Downtown MRT line

File:Mrt lrt rail map 3.png

The Downtown Line is tentatively coloured brown. The line is indicated here as the blue line.

The Downtown Line (DTL) will be the fifth Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore and is currently under planning and evaluation. The line will be about 40 km long with 33 stations. It will be a fully automatic and driverless system similar to the North East Line and the Circle Line, and will be mostly underground. The line will serve the Bukit Timah region and the Eastern region and bring commuters to the New Downtown area. The line is tentatively coloured brown in the rail map.

The Land Transport Authority of Singapore is currently studying final sites for the stations, and announced a list of interchange stations on 27 April 2007. Specific locations of all stations for Stage 1 of the Downtown Line, namely Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Landmark, Cross Street and Chinatown have been announced. These stations will be run separately from the Circle Line. Stage 1 of the Downtown Line is targeted for completion in 2013, while Stage 2 is targeted for 2015 and Stage 3 is targeted for 2018.

For some time, Stage 1 of the Downtown Line was referred to as the "Downtown Extension" of the Circle Line.

Stage 1 (former Downtown Extension)

File:Future MRT Downtown Map.jpg

An impression of the future Downtown Map.

On 14 June 2005, the Land Transport Authority announced that it would construct the then-known Downtown Extension of the Circle Line, to serve the Downtown at Marina Bay (DTMB) area, where an integrated resort and Singapore's second botanical garden will be located. The 3.4-kilometre fully underground line was estimated to cost S$1.4 billion. Construction of the extension was slated to begin in 2007, with completion by 2012.

Three new stations would be constructed underground, linking the Promenade station on the Circle Line and the Chinatown station on the North East Line. Two stations, tentatively named Bayfront and Landmark, will be built to serve the DTMB area. Another station, tentatively named Cross Street, will be built along Cross Street near the Chinatown area.

On 27 April 2007, it has been announced that stage 1 of the line will now connect Promenade station with Bugis. As such, the former Downtown Extension of the Circle Line became known as the Downtown Line Stage 1, a 4.3km 6 station segment running fully underground from Chinatown Station on the North East Line to Bugis Station on the East West Line, due to be operational in 2013, a year later than originally planned.

A maintenance facility will be build adjacent to the Circle Line Marina Bay station to stable the Downtown Line rolling stock.

Stage 2 (Bukit Timah Section)

In its preliminary plans, stage 2 of the Downtown Line was called the Bukit Timah Line, supposedly to a 20-kilometre line that would connect the new downtown with the Bukit Panjang, Upper Bukit Timah and Bukit Timah corridor. It was to intersect the Circle Line and some other lines along the way. When constructed, it was expected to alleviate the heavy traffic along Bukit Timah, Dunearn Road and Upper Bukit Timah. Provisions have been made at Promenade Station which would have been the line's southern interchange with the Circle Line. Preliminary work has recently begun — LTA was looking at possible station locations, soil profile and engineering challenges.

Stage 2 of the Downtown Line will be 16.6km long, consists of 12 stations and will be completed by 2015.

Stage 3 (Eastern Region Section)

In its preliminary plans, stage 3 of the Downtown Line was called the Eastern Region Line, a 40-kilometre rectangular loop that would complement the existing East-West Line and enhance inter- and intra-town travelling in the eastern region. It would have looped around the Jalan Besar and East Coast areas, intersecting the Circle Line and other lines along the way, benefitting residents in Tampines, Bedok, Marine Parade, MacPherson and Kaki Bukit. Provisions have been made at Chinatown Station, which would have been the line's western interchange with the North-East Line and the Downtown Extension. The northern segment of the loop was to be constructed first, passing through Jalan Besar area and eastwards to parts of Bedok and Tampines. Like the Bukit Timah Line, preliminary work had begun recently by the LTA.

Stage 3 of the Downtown Line will be 19.1km long, consists of 15 stations and will be completed by 2018. The idea of the line passing through areas in East Coast has been put on hold.

List of Stations

Station locations for Stage 1 and interchange stations with existing lines for Stage 2 and Stage 3 have been officially announced.

Station Number	Station Name	Interchange
Stage 1
DT1 / NE4	Chinatown	Interchange with North East Line
DT2	Cross Street	Provisional name
DT3	Landmark	Provisional name
DT4	Bayfront	Interchange with Circle Line Marina Bay Extension, Provisional name
DT5 / CC4	Promenade	Interchange with Circle Line
DT6 / EW12	Bugis	Interchange with East West Line
Stage 2
	Little India	Interchange with North East Line
	Newton	Interchange with North South Line
	Botanic Gardens	Interchange with Circle Line
	Bukit Panjang	Interchange with Bukit Panjang LRT
Stage 3
	MacPherson	Interchange with Circle Line
DT31 / EW2	Tampines	Interchange with East West Line
DT33 / CG1	Expo	Interchange with Changi Airport Extension