Downtown MRT line

Not to be confused with one of the stations on this line, Downtown MRT station.

Downtown Line
A C951 train at Downtown station
Overview
Native name	Malay: Laluan MRT Pusat Bandar Chinese: 滨海市区地铁线 Tamil: டவுன்டவுன் எம்ஆர்டி வழி
Status	Operational (Stages 1, 2 & 3) Under construction (Hume, Stage 3 extension) Under planning (Stage 2 extension)
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Locale	Singapore
Termini	Sungei Kadut (2035) Bukit Panjang Expo Sungei Bedok (2026)
Stations	34 (Operational) 3 (Under construction) 2 (Under planning)
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Services	2
Operator(s)	SBS Transit DTL Pte Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation)
Depot(s)	Gali Batu Tai Seng East Coast (Future)
Rolling stock	Bombardier Movia C951(A)
Daily ridership	251,556 (July 2020)
History
Planned opening	2025 (2025) (Hume) 2026 (2026) (Stage 3 extension) 2035 (2035) (Stage 2 extension)
Opened	22 December 2013 (2013-12-22) (Stage 1) 27 December 2015 (2015-12-27) (Stage 2) 21 October 2017 (2017-10-21) (Stage 3)
Technical
Line length	41.9 km (26.0 mi) (Operational) 2.2 km (1.4 mi) (Under construction) 4 km (2.5 mi) (Under planning)
Character	Fully underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	limit of 80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map North–South Line to Marina South Pier ■ ■ Thomson–East Coast Line to Woodlands North  NS6  DE2  Sungei Kadut Sungei Bedok  TE31  DT37  North–South Line to Jurong East ■ Sungei Bedok  DE1  DE1 East Coast Integrated Depot Gali Batu Depot Xilin  DT36  Expo  DT35   DT1  Bukit Panjang ■ ← to Changi Airport to Tanah Merah →  CG1   BP6  ← to Choa Chu Kang to Fajar via Petir/Senja → ■ Upper Changi  DT34   DT2  Cashew Pan Island Expressway  DT3  Hillview Tampines East  DT33   DT4  Hume ■ ← to Pasir Ris to Tuas Link →  EW2   DT5  Beauty World Tampines  DT32  Pan-Island Expressway Tampines West  DT31   CR15  ← to Jurong Lake District to Aviation Park → ■ Bedok Reservoir  DT30   DT6  King Albert Park Bedok North  DT29   DT7  Sixth Avenue Kaki Bukit  DT28   DT8  Tan Kah Kee Tai Seng Facility Building  CC19  Circle Line to HarbourFront ■ Ubi  DT27   DT9  Botanic Gardens  CC10   TE11  ← to Bayshore to Woodlands North → ■ MacPherson  DT26   DT10  Stevens Kallang–P.L. Expressway  DT11  Newton Mattar  DT25   NS21  ← to Marina South Pier to Jurong East → ■ Pan Island Expressway Central Expressway Geylang Bahru  DT24  North East Line to Punggol Coast ■ Kallang River  DT12  NE7  Little India Bendemeer  DT23   DT13  Rochor Jalan Besar  DT22   DT21  Bencoolen ■ East–West Line to Pasir Ris  DT20  Fort Canning Bugis  EW12  DT14  Singapore River ■ East–West Line to Tuas Link Promenade  DT15  CC4   NE4  North East Line to HarbourFront ■ ■ Circle Line to Dhoby Ghaut  DT19  Chinatown Marina Reservoir  DT18  Telok Ayer Bayfront  DT16  CE1   DT17  Downtown ■ Circle Line to Marina Bay

The Downtown Line (DTL) is a medium-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore. It runs from Bukit Panjang station in the north-west of the country towards Expo station in the east via a loop around the city-centre. Coloured blue on the rail map, the line serves 34 stations, all of which are underground. The DTL is the fifth MRT line on the network to be opened and the third line to be entirely underground. It is the second MRT line to be operated by ComfortDelGro's SBS Transit after the North East Line. It also serves as an alternative to the East–West Line where it runs roughly geographically parallel from Bugis to Expo station.

Originally planned as three separate lines, the lines merged into the Downtown Line in 2007 and construction began in three stages. Stage 1, from Bugis to Chinatown stations opened in December 2013, followed by Stage 2 from Bukit Panjang to Rochor stations opening in December 2015. The third and final stage, from Fort Canning to Expo stations, opened in October 2017. At 41.9 kilometres (26.0 mi), the DTL is the longest underground and automated rapid transit line in Singapore as of 2017. It utilises the Bombardier Movia C951 electric multiple unit (EMU) and runs in a three-car formation.

The line is set to have new stations and extensions in the 2020s and 2030s. An infill station initially constructed as part of Stage 2, Hume, is planned to begin operations in 2025. Stage 3e, a two-station extension consisting of Xilin and Sungei Bedok, is under construction and is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. By 2026, it will be about 45 kilometres (28 mi) long with 37 stations, and will serve more than half a million commuters daily. A two-station extension to connect with the North South Line at Sungei Kadut is also being planned and set to open in 2035.

History

Background and inception

At the official opening of the Dover station on 23 October 2001, then-Minister for Communications and Information Technology Yeo Cheow Tong announced three MRT lines, two of which―the Bukit Timah Line and the northern part of the Eastern Region Line―are part of today's DTL. The Bukit Timah Line aimed to alleviate the traffic problems along the Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road corridor, and provide a direct link to the city area for residents in Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang. The proposed Eastern Region Line, slated to be a loop in the eastern regions, aimed to relieve the passenger load on the often-congested East–West Line and benefiting those living in Tampines, Bedok and Marine Parade.

On 14 June 2005, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the Downtown Extension (renamed to "Downtown Line Stage 1"), which would serve the New Downtown at Marina Bay area, where an integrated resort (Marina Bay Sands) and Singapore's second botanical garden (Gardens by the Bay) were to be located. The 3.4-kilometre (2.1-mile) extension, estimated to cost S$1.4 billion, was initially announced to be part of the Circle line. On 27 April 2007, then Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced that the Downtown Line would be built in three stages stretching 40 kilometres (25 miles) with 33 stations.

Construction and opening

The construction of DTL tunnels near Clarke Quay. The diversion of the Singapore River for construction works for the tunnels between the Chinatown and Fort Canning stations was considered an engineering feat at the time.

A separate entrance for the DTL platforms for Tampines MRT station, which is not directly connected to the EWL platforms of the station.

The line was built in 3 stages: Stage 1 of the Downtown line, stretching 4.3-kilometre (2.7 mi), started construction in January 2008 at Chinatown station, where platform provisions were built to facilitate an interchange station during the construction of the North East line. It began service on 22 December 2013, with its official inauguration made on the day before by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Stage 2, first conceptualized and announced as the Bukit Timah line on 23 October 2001, is 16.6 kilometres (10.3 mi) long with 12 stations connecting Bukit Panjang and Rochor stations, including four interchange stations. Construction for Stage 2 began on 3 July 2009 with a groundbreaking ceremony at Beauty World station. The line inaugurated on 27 December 2015, with free travel for all 18 stations from 27 December 2015 to 1 January 2016.

Stage 3 goes from Chinatown to Expo. The station locations and finalised route were unveiled on 20 August 2010. Stage 3 of the Downtown line is 21 kilometres (13 mi) long and serve 16 stations. The route opened on 21 October 2017, with free travel for all DTL stations on the first two days of the line completion.

The line, with an estimated cost of S$12 billion, was considered the government's most ambitious rail project. The cost exceeded those of the Circle Line (at $6.7 billion) and the North East Line (at $4.6 billion). Final costs of building the line may reach an estimated about S$20.7 billion, up more than 70% from the initial estimation, due to sharp rises in construction costs and a number of changes in plans.

In October 2014, it was announced that Stage 2's opening would be pushed back to the first quarter of 2016. This was because one of the main contractors for the DTL2, Alpine Bau (which was building King Albert Park, Sixth Avenue and Tan Kah Kee), went bankrupt in mid-2013. On 28 June 2015, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced that the delay was "completely resolved" by the authorities and Stage 2's opening date was brought forward to 27 December 2015. The DTL 3 started operations on 21 October 2017, officially opened by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

To serve the line, the Gali Batu Depot was opened in December 2015 to stable 42 trains. It is situated at part of the former Kwong Hou Sua Teochew Cemetery off Woodlands Road. Also in February that year, the Land Transport Authority announced that the capacity of the depot will be expanded to stable 81 trains by 2019.

Future

On 17 January 2013, plans were announced for a southern extension extending from Expo to connect with the Eastern Region line (ERL); the ERL has since been subsumed into the Thomson-East Coast line. The extension was to provide more travel options and enhance connectivity for the residents along the East Coast. The Downtown Line 3 extension (DTL3e) was finalised and announced on 15 August 2014, in conjunction with the announcement of the Thomson–East Coast line. Two stations, Xilin MRT station and Sungei Bedok MRT station, will be added to the Downtown Line, with Sungei Bedok as an interchange station with the Thomson–East Coast line. It will lengthen the line by 2.2 km (1.4 mi). Expected to be completed in 2026, Stage 3e will connect the current East–West Line at Expo station and the future TEL at Sungei Bedok station.

On 7 March 2019, Hume station was announced to be opened by 2025 to better serve Hillview residents. An additional extension to the Downtown Line to Sungei Kadut station from Bukit Panjang station was announced on 25 May 2019 by the LTA. The extension is set to cut down travel time to the downtown area by up to 30 minutes for those living in the northwestern area of Singapore. The extension is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. A study will also be conducted to determine the stops to be added between the Sungei Kadut and the existing Bukit Panjang stations.

On 6 December 2024, it was announced that Hume station will be opening in Q2 2025 and Stage 3e will commence operation in the second half of 2026. On 6 January 2025, a 4 km (2.5 mi) extension to the future Sungei Kadut station was announced, including an additional unnamed station between Sungei Kadut station and Bukit Panjang station, slated to begin operation in 2035.

Notable incidents

A fire occurred on a maintenance locomotive which was carrying out works at Mattar station on 24 May 2024 at around 1:00 am. This resulted in the section between Fort Canning and Mattar stations to be closed as the locomotive could not be moved until heat from its body dissipated. The fire was put out by SCDF and one staff member was conveyed to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Train services at the affected MRT stations resumed at 7:26 am after more than an hour since the start of train service.

Network and operations

Route

Geographically accurate map of the Downtown MRT line.

The Downtown line generally goes in an east–west direction from Bukit Panjang in the northwestern side of Singapore, through the downtown area of Singapore, to Tampines and the Singapore Expo in the east. It is 41.9 kilometres (26.0 mi) long and is entirely underground. Before Bukit Panjang station, there exists a brief northwards extension to the line's depot Gali Batu Depot. The line begins at the Bukit Panjang station and then goes in the southeast direction, running parallel to Upper Bukit Timah Road and along the Bukit Timah Canal through Bukit Timah. The line then enters the central area, passing through Little India station before reaching the Central Business District via Bugis station. The Downtown line runs parallel to the Circle line at the Promenade and Bayfront stations. Passing through the Downtown Core, the line interchanges with the North East line at Chinatown station.

After Chinatown station, the line goes in a northeast direction and under the Singapore River. Between the Bencoolen and Jalan Besar stations, the line intersects itself, the first MRT line to do so. After Geylang Bahru station, the line continues in a general eastwards direction, through the industrial areas of Kampong Ubi and Kaki Bukit (briefly paralleling Ubi Avenue 2 and Kaki Bukit Avenue 1), before continuing towards the Tampines Regional Centre and goes southwards, ending at Changi Business Park. The DTL3 extension (DTL3e) from Expo station will extend the line further towards the Thomson–East Coast line at Sungei Bedok station.

Stations

Station codes for the line are blue, corresponding to the line's colour on the system map. Most stations have island platforms, with the exception of Downtown, Telok Ayer, Chinatown and MacPherson stations having side platforms whilst Stevens and Promenade stations having stacked side platforms.

The initial LED Dynamic Route Map Display (DRMD) system on DTL trains that was in use from 2013 to 2024 (top), and the current LCD DRMD which has since replaced the former (bottom).

Downtown Line stations timeline

Date	Project	Description
22 December 2013	Stage 1	Bugis – Chinatown
27 December 2015	Stage 2	Bugis – Bukit Panjang
21 October 2017	Stage 3	Chinatown – Expo
2025	Hume Station	Hume station between Hillview and Beauty World
2026	Stage 3 Extension	Expo – Sungei Bedok
2035	Stage 2 Extension	DE1 – Sungei Kadut

Legend

Elevated	Line terminus	Transfer outside paid area
Ground-level	Wheelchair accessible	Bus interchange
Underground	Civil Defence Shelter	Other transportation modes

