Jurong Region Line on arvau

Wikipedia / Jurong Region Line

The Jurong Region Line (JRL) is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line under construction in Singapore, intended to serve the western region of the country, particularly the new town of Tengah and its surrounding districts. First proposed as a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in 2001, the project was subsequently deferred before re-emerging in its current form as a fully fledged MRT line, which was officially confirmed in 2013. Construction is underway, with the line scheduled to open in stages between 2028 and 2029. Upon completion, it will become Singapore's first fully elevated MRT line and the fifth to operate entirely with automated, driverless trains.

The JRL will comprise at least 27 stations, extending north to Choa Chu Kang, south to Jurong Pier, west to Peng Kang Hill and east to Pandan Reservoir. A future extension linking Pandan Reservoir station of the JRL to West Coast station of the Cross Island Line and Kent Ridge of the Circle Line is planned for completion in the late 2030s to early 2040s, further enhancing connectivity between Singapore's western districts. The line will appear in teal on the MRT system map and will be the seventh MRT line in the national rail network.

Operations will be undertaken by Singapore One Rail (SOR), a joint venture between SBS Transit and RATP Dev Asia Pacific. Services will be operated using Hyundai Rotem's J151 trains, configured in three-car formations with provision for future expansion to four cars. Train movements will be controlled by a moving-block signalling system supplied by Siemens, enabling fully automated and driverless operation across the network.

History

Origins and development

Plans for a rail transit link serving the Jurong area can be traced back to the 1990s. A 1996 white paper proposed a light rail line connecting Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with Boon Lay station on the East–West Line (EWL). In November 1998, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that feasibility studies were being conducted for a light rail transit (LRT) system in Jurong, although then-Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan stated that the project's viability would depend on future demand and ridership levels.

The Jurong Region Line (JRL) was formally announced on 23 October 2001 by then-Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong. Conceived as a light rail system, the line was intended to serve residential areas in Jurong beyond the reach of the EWL while also providing a direct connection to NTU. However, passenger demand projections remained insufficient to justify construction, and in May 2008 the project was placed on hold owing to a lack of financial viability.

Renewed plans for the line emerged as part of the 2013 Land Transport Master Plan, announced by then-Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew in January that year. Reflecting changing development priorities in western Singapore, the proposed line was expanded beyond its earlier concept and was intended to serve Choa Chu Kang, Tengah, Bukit Batok, Jurong East, West Coast, Jurong West, NTU and Jurong Industrial Estate.

Construction of initial phases

The final alignment of the JRL was announced on 9 May 2018. The line was planned as a 30-kilometre (19 mi) medium-capacity MRT system comprising 24 stations and constructed in three phases. The first phase consisted of the western section from Choa Chu Kang to Bahar Junction, together with branches to and . The second phase comprised the eastern section extending from Tengah to Pandan Reservoir, while the final phase would continue westwards to NTU and . The three phases were initially scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2028.

The alignment attracted discussion owing to its multiple branches and indirect routing. While many NTU students welcomed the prospect of a rail connection to the university, some observed that journeys between NTU and Boon Lay would require a transfer at , making existing direct bus services more convenient. Transport analysts noted that the alignment represented a compromise between operational efficiency and the constraints of navigating established residential and industrial developments. Although designated as an MRT line, the JRL was designed to use smaller trainsets capable of negotiating the tighter curves required by its route.

Preparatory works for the project involved a number of land acquisitions and infrastructure relocations. A multi-storey car park in Choa Chu Kang was acquired, while portions of 19 land plots were partially acquired, primarily affecting ancillary features such as fences and landscaped verges. To accommodate construction works, the Choa Chu Kang and Jurong East bus interchanges were relocated on 16 December 2018 and 6 December 2020 respectively. Pioneer Primary School was merged with Juying Primary School in 2022, enabling a revised alignment that would pass through the former school's premises.

Contracts for the first group of stations were awarded in September 2019. This was followed by the award of the contract for Tengah Depot in November 2019 and the rolling stock contract in February 2020. The final station contract was awarded in May 2022. Construction of the line was formally marked by a groundbreaking ceremony on 13 January 2023.

In May 2023, LTA invited tenders for the operation of the line. The operating contract was awarded in November 2024 to Singapore One Rail (SOR), a joint venture between SBS Transit and RATP Dev Asia Pacific, for S$750 million. The venture will operate the line under an initial nine-year licence, with the possibility of a two-year extension. The arrangement marked the first time a Singapore MRT line had been entrusted to a joint-venture operator, with SBS Transit holding a 75.01 per cent stake and RATP Dev the remaining 24.99 per cent.

Opening

In March 2026, the Ministry of Transport announced that the opening of the first phase had been postponed to mid-2028. The delay was attributed to earlier disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges associated with constructing an entirely elevated railway through densely developed urban areas. Works adjacent to Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, crossings over major roads including the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), and additional ground preparation required for a viaduct crossing over a canal further extended the construction timeline.

West Coast extension

Plans to extend the JRL beyond Pandan Reservoir station emerged shortly after the line was revived. On 25 August 2015, then-Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced that LTA was studying a possible extension through Pasir Panjang to connect with the Circle Line at Haw Par Villa station. The proposal was intended to strengthen transport links between western Singapore and the Central Business District, with completion envisaged by around 2030 if found to be feasible.

Interest in the extension intensified following the disruption of the East–West Line in 2024. Then-Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai called for the extension to proceed, arguing that a connection to both the Circle Line and the future Cross Island Line would improve transport resilience in western Singapore. Responding to the proposal, then-Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor stated that LTA was continuing to evaluate the project alongside future developments in the area.

On 5 March 2025, then-Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat confirmed that the extension would proceed in two stages. Following further studies of anticipated transport demand and long-term land-use plans, LTA concluded that a connection to Kent Ridge station would provide greater benefits than the previously proposed link to Haw Par Villa. The first stage, targeted for completion in the late 2030s, will extend the line to West Coast station on the Cross Island Line. A second stage, planned for the early 2040s, will continue the line to Kent Ridge station. The final alignment has yet to be determined, although it may include intermediate stations and a route through the National University of Singapore (NUS). Engineering studies for the extension are scheduled to begin in 2026.

JS2A infill station

On 4 March 2026, LTA announced plans for an infill station, provisionally designated JS2A, between Choa Chu Kang West and Tengah stations. The station is intended to serve Tengah's future Forest Hill district and is expected to open in the mid-2030s in conjunction with the area's development.

Network and operations

Network

The JRL has approximately (19 miles) of track, with 27 stations. The line, which is shaped like an “H”, has four branches extending to Choa Chu Kang in the north, Jurong Pier in the south, Pandan Reservoir in the east and Peng Kang Hill in the west.

The northern branch terminates at Choa Chu Kang, where interchange is provided with the North–South Line and Bukit Panjang LRT, while the eastern branch serves Tengah and Jurong East before terminating at Pandan Reservoir. The southern and western branches diverge at Bahar Junction, serving Jurong Pier and Peng Kang Hill respectively, with the latter running through Nanyang Technological University before reaching its terminus.

Other interchanges with the MRT network are provided at Boon Lay, for the East–West Line, and at Jurong East, for the North–South and East–West lines. The eastern branch will be extended beyond Pandan Reservoir as part of the West Coast Extension, providing connections with the Circle Line at Kent Ridge and the Cross Island Line at West Coast.

Between Jurong East station and Toh Guan station, the JRL runs parallel to the North–South Line. Elsewhere, the line serves the residential estates of Choa Chu Kang, Jurong West, Tengah, Bukit Batok and Jurong East, as well as the Jurong Industrial Estate, crossing the Pan Island Expressway and Ayer Rajah Expressway at several locations.

Stations

The line has 27 stations between Choa Chu Kang and the branch termini at Jurong Pier, Pandan Reservoir and Peng Kang Hill. Three stations provide interchanges with other MRT and LRT lines, while the planned West Coast Extension will further strengthen connections between western Singapore and the Central Business District through additional links with the Circle and Cross Island lines.

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

The JRL will be operated by a fleet of 62 Hyundai Rotem J151 trains. Designed specifically for the line's alignment, the fully automated trains are configured in three-car formations, with provisions for expansion to four cars as passenger demand grows. Owing to the tight curves along the route, the trains are smaller than those used on Singapore's other MRT lines, with each car measuring in length and in width. To facilitate faster boarding and alighting, every car is fitted with three -wide doors on each side.

Powered by a 750 V DC third-rail system, the trains are capable of operating at speeds of up to . They also introduce two new technologies to Singapore's rail network: Condition Based Maintenance (CBM), which enables real-time monitoring of train conditions, and Automatic Track Inspection (ATI), which continuously detects track defects. In the event of a power failure, onboard emergency batteries allow trains to proceed to the nearest station. The first JRL trains arrived in Singapore in September 2025.

Depot

The line is supported by Tengah Depot, a at-grade facility that serves as the primary maintenance and stabling depot for the JRL fleet. Constructed by China Railway 11 Bureau Group Corporation at a cost of S$739.5 million (US$ million), the depot incorporates the line's Operations Control Centre and has capacity for up to 100 trains.

Located west of Tengah, the depot is integrated with a bus depot and a workers' dormitory, forming a multi-purpose transport and support complex. Plans were also considered for an additional stabling facility near Peng Kang Hill station, which would have enhanced train launching and withdrawal operations along the line.

Signalling technology

The JRL employs Siemens' Trainguard Sirius communications-based train control (CBTC) system, a moving-block signalling technology that enables fully automated operation at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4). The radio-based system continuously monitors train locations and speeds, allowing precise control of train movements across the network.

The signalling architecture incorporates several subsystems. Automatic Train Protection (ATP) regulates train speeds and maintains safe separation between services, while the Controlguide Rail 9000 Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) system manages train tracking and service scheduling. Train routing and interlocking functions are handled by the Trackguard Westrace MKII computer-based interlocking (CBI) system, which prevents conflicting signal and point settings. Similar CBTC technology is also used on Singapore's Downtown Line.

Passenger safety at stations is enhanced through the use of Siemens platform screen doors installed along the network.