel Trial

1. The new Downtown Line 1 (DTL1), consisting six new stations – Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown, will commence service on 22 December 2013. Four of the DTL1 stations are interchange stations with the North East, East-West and Circle Lines, which will allow commuters to transfer conveniently with the rest of the rail network.

2. To encourage commuters to experience and familiarise themselves with the DTL1 as well as the convenience of its connectivity to adjacent developments, all train trips made within the DTL1 will be free from 22 December 2013 to 1 January 2014 (both dates inclusive). Commuters will enjoy free travel if they enter and exit through any of the six DTL1 stations.

3. For commuters transferring from the rest of the rail network onto DTL1 via any one of its four interchange stations (Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, and Chinatown), they will first need to tap out of the fare gate at the interchange station and tap in again to travel to another DTL1 station in order to enjoy free travel for the DTL1 leg. If not, for DTL1 commuters entering or exiting at a non-DTL1 station, they will be charged full journey fares, i.e. the incremental distance fare component of the DTL1 leg is payable.

Examples:

Origin – Destination stations

Will Free Travel Be Applicable?

Bugis to Chinatown

Commuter enjoys free travel as he entered and exited from two DTL1 stations.

Commuter can tap in and tap out at any fare gate in these stations, including the fare gates at the existing Bugis (East-West Line) and Chinatown (North East Line) stations.

Punggol to Bayfront by transferring through Chinatown interchange station

An adult commuter has to pay the full journey fare ($1.84) which includes the DTL1 leg as he entered from a non-DTL1 station.

Punggol to Chinatown and exiting to experience the DTL1 station before re-entering to travel to Bayfront

An adult commuter only need to pay the $1.76 fare from Punggol to Chinatown and the DTL1 leg is free as he entered and exited between two DTL1 stations.

Extension of Free Pre-Peak Travel Trial to Downtown Line 1 Stations

4. As the DTL1 is located within the city centre, LTA will also expand the ongoing pre-peak free travel trial to include the new DTL1 stations when the line opens on 22 December 2013. The four DTL1 interchange stations are already part of the trial, and the two other stations – Telok Ayer and Downtown – will join the existing 16 city area MRT stations^{^[1]} to bring the total number of eligible exit stations to 18.

5. To enjoy free pre-peak travel on the rail network, commuters must exit at any of these 18 designated stations in the city area before 7.45am from Mondays to Fridays (excluding public holidays). Commuters exiting between 7.45am and 8.00am will receive up to 50 cents off their train fare. The train journey must not begin at any of these 18 designated stations.
[1] The original 16 designated city centre stations are: Bugis, Chinatown, City Hall, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Orchard, Outram Park, Raffles Place, Somerset, Tanjong Pagar, Bayfront, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Marina Bay and Promenade.

Source: LTA, 7 Dec 2013

Bukit Panjang LRT smart windows needs to get smarter

2013-11-25T14:36:00.001+08:00

What's wrong with this picture?

People in Bukit Panjang LRT trains have clear view of the HDB blocks!

When Bukit Panjang LRT was introduced in 1999, one of the features was smart windows. Smart windows can be programmed to mist within 6 metres of residential buildings thereby eliminating privacy concerns. Residents staying in units that have windows facing the LRT tracks no longer need to fear the prying eyes of people passing by in the LRT.

However, with the rapid development of Bukit Panjang, new HDB blocks have been mushrooming in the estate and many of them are within vicinity of the LRT tracks. It appeared that the smart windows have not kept up with new programming to mist the windows at new stretches of HDB blocks.

New Bukit Panjang residents have to lobby SMRT to re-program the misty window and keep pace with developments. Else, they risk exposing their deepest secret to passerby. Eeeks!

References:

Downtown Line Open House on 7 Dec 2013

2013-11-01T16:57:00.000+08:00

Be the first one to ride Downtown Line (DTL)!

Head down to Downtown Line Open House on 7 December 2013 (Sat), from 10am to 6pm.

What you can expect:

Unlimited free rides along the DTL Stage stations, namely Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown
Entertaining and fun-filled day with music and activities from the eras of 1960s to 2000 and beyond
Explore and view the different architectural details, such as Art-in-Transit artworks in the new stations

Music and fun games await at four Downtown Line stations -

Bugis, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown stations from 10am to 6pm

1. Want to reminisce golden melodies from the 60s at Chinatown, take part in the disco fever at Telok Ayer, revel in the era of music videos from the 80s and 90s at Downtown and dance to K-Pop music at Bugis? The Land Transport Authority (LTA) invites the public to visit the new Downtown Line 1 (DTL1) stations on Saturday 7 December! In addition to celebrating “Music Through The Years”, the Open House event will give the public the opportunity to have a sneak preview of the completed stations before passenger service commences on Sunday 22 December.

2. From 10am to 6pm, the public can look forward to an entertaining and fun-filled day with music and activities from the eras of 1960s to 2000 and beyond at four DTL stations – Bugis, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown. Unlimited free rides along the DTL1 stations will be provided throughout the duration of the Open House for the public to explore and view the different architectural details such as the Art-in-Transit artworks in the new stations.

3. DTL1 features six MRT stations, Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown. It is connected to the existing East-West, Circle and North East Lines with four interchange stations. To get to the Open House, the public can enter DTL1 via any of the stations except Bayfront station. Bayfront station is not included as part of the programme as it shares the same platform as the Circle Line’s Bayfront station that is currently in operation. Please refer toAnnex A for more details of the Open House¹.

4. For the latest updates on the DTL1 Open House, "like" LTA’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/WeKeepYourWorldMoving or follow @LTAsg at www.twitter.com/LTAsg.

About Downtown Line
5. There are three stages for Downtown Line – In addition to DTL1 which will commence operation on 22 December 2013, DTL2 and DTL3 are slated to open in 2016 and 2017 respectively. When fully completed, the 42km DTL will increase the connectivity of the rail network and bring about direct accessibility from the north-western and eastern areas of the island to the Central Business District and Marina Bay area. The new line is expected to help ease loads on existing lines and produce significant time savings.

1 No activities will be held in Promenade and Bayfront stations.

What's wrong with these taglines?

2013-10-18T11:20:00.001+08:00

A tagline is a catchprase or slogan increasingly used by companies as a branding slogan. Often, a tagline is used to sum up the brand and purpose of the company.

But a tagline could have unintended effect even though it has well intentions. Look at the two taglines below:

1. TransitLink: Adding Value Always

TransitLink provides integration transport solutions, especially in fare transactions and revenue apportionment. They provide more value by integrating transport information from the two public transport operators, and other consultancy services.

But ask the local people what they think of TransitLink, they will unanimously say they go to TransitLink to top up fares, sign up for GIRO-deduction, apply for concession cards etc. So in a way even though they "add value" to transport services in a broad manner, people will only remember that they "add value" to our concession cards.

2. SMRT: Improving... To Keep You On Track

SMRT has a vision of "Moving People, Enhancing Lives" under the era of Ms Saw Phaik Hwa. They could afford to say this then, as train breakdown were less often, and people are really buying into the idea of transforming MRT stations into lifestyle retail hubs.

However, as train breakdowns become more often, people are increasingly frustrated at their inability to move from place to to place predictably.

Since 2013, SMRT has adopted a tagline of "Improving... To Keep You On Track".

Though the tagline showcase SMRT intention to "improve", to be better, either in train reliability or crowdedness or something else, the latter part make people think twice.

"To Keep You On Track" -- literally keep us on the rail track? You mean your trains will derail? That's probably another $1 million fine you want to avoid.

Realignment of Cross Island Line (CRL)?

2013-08-19T09:06:00.003+08:00

In National Day Rally 2013, PM Lee announced that Paya Lebar Air Base will move to Changi East . This is a bold move. What are the implications to transport/land-use?

About 800ha of land -- an area bigger than Bishan or Ang Mo Kio -- will be available for housing, offices and factories, at a much higher intensity. New towns will be created, one or possibly two towns, which are seamlessly integrated with Tampines, Hougang and Pasir Ris. New road networks will be developed. Also, Cross Island Line could be realigned to allow for new stations in the new towns, or provision for connection to future rail lines.

In another separate note, the ports at central area are also moving to the west.

These include building a new port in Tuas which is bigger and more efficient than current facilities, to maintain the country's premier position as one of the world's leading ports. All container ports in Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani and Pasir Panjang will be moved there when leases expire from 2027. This will also free up prime land in Tanjong Pagar, where a new southern waterfront city will be built. Occupying a space of about 1,000 ha, or 2.5 times the size of Marina Bay, it will stretch from Shenton Way to Pasir Panjang.

Two bold moves to create more land to house the 6.9 million population. Looking forward to the new Singapore landscape.

