Downtown Line

Downtown Extension

The Downtown Extension (DTE) project, which it subsequently finalised to become the first stage of the DTL, was announced on 14 June 2005.

It was planned as a 3.4-km long extension with five stations, linking Promenade and Chinatown stations.

Bukit Timah Line

The second stage of the DTL was unveiled on 23 Oct 2001, initially conceptualised as a 20-kilometre-long rapid transit line known as the Bukit Timah Line (BTL).

It would have served the Bukit Panjang, Upper Bukit Timah and Bukit Timah regions.

Eastern Region Line

The Eastern Region Line (ERL) was also unveiled on 23 Oct 2001 as a 40-km long rectangular line linking Tampines, Bedok, Marine Parade and Kaki Bukit.

The northern section of the ERL has now become part of the third stage of the DTL.

Downtown Line 1

The 4.3-km long Downtown Line 1 (DTL1), consisting of six stations from Bugis to Chinatown, began construction on 12 February 2008.

It subsequently opened for passenger service on 22 December 2013, allowing passengers to travel within the city area conveniently.

Isolated from the Gali Batu Depot (GBD), the Marina Bay Temporary Maintenance Facility (MBTMF) adjacent to Marina Bay station will provide non-complex rolling stock maintenance activities before DTL2 opens.

Downtown Line 2

The 15.3-km long Downtown Line 2 (DTL2), with 1.3km of track to GBD, began construction on 3 July 2009.

The DTL2 consisted of 12 stations and had started construction a year late due to insolvency issues, though its opening was pushed forward to 2015.

It opened for passenger service on 27 December 2015, connecting Bukit Panjang to Bugis, passing through Beauty World, Botanic Gardens, Newton and Little India stations, benefitting commuters travelling from the Bukit Timah region.

Downtown Line 3

The 21-km long Downtown Line 3 (DTL3), comprising 16 stations from Chinatown to Expo, began construction on 28 November 2011.

The DTL3 connects the eastern corridor, intersecting with the Circle Line (CCL) and the EWL at MacPherson, Tampines and Expo stations.

It opened for passenger service on 21 October 2017, becoming the world's longest fully underground and fully automated rapid transit line, with over 34 stations across 41.9 kilometres.

Downtown Line 3 Extension

The 2.2-km long Downtown Line 3 Extension (DTLe), comprising two stations that linking Expo to Xilin and Sungei Bedok, began construction on 21 July 2016.

It will connect to the future four-in-one East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID) and the TEL.

The extension is expected to be completed by 2025.

Hume Station

Situated between Hillview and Beauty World stations, the Hume station will be the first time in Singapore an underground station has been added to an already-operational train line.

This was made possible with a station box already constructed during the DTL2, simplifying the process, where only retrofitting works needed to be made.

Construction work for the Hume station began on 28 February 2021 and is expected to be opened for passenger service by 2025.

Downtown Line 2 Extension

In the Land Transport Master Plan 2040, announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 25 May 2019, the DTL will be extended north from Bukit Panjang.

It will connect with the North-South Line (NSL) at the future Sungei Kadut station between Yew Tee and Kranji stations.

The extension is expected to be completed by 2040.

Type

Medium capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

Stations / Length

34 stations / 41.9km (currently operational)
Bukit Panjang to Expo - 41.9km
Stage 3 Extension (future) - 2 stations / 2.2km

Depots

Kim Chuan Depot
Gali Batu Depot
East Coast Integrated Depot (future)

Train Length

3 cars

Track Gauge

Standard gauge (1435mm)

Electrification

750V DC from third rail

Operation Type

Fully-automated operation

Signalling System

Moving-block Invensys Sirius CBTC & Rail 9000 ATS

Related Links

The following are links to other web pages with additional information on this topic.

• Downtown Line Land Transport Authority
• Downtown Line 3 Extension Land Transport Authority
• Speech by Mr Yeo Cheow Tong at the Official Opening of Dover Station on 23 Oct 2001 Ministry of Transport via Internet Archive
• Expanding The Rail Network With Downtown Extension Land Transport Authority via Internet Archive
• Speech By Mr Raymond Lim At The LTA Workplan Seminar on 27 April 2007 Ministry of Transport via Internet Archive
• Downtown Line 3 Station Locations Unveiled Faster Access for Residents in the East to the City and Marina Bay Area Land Transport Authority via Internet Archive
• Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority & Singapore Land Authority - New MRT Links in the East Land Transport Authority
• LTA Awards Contract to Build World’s First Four-In-One Depot Land Transport Authority
• LTA Awards Civil Contract for Hume Station on Downtown Line Land Transport Authority