List

Station code	Station name	Images	Interchange; Adjacent transportation	Opening	Cost
DT1 – BP6	Bukit Panjang		Bukit Panjang LRT   ―  Bukit Panjang	27 December 2015; 9 years ago	S$452.4 million
DT2	Cashew		—		S$431 million
DT3	Hillview
DT4  Infill station	Hume			2025; 0 years ago	S$259.538 million
DT5	Beauty World		Beauty World	27 December 2015; 9 years ago	S$339.88 million
DT6  CR15	King Albert Park		Cross Island Line  (2032)		S$574.7 million
DT7	Sixth Avenue		—
DT8	Tan Kah Kee				S$572 million
DT9  CC19	Botanic Gardens		Circle Line		S$378.2 million
DT10  TE11	Stevens		Thomson–East Coast Line
DT11 – NS21	Newton		North–South Line		S$356 million
DT12  NE7	Little India		North East Line		S$803.3 million
DT13	Rochor		—
DT14  EW12	Bugis		East–West Line	22 December 2013; 11 years ago	S$582 million
DT15  CC4	Promenade		Circle Line   ―  Marina Centre		S$231 million
DT16  CE1	Bayfront		Circle Line Extension		S$463 million
DT17	Downtown		—		S$230.3 million
DT18	Telok Ayer				S$224.9 million
DT19  NE4	Chinatown		North East Line		S$160.3 million
DT20	Fort Canning		—	21 October 2017; 7 years ago	S$255.05 million
DT21	Bencoolen				S$177.58 million
DT22	Jalan Besar				S$171.46 million
DT23	Bendemeer				S$215.24 million
DT24	Geylang Bahru				S$123 million
DT25	Mattar				S$199.85 million
DT26  CC10	MacPherson		Circle Line		S$188 million
DT27	Ubi		—		S$161.71 million
DT28	Kaki Bukit				S$93.8 million
DT29	Bedok North				S$480.38 million
DT30	Bedok Reservoir				S$196.46 million
DT31	Tampines West				S$226.92 million
DT32 – EW2	Tampines		East–West Line   ―  Tampines  Tampines Concourse		S$118.5 million
DT33	Tampines East		—		S$208.52 million
DT34	Upper Changi				S$256.98 million
DT35  CG1	Expo		EWL Changi Airport Branch Line  (until 2040)   Thomson–East Coast Line  (after 2040)		S$211.35 million
Stage 3 Extension (under construction, to be ready by 2026)
DT36	Xilin		—	2026; 1 year's time	S$833.6 million
DT37  TE31	Sungei Bedok		Thomson–East Coast Line  (2026)		S$418 million
Stage 2 Extension (under planning, to be ready by 2035)
DE1	DE1	Does not appear	—	2035; 10 years' time	TBA
DE2  NS6	Sungei Kadut	Does not appear	North–South Line  (2035)

Depots

Number	Depot name; Lines	Location	Images	Line-specific stabling capacity	Cost	Opening
1	Gali Batu	Sungei Kadut		81 trains	S$410 million	27 December 2015; 9 years ago
2	Tai Seng	Hougang	Does not appear	18 trains	S$81.5 million	21 October 2017; 7 years ago
3	East Coast    EWL    TEL	Changi	Does not appear	66 trains	S$1.99 billion	2026; 1 year's time

Rolling stock

Gali Batu Depot which houses the Bombardier MOVIA C951(A) trains.

As of 2011, the Downtown line has one type of rolling stock, the Bombardier MOVIA C951(A) cars, running in a three-car formation. They have been stabled at Gali Batu Depot since it opened with Stage 2 of the downtown line on 27 December 2015. For the period between the opening of Stage 1 and that of Stage 2, trains were stabled at a maintenance facility that was built at Marina Bay as part of the Circle line project. Kim Chuan Depot housed the Operations Control Centre for the Downtown Line Stage 1 until Gali Batu Depot was ready.

On 12 October 2012, the first of 11 trains for the line arrived at Jurong Port. It was transported to Kim Chuan Depot to undergo testing by the LTA before it was handed over to SBS Transit. As of 28 February 2013, Bombardier had delivered five of the 11 trains for Downtown line stage 1. LTA together with the operator, SBS Transit, conducted the necessary tests to ensure safety standards, functional performance and systems compatibility requirements were met before revenue service began on 22 December 2013.

Testing for Stage 2 began on 25 October 2015 and rolling stock that was delivered to Gali Batu Depot commenced service in Stage 1 on 21 October 2015, while SBS Transit slowly moved the equipment managing the DTL trains to Gali Batu Depot during non-revenue hours. Kim Chuan Depot, together with the adjacent Tai Seng Facility Building, operated in a minor capacity until Stage 3 opened. A new depot, named the East Coast Integrated Depot, is planned to provide additional stabling capacity to the line in 2026. Testing on the integration of systems of Stage 3 and the rest of the line started from 14 May 2017 till 27 August 2017.

Train control

The Downtown line is equipped with Siemens (previously Invensys before Siemens acquisition) Trainguard Sirius Communications-based train control (CBTC) moving block signalling system with Automatic train control (ATC) under Automatic train operation (ATO) GoA 4 (UTO). The subsystems consist of Automatic train protection (ATP) to govern train speed, Controlguide Rail 9000 Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) to track and schedule trains and Trackguard Westrace MK2 Computer-based interlocking (CBI) system that prevents incorrect signal and track points to be set.

A fall-back signalling system, relying on conventional track-circuit occupancy detection, is included to ensure fully automatic operation and train protection independent of the radio system.

Platform screen doors (PSDs) along the line were installed by Westinghouse Signal (Invensys Rail Group), supplied by Faiveley. The PSDs provide safety for passengers, offering protection from arriving and departing trains.

External links

• Downtown Line
• The Downtown Line - A commemorative book by LTA detailing the construction of the DTL