North-South Line

The oldest stretch of the North-South Line, from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh, commenced passenger service on 7 November 1987, marked the opening of the first MRT system in Singapore.

It was further extended southwards to Outram Park on 12 December 1987, completing the first phase of the initial system, where trains would run directly between Yio Chu Kang and Outram Park via Raffles Place.

As part of phase 1A of the initial system, passenger services on the line was extended then westwards to Clementi on 13 March 1988.

In phase 2B of the initial system, the line was extended westwards to Lakeside on 5 November 1988, and northwards to Yishun on 20 December 1988.

Phase 2A was completed on 4 November 1989, connecting Marina Bay to Raffles Place, and Tanah Merah to City Hall, marking the separation of the North-South Line and the East-West Line (EWL).

As part of phase 2B, a branch line extends off Jurong East station commenced service on 10 March 1990, serving between Jurong East and Choa Chu Kang.

Learn more about the History of the MRT System

In 1990, the government put up a proposal to build a 6-station 16km Woodlands MRT line for $1.3 billion, connecting Choa Chu Kang to Yishun stations on the North-South Line. It went ahead with its plan to construct the Woodlands Extension in February 1991.

The extension was then completed on 10 February 1996, allowing branch line trains to travel from Jurong East to Marina Bay via Woodlands, effectively converting the branch line operations as part of the North-South Line.

North-South Line Extension

The 1-station 1km North-South Line extension to Marina South Pier connects the line to the adjacent Marina South Pier and Marina Bay Cruise Centre.

The extension to Marina South Pier station opened on 23 November 2014 and is the second underground station on the North-South Line to be fitted with the newer generation full-height platform screen doors (PSDs).

Canberra Station

Canberra station, situated between Sembawang and Yishun, is the second station in Singapore's train network to be built along an existing line. Similar to Dover station on the East-West Line, the station utilises side platforms.

A new 72m track crossing with noise barriers was constructed north of Canberra station over a long weekend between 18 and 20 May 2019. The additional track crossing connects the northbound and southbound tracks to facilitate train turnarounds.

The contract for the construction of Canberra station was awarded in mid-2015, with works started on 26 March 2016. Canberra station opened on 2 November 2019.

Brickland Station

First announced in the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 on 25 May 2019, the upcoming Brickland station will be situated between Bukit Gombak and Choa Chu Kang station.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 28 July 2023 announced that the design and construction works on the Brickland station are expected to commence in 2024, and are targeted for completion in 2034.

A new viaduct and crossover tracks will also be constructed to maintain connections for the existing North-South Line tracks while modification works are being carried out, which will minimise disruptions to existing train operations.

Sungei Kadut Station

Announced in the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 on 25 May 2019, the upcoming Sungei Kadut station, situated between Yew Tee and Kranji stations, will be an interchange station between the North-South Line and the Downtown Line (DTL).

The station, currently still under planning by the authorities, will be similar to both Dover and Canberra stations by utilising side platforms instead of the island format.

The Sungei Kadut station is expected to be completed by the mid 2030s.

The Jurong East Modification Project (JEMP) is a key infrastructural upgrading project that involves adding a new platform and tracks for the North-South Line at Jurong East station.

The modification project consists of the design, construction and completion of an elevated platform station extension that is adjacent to the existing Jurong East station, as well as a 1.65km (total length 2.5km) viaduct, including a special superstructure spanning the North-South Line, the ancillary structures and external works.

The three-storey platform extension, approximately 150m long and 20m wide, involved addition and alteration works carried out to link the entire first floor of the existing MRT station and provide a new open plaza on the eastern side.

With the completion of the new platform on 27 May 2011, trains on the North-South Line will be able to arrive and depart the station at shorter intervals.

All 36 elevated stations on the North-South Line and East-West Line are retrofitted with half-height platform screen doors (HHPSDs) in four stages between August 2009 and June 2012, enhancing commuters' safety and reduce the incidence of track intrusions.

The half-height platform screen doors are 1.5 metres high and are installed along the edge of the station platform to create a barrier that separates the trackside and the platform.

The sleeper replacement programme involves the replacement of the railway sleeper as timber sleepers are only designed to last for 15 to 25 years and must be replaced when signs of wear and tear are shown. About 188,000 sleepers along the 131km of tracks on the North-South and East-West Lines will be replaced with concrete sleepers in this programme, which have a lifespan of about 50 years.

The programme started in November 2012 and was completed in April 2015 for the North-South Line, with about 96,000 sleepers replaced. The new sleepers allow trains to move along the tracks smoothly, allowing a safe, smoother and faster ride.

The signalling system of the North-South Line and East-West Line was upgraded to the moving-block Thales SelTrac Communications-Based Train Control signalling system, allowing trains to run at a 100-second interval during peak periods, down from 120 seconds with the legacy system.

With the addition of new trains and the upgrading of the signalling system, commuters can expect shorter waiting times during the peak hours and there would potentially be up to a 20 percent improvement to the existing capacity.

The first passenger service trial of the upgraded signalling system was conducted on 28 March 2017, during the last hour of passenger service.

The trial continued gradually with full-day tests on Sundays from 16 April 2017, followed by the full system switchover on the North-South Line from 28 May 2017.

Type

High capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

Stations / Length

27 stations / 45.0km (currently operational)
Jurong East to Marina South Pier - 45.0km

Depots

Bishan Depot
Ulu Pandan Depot

Train Length

6 cars

Track Gauge

Standard gauge (1435mm)

Electrification

750V DC from third rail

Operation Type

Fully-automated operation

Signalling System

Moving-block Thales SelTrac Convergence CBTC
Fixed-block Westinghouse FS2000 ATC (Fallback)