In Parliament

Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Transport

a.     whether he can provide an update on the progress of the upgrading works on the Bukit Panjang LRT system; and

b.     when will the system revert to full dual loop service.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     The Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) system renewal contract was awarded to Bombardier Singapore in 2018. It covers the upgrading of multiple systems on a live line – this includes renewing the entire signalling and power rail system, adding 19 new trains, upgrading another 13 trains from the existing fleet, and equipping the system with condition monitoring capabilities.

2.     While progress has been made and part of the backend signalling system has already been upgraded, the project has also faced several challenges since 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. These include manpower shortage, slower progress due to lockdown of cities (as train manufacturing works are undertaken in China), and supply chain disruptions. We now expect the project to be completed in 2026.

3.     In the meantime, BPLRT continues to offer full dual loop services during peak hours. However, to reduce the strain on our ageing BPLRT systems before the renewals are completed, BPLRT will continue to operate in a single loop during off-peak hours when ridership is lower. To mitigate the impact on residents, there are more than 10 bus services operating within Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang, with five of them running parallel to stretches of BPLRT.