Cross Island Line (CRL) stations and interchanges

2013-01-20T18:15:00.000+08:00

Cross Island Line (CRL) is a 50km MRT line, the longest MRT line ever announced in Singapore. It is targeted to be completed by 2030.

While the actual completion is still 17 years away, there are clues to where Cross Island Line will run, and we can deduce the possible interchanges and stations.

A careful study shows these possible MRT interchanges for Cross Island Line (CRL):

Aviation Park (interchange with Eastern Region Line)
Pasir Ris (interchange with East West Line)
Lor Halus (interchange with Cross Island Line)
Riviera (interchange with Punggol LRT)
Punggol (interchange with North East Line)
Hougang (interchange with North East Line)
Ang Mo Kio (interchange with North South Line)
Sin Ming (interchange with Thomson Line)
King Albert Park (interchange with Downtown Line)
Clementi (interchange with East West Line)
West Coast (interchange with Jurong Region Line)
Jurong Bird Park (interchange with Jurong Region Line)

For possible stations for Cross Island Line, please click here to access the full page interactive map where you can zoom in to view the details.

Interestingly, the segment of Cross Island Line between Punggol and Pasir Ris could be a preview of the unannounced North Shore Line linking the coastal areas. of Woodlands, Sembawang, Simpang, Yishun and Seletar Aerospace.

For information on Jurong Region Line, click here.

View Possible MRT stations for upcoming MRT lines in Singapore in a larger map

Disclaimer: Cross Island Line is still under study so any alignment or stations shown are indicative.

New MRT Lines Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line

2013-01-17T21:03:00.001+08:00

As part of the early release of Land Transport Masterplan 2013, LTA announced two new rail lines to be completed in the next 17 years.

View Upcoming MRT Lines in Singapore in a larger map

Cross Island Line, to be completed by 2030, is a 50km rail line spanning the entire island. It will connect Jurong Industrial Estates, skirt the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, connects Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Loyang, and Changi Airfreight Centre before terminating at Aviation Park. This is likely to be a full-rail system with 4-car system.

Jurong Region Line, to be completed by 2025, focuses on improving connections of Jurong West, Jurong Industrial Estate and Jurong Island. This is most probably a light-rail system featuring 2-car LRT train, similar to existing LRT systems in Bukit Panjang, Sengkang and Punggol.

Also, Circle Line will finally comes full circle when the missing gap between HarbourFront and Marina Bay is linked by 2025.

Other announcements include extension of North-East Line to Punggol North to serve upcoming new developments, and extension of Downtown Line from Expo to connect to Eastern Region Line.

Rail network to double to 360 km; 8 in 10 households to be within 10-minute walk of a rail station by 2030
            The Government has announced ambitious plans to expand the rail network by 2030, doubling it from the current 178 km to about 360 km. The improvements in rail infrastructure will support Singapore’s long-term development and ensure that the rail network will have more than the capacity needed to meet the expected increase in public transport ridership in the next two decades.
2          As part of the Land Transport Masterplan 2013 theme of providing commuters with more connections to the places where they live, work and play, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be constructing two new rail lines, and extending three existing lines to improve the connectivity, accessibility and coverage of Singapore’s rail network. With a more extensive rail network, commuters will have more choices for travel via public transport.
New Lines to Improve Connectivity and Accessibility
3          LTA will build a major MRT line, the 50-km Cross Island Line (CRL), which will run across the span of Singapore. Starting from Changi, it will pass through Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, before reaching Sin Ming. Continuing westwards, it will serve areas such as Bukit Timah, Clementi, West Coast, and terminate at Jurong Industrial Estate. Targeted to be completed by 2030, it will also provide commuters with another alternative for East-West travel to the current East-West Line. In addition, it will connect to all the other major lines to serve as a key transfer line, complementing the role currently fulfilled by the orbital Circle Line. Therefore, the CRL will relieve the load on several of our existing lines, bringing greater comfort to all commuters and significantly shorten journey times.
4          Another 20-km Jurong Region Line (JRL) will serve residents of Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and the future developments in the Tengah area. It will serve a diverse range of commuters by connecting these areas to main activity nodes in Jurong West including NTU, the Jurong Industrial estate including Jurong Island, and the future Jurong Gateway. Expected to be completed by 2025, JRL will enhance the intra-connectivity of the Jurong region and connect the region to the existing rail network for faster travel to the rest of the island. Commuters in the north will be also able to enter the Jurong region directly via the JRL, without having to interchange at the heavily-used Jurong East interchange.
Extension to Areas not Served by Rail Network
5          Three existing lines will also be extended to enhance commuters’ connectivity and provide them with greater accessibility.
            a)   To improve the direct east-west connectivity between the central east and central west areas, the Circle Line Stage 6 (CCL6) will ‘close the circle’ by connecting HarbourFront station to Marina Bay station. Come 2025, commuters will enjoy a direct route between key employment areas in the Central Business District, as well as upcoming developments in the Marina Bay area and retail and office centres in the HarbourFront area via CCL6.
            b)   The North East Line will be extended northwards by one station to serve Punggol North including the new Punggol Downtown. It will be built in tandem with the developments there, by around 2030, so that future residents in Punggol North will have train access to the city centre as well as other parts of Singapore.
            c)   The Downtown Line, which now ends at Expo station, will be extended to the Eastern Region Line by 2025. This will enhance the accessibility between the two rail lines and allow commuters to conveniently make transfers.
6          In tandem with developments in northern Singapore, the LTA is studying the addition of a new station on the North-South Line between Yishun and Sembawang stations.
8 in 10 Households within Walking Distance of a Rail Station
7          When completed, the new lines and extensions will significantly expand the coverage of Singapore’s rail network, doubling it from 178 km today to about 360 km in 2030, which will bring 8 in 10 households within a 10-minute walk of a rail station.
8          Since the Land Transport Masterplan 2008, the Circle Line has fully opened and the Downtown Line 1 is on track to opening later this year. Works on the rest of the Downtown Line and Tuas West Extension are progressing well, while works on the Thomson Line will start later this year. The Government will continue to augment the capacity of the existing rail lines and plan new lines to support the growth in population, as well as the changing travel needs of commuters.
Released by LTA on 17 January 2013

