Over half of 106 new MRT trains added to North-South, East-West lines; fleet completion by 2026
SINGAPORE - More than half of the 106 latest seventh-generation MRT trains slated for the North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL) lines have entered service, two years after the first unit was deployed.
As at June 29, 61 Alstom Movia R151 trains have entered service, a spokesperson for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) told The Straits Times.
With three new trains being introduced monthly since October 2024, up from two per month in 2023, the train fleet renewal is expected to be complete by 2026.
The first
R151 trains entered service in June 2023.
The new trains replace the first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industry (KHI) trains. In September 2024, the failure of a KHI train crippled service along a stretch of the East-West Line for six days, in one of the worst disruptions in Singapore's rail history.
Transport operator SMRT, which runs the line, was fined $3 million by the LTA.
The delay in new train delivery, stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, was cited by SMRT as a reason for the KHI trains remaining in use and the operator extending the interval between overhauls beyond the manufacturer's requirement.
The LTA said that there are 16 KHI trains in service on the NSEWL.
By September, these trains will be phased out, according to a post by SMRT on its Facebook page on June 23.
Designed in Germany, the new R151 trains are assembled in Changchun, China.
They have built-in condition monitoring capabilities and diagnostic systems that can pick up faults early and track the performance of various systems in real time.
The cars have bigger open spaces to increase passenger capacity while maintaining the number of seats. Other upgrades on board include wider windows and perch seats for passengers.
The first 66 of the 106 trains were ordered in 2018 at the cost of $1.2 billion to replace the first-generation KHI trains. Another 40 trains, costing $337.8 million, were bought in 2020 to replace now-retired second-generation Siemens and third-generation Kawasaki-Nippon Sharyo trains.
Alongside the KHI trains (introduced in 1987) and the R151, three other generations of trains, added between 2011 and 2018, are also operating on the NSEWL. These were manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and CSR Qingdao Sifang. They bring the NSEWL total fleet to 169 trains.
Work to renew the NSEWL started in 2012. Valued at $2.6 billion, the refurbishment included not only new trains but also a new signalling system that allows the trains to run at shorter intervals, upgraded power rails that supply electricity to the trains, and a track circuit system capable of detecting rail defects.
LTA said that the improvements have boosted the NSEWL's reliability, captured by the lines' Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF), which is the reliability benchmark used for subways globally.
The authority added that since 2019, the NSEWL's MKBF has been over a million train-km between delays of more than five minutes, compared with 70,000 train-km for the North-South line and 60,000 train-km for the East-West line in 2012.
In LTA's latest rail reliability report, covering up to September 2024, the MKBF for the East-West MRT line, after accounting for the major service disruption, stood at 2.03 million train-km, down from 3.36 million train-km in 2023.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Australia's beef exports to the US surge despite Trump tariffs
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The US is the biggest market for Australia's almost A$14 billion beef and veal export sector. Australia's total beef exports to the US rose significantly in June in the face of US President Donald Trump's new tariff regime, which saw the American leader specifically single out Canberra for refusing to accept adequate red meat imports. Exports of chilled and frozen beef to the US jumped 23 per cent from June 2024 , according to Meat & Livestock Australia data released on J uly 10 . Shipments in the first six months were up almost a third from the same period in 2024 . The US is the biggest market for Australia's almost A$14 billion (S$11.7 billion) beef and veal export sector, and is one of America's largest foreign sources of red meat. Shipments to the US currently face a flat 10 per cent tariff, and Mr Trump singled out the nation for not buying enough US produce in the April press conference where he announced his administration's 'reciprocal' trade rates. Exports to China more than doubled from June 2024 and were just a third below those to the US, the July 10 data showed. Diplomatic tensions had hampered agricultural shipments between the two nations following the Covid-19 pandemic, although relations improved after the election of the centre-left Labor government in 2022, and trade has largely resumed. BLOOMBERG Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Singapore Academic paper by NUS researchers withdrawn from peer review after hidden AI prompt found Singapore Apex court upholds SMC's conviction of doctor who gave patients unapproved hormones Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand for suspected drug trafficking and handed over to CNB World Trump issues tariff notices to 7 minor trading partners, hits Brazil with 50% tariff Business SGX securities turnover up 23% in June, bringing financial year's gain to 28%
Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Straits Times
Malaysia makes first rate cut in five years after US announces 25% tariff
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Bank Negara Malaysia lowered its overnight policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent from 3 per cent. KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time in five years on July 9, as it looks to support the economy amid a weaker growth outlook and rising uncertainty in global trade. Bank Negara Malaysia lowered its overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent from 3 per cent, where it had been since May 2023, as had been expected by 17 of 31 economists surveyed in a Reuters poll. The ceiling and floor rates of the OPR corridor are correspondingly reduced to 3 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively, the central bank said in a statement. The rate decision came a day after US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian exports to the United States. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will appeal for lower tariffs when he meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 10. Bank Negara said the global growth outlook was weighed down by uncertainties surrounding tariffs, as well as geopolitical tensions, which could lead to greater volatility in global financial markets and commodity prices. While the Malaysian economy was on a strong footing, the central bank said external uncertainties could affect Malaysia's growth prospects. 'The reduction in the OPR is... a pre-emptive measure aimed at preserving Malaysia's steady growth path amid moderate inflation prospects,' Bank Negara said. Economists had expected at least one 25-basis-point cut this year, which would hold until the end of 2026, though there was no consensus on where the rate would be then. Estimates for the end of 2026 ranged from 2.25 per cent to 3 per cent. Malaysia has reported a string of soft economic data in recent months with growth slowing to 4.4 per cent in the first quarter, while exports unexpectedly fell in May. Inflation has also remained relatively subdued, with consumer prices rising 1.2 per cent in June, a four-year low. Mr Anwar said in May that Malaysia was unlikely to meet its growth outlook of between 4.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent in 2025, while Bank Negara has said it would have to lower its growth forecast range due to uncertainties arising from US tariff policies. The central bank also lowered banks' statutory reserve requirement (SRR) ratio by 100 basis points to 1 per cent in May - the first SRR reduction since March 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic - reinforcing a dovish policy outlook. REUTERS
Business Times
20 hours ago
- Business Times
‘Worst of the headwinds are now probably behind us': Temasek on economic outlook
[SINGAPORE] The first half of 2025 was marked by 'very high uncertainty' – from fears of a collapse in artificial intelligence (AI) capital expenditure, to concerns over fiscal tightening in the US and Europe, and tariff shocks from the US. But the 'worst of the headwinds are now probably behind us', said Rohit Sipahimalani, chief investment officer at Singapore state-owned investor Temasek. On AI capex, the 'momentum is back' and 'people are very confident', with estimates of spending now trending upwards, he noted. Fears of fiscal tightening have also eased, as 'most governments globally' are now spending more, he added. As for US President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, Sipahimalani said tariff levels 'probably (won't) go back' to the peak levels seen during the earlier roll-out. On Tuesday morning (Singapore time), 14 countries – including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia – received letters from the White House detailing their tariff rates, which were largely consistent with those announced by Trump in April. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Sipahimalani and other members of Temasek's senior management were speaking to The Business Times at the investor's annual Temasek Review, which provides an update on its performance, highlights and group financials for the latest financial year. Temasek reported a record net portfolio value of S$434 billion for the year ended Mar 31, 2025, with its one-year total shareholder return (TSR) rising 11.8 per cent in Singapore dollar terms. Its 10-year and 20-year TSRs were stable at 5 and 7 per cent, respectively. Strong balance sheets Looking ahead, 'I wouldn't say there's something which is really staring at us, which says that there's something very negative (that is) going to happen, so we'll see', said Sipahimalani. But even if shocks emerge, Temasek would not be able to control how external events unfold or how stock markets respond, noted deputy chief executive officer Chia Song Hwee. What the investor can do is continue working with its portfolio companies to boost resilience, he said. Temasek continues to stress to its key portfolio companies that they need to have strong balance sheets, said Chia. 'So that also applies to ourselves, right? Maintaining a strong balance sheet so that we can resolve shocks when they come.' Chief financial officer Png Chin Yee elaborated on this point. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Temasek has worked with its portfolio companies to ensure they have sufficient liquidity and an optimal capital structure, she said, including paring down debt where appropriate. Key companies in Temasek's portfolio include DBS, Singtel, Singapore Airlines, ST Engineering and PSA. 'I think today, they're in a much better position to actually tackle the challenges that are coming through,' said Png. Stress tests conducted annually by Temasek support this view, added Sipahimalani. 'Right now, based on just the last few years… we're very comfortable with the strength of their balance sheets.' US dollar weakening One risk that Temasek is watching closely is the weakening of the US dollar. As the investor reports performance in Singdollar terms, a weaker US dollar creates a drag on returns from assets denominated in USD. Since March, the greenback has depreciated by about 5 per cent against the Singdollar – and that 'has an impact', said Png. However, only around 24 per cent of Temasek's portfolio is exposed to US dollar-denominated assets, