Singapore: SMRT to cut service hours at 19 stations in Dec to boost re-signalling works

Starting December 8, as many as 19 stations on the North-South and East-West Lines will see their operating hours as authorities speed up re-signalling works on the East-West Line (EWL).

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An SMRT train arrives at a station in Singapore 19 July 2016 (Edgar Su

Starting December 8, as many as 19 stations on the North-South and East-West Lines will see their operating hours as authorities speed up re-signalling works on the East-West Line (EWL).

The Land Transport Authority along with SMRT announced on Tuesday that from Dec 8 to 31, 17 stations along the East-West Line, from Tiong Bahru to Tuas Link, as well as the Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak stations on the North-South Line, will close earlier on Fridays and Saturdays at 11pm and open later on Saturdays and Sundays at 8am.

"Reduced train service hours will also be implemented along other stretches of the North-South and East-West Lines in the first half of 2018, to facilitate re-signalling and other renewal and maintenance works," the joint statement said.

During the affected hours, shuttle buses will be provided along affected stations.

The move comes in the wake of a train collision on November 15 at Joo Koon station that injured some 38 people.

With extended engineering hours from December 2017 onwards, the completion of re-signalling works on the East-West Line will be significantly accelerated from end-2018 to June 2018, according to the joint statement.

LTA also announced the cessation of train services between Joo Koon and Gul Circle stations until re-signalling works on the entire EWL are completed.

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