Going home late after Christmas party?

2012-12-19T21:39:00.002+08:00

Click below for full details of MRT extension during Christmas:

SBS Transit for NEL, SKLRT, PGLRT and buses in west, central, northeast and east areas.
SMRT for all other lines (NSL, EWL, CCL, BPLRT) and buses in north and northwest areas. [Info not available yet]

Details of new bus service leaked on facebook

2012-12-01T13:37:00.000+08:00

Details of the new BSEP bus service, Service 50, was leaked on Punggol 21 facebook page. No details was available on either websites of LTA or SBS Transit yet. Usually, the officials keep such information close to their chest until they make the first announcement, so that they gain maximum publicity mileage. Hence, the early release of this new bus service on a non-official source, and on a social media platform, is somewhat strange.

Perhaps residents of Punggol who got wind of the new bus service cannot contain their excitement to rejoice with their fellow residents. Or, perhaps this marks a change in rules of engagement by the officials to tap on the new media. Regardless, residents of Punggol, Sengkang, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan have reasons to celebrate.

Service 50 is the fourth bus service this year to be rolled out under the LTA Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP). Measured at 17km route length, it is the longest BSEP route introduced, connecting north-eastern Singapore to central Singapore. This new bus service will be launched in two weeks on 16 Dec 2012. Key benefits of Service 50 are: enhances inter-town connectivity between Sengkang, Punggol, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan; provides access to key amenities such as ITE College Central, Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre and the town centres; and providing bus service to residents of Punggol Drive which previously has only LRT.

The other three bus services introduced under BSEP are Service 116, Extension of 119 and 860.

Service 50 on Punggol 21 facebook

Official poster of Service 50, a new service between Punggol and Bishan

BSEP: Bringing You More Buses, Better Rides

2012-10-10T07:23:00.002+08:00

Starting from 2012, LTA has partnered the bus operators to significantly increase bus capacity and enhance bus service levels to benefit commuters. Under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), new bus services will be introduced and more buses will be added to the existing bus fleet. Find out more about BSEP and what are the considerations of the bus planners in this video!

Below is a transcript of the video.

Hi, I'm your central bus planner. I plan the basic bus network route for the whole of Singapore. You know these days, we've been experiencing high public transport ridership. Some buses are also quite packed during peak hours. Most major cities such as London and Tokyo face similar challenges as their society progress.

"These days there are so many people at the bus stop!"

"What to do? There is so many more flats in everywhere now!"

To improve bus services, the GOvernment has introduce the BSEP. 800 buses will be added to the bus network over the next 5 years so that commuters can enjoy shorter waiting time. And more space on board. There will be around 40 new bus routes to improve connectivity.

So you may ask, "How do we plan the bus routes?" The guiding principle in planning bus routes is to benefit as many commuters as possible so that they can enjoy quicker and faster boarding. On top of this, we need to ensure that the public transport network remain cost efficient.

To ensure the bus routes actual needs of actual commuters, we consult and gather feedback from the actual community.

"There is no bus service in this area. So can we have a bus or not?"

We do our best to cater to the community based on their needs and the availability and adequacy of alternative bus services. For example, new bus routes are added to areas with new public housing development and the roll out of these routes depend on the pace of the town development.

"Some times my bus only come once every 20 minutes during peak hour. How can?"

We monitor the crowding situations on buses and identify the most crowded stretches along the route by using ticketing data and sending surveyors on the ground. We then increase bus service frequencies for buses that are most crowded.

Different communities have different needs and we recognise that. Resources is however are not unlimited. We need to carefully access and priority the different needs while balancing feedback and planning considerations. Resources are then channelled to where the need is the greatest and areas which are not currently well served by public transport will see buses being added to their estates sooner.

800 buses may seem a lot but it will not be able to fulfill all your requests. Adding new bus services and pumping in more buses will also not happen overnight. It has to go in tandem with bus procurement, delivery schedules, recruitment and the training for bus drivers. But eventually most will enjoy the bus services improvement.

BSEP will bring you 40 new bus services over the 5 years. Overall you can look forward to more frequent bus services and more comfortable journeys.

BSEP -- bringing you more buses, better rides.

Extension of Service 119 and New Service 860

2012-10-05T19:11:00.001+08:00

As part of the BSEP, commuters can also expect better connectivity with five new bus services to be rolled out in the fourth quarter of 2012. Two of the five new bus services – new Service 860 and an extension of the bus route for Service 119 - will start as early as 21 October 2012.

“Over the past months, LTA has engaged Members of Parliament and grassroots leaders to understand the different needs of the community. We have taken these feedback into account as we plan the implementation of the Bus Service Enhancement Programme. Over the next few years, we will carefully distribute the available resources where the need is greatest to achieve the maximum benefit to the community,” added Mr Chew Hock Yong, LTA Chief Executive.

New Service 860, operated by SMRT Buses, will improve local connectivity for commuters along Yishun Ring Road. The new bus route will provide residents such as those staying in the new HDB flats along Yishun Ring Road with a faster connection to Khatib MRT. It will also enhance the connectivity to key transport nodes at Yishun Bus Interchange and MRT, where they can transfer to other bus services to reach their destination. In addition, Service 860 will improve the local links within Yishun Town by enhancing connections to amenities such as Nee Soon East Community Centre Yishun Swimming Complex and schools.

SBS Transit will extend the current route of its Service 119 from Sengkang Bus Interchange to Punggol Bus Interchange. With the extension, the service will provide new housing areas along Punggol Field and Punggol Way with a bus connection to the nearest MRT and bus interchange at Punggol. In addition, residents in Sengkang and Hougang will also enjoy enhanced inter-town connectivity to amenities and attractions in Punggol such as Punggol Waterway.

Top management changes in SMRT

2012-10-01T22:26:00.000+08:00

A quick update of what is going on at SMRT's senior management.

Tan Ek Kia - Former Interim CEO.

Desmond Kuek - New CEO appointed on 14 Aug 2012 and assumed duty on 1 Oct 2012. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1981 on being awarded an SAF Overseas Scholarship. He entered the Administrative Service in 1993, but remained in the SAF where he held various appointments including Chief of Army and Chief of Defence Force. In 2010, he was appointed Permanent Secretary (Environment and Water Resources).

Goh Chee Kong - Senior Vice President for Communications & Services resigned on 24 Aug 2012 to "pursue personal interest", and last day on 31 Oct 2012. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1980 after graduation.

DESMOND KUEK BAK CHYE

President and CEO of SMRT

TAN EK KIA

Former Interim CEO and Executive Director

Tan Ek Kia is Interim CEO and Executive Director of SMRT Corporation Ltd. He is also Chairman of City Gas Pte Ltd and a director on the Boards of Keppel Offshore and Marine Ltd, Dialog Systems (Asia) Pte Ltd and InterGlobal Offshore Pte Ltd.

Mr Tan is a seasoned professional in the oil and gas and petrochemicals business, with more than 30 years of experience in design, engineering and construction, project management, health, safety and environment, production, logistics, procurement and drilling operations management, business management and development, joint venture management and governance, and organisation change/transformation. Prior to his retirement in September 2006, senior positions he held in Shell included Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Exploration and Production (based in Sarawak), Chairman of Shell North East Asia (based in Beijing) and Executive Vice President of Shell Chemicals Asia Pacific and Middle East (based in Singapore).

Mr Tan has a First Class Honours in Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering) from Nottingham University, UK. He has attended a management development programme in the International Institute of Management Development, Lausanne. He is a Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Malaysia. He was awarded the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang which carries the title “Datuk” by the State Government of Sarawak.

GOH CHEE KONG

Senior Vice President, Communications & Services

Goh Chee Kong leads the company’s corporate branding, marketing and communications initiatives, as well as information technology, safety and security functions. In addition, he oversees SMRT’s commitment to good corporate citizenship, focusing on programmes that positively impact SMRT stakeholders and the communities SMRT serves.

Prior to joining SMRT, he served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). His appointments in the SAF included Head, Defence Relations Department, Commander, 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade, Commander, Officer Cadet School, and Director, Public Affairs and spokesman for MINDEF. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 1998.

Mr Goh is an Accredited Member of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore.He serves as the Vice President of Beyond Social Services, Chairman of Students Care Service, and is a board member of St Andrew’s School. He is also a member of the Programme Advisory Committee for English Television and Radio Programmes (PACE).

Mr Goh holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Royal Military College of Science, United Kingdom, and a Master of Defence Studies from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

New MRT fare gate... featuring advertisement!

2012-09-30T22:33:00.003+08:00

Spotted the new MRT fare gate? You can find some of them at Orchard MRT. This is the second time SMRT is replacing the fare gates. A few years back, SMRT replaced the old boxy fare gates with a new generation fare gate (named Titan), featuring more curves and rounded corners but maintaining the same utilitarian function of deducting fares.

A few years later, SMRT is now having a trial on a newer Titan fare gate featuring LCD advertisement! SMRT Media is aggressively increasing the appeal of its products by launching new advertising medium, especially interactive media such as the LCD panel and NFC media wall. However, would the LCD panel increase the advertising yield? Perhaps -- by saving the labour and printing cost of the fare gate stickers, and increasing the attractiveness of the medium by having interactive graphics. However, as shown by the picture as above, the fonts are small to be read comfortably by passengers zipping past the fare gates.

Have you spotted any more locations where the new Titan fare gates are deployed? And what are your views?

Videos on Thomson Line

2012-09-14T07:16:00.001+08:00

Thomson Line -- the latest addition to the MRT network, coming your way in 2019, 2020 & 2021! *Note: Working names for Thomson Line stations are used in this series of videos.

Meet Alan and Theresa, a lovely couple who are preparing for their wedding. Alan is facing some last-minute challenges as Theresa's overprotective father is (still) trying all ways and means to stop their wedding! Will Alan manage to overcome the challenges thrown at him with the help of Thomson Line? Watch our 4-part videos to find out more! Thomson Line, the latest addition to the Singapore's MRT network, will be coming your way in 2019, 2020 & 2021. More details can be found here: http://on.fb.me/QwbBUz

Alan has a whole list of errands to run before the wedding and his future father-in-law is not making it easier by adding more errands to the list! Did he manage to do everything in the nick of time?

Outdoor wedding photoshoot? The future Thomson Line is going to bring you to beautiful locations like Botanic Gardens, Gardens by the Bay and Clarke Quay! Join our lovely couple on a scenic ride to see how their photoshoot went.

What do you do if something happened to your bridal car on your wedding day and you can't get a taxi? This was what happened to Alan on his big day! Find out if Alan managed to reach his bride's house within the auspicious time!

i. On Thomson-East Coast MRT Line	LTA Hotline: 1800 2255 582
ii. On land acquisition matters	SLA Hotline: 1800 323 9829

Origin – Destination stations	Will Free Travel Be Applicable?
Bugis to Chinatown	Commuter enjoys free travel as he entered and exited from two DTL1 stations. Commuter can tap in and tap out at any fare gate in these stations, including the fare gates at the existing Bugis (East-West Line) and Chinatown (North East Line) stations.
Punggol to Bayfront by transferring through Chinatown interchange station	An adult commuter has to pay the full journey fare ($1.84) which includes the DTL1 leg as he entered from a non-DTL1 station.
Punggol to Chinatown and exiting to experience the DTL1 station before re-entering to travel to Bayfront	An adult commuter only need to pay the $1.76 fare from Punggol to Chinatown and the DTL1 leg is free as he entered and exited between two DTL1 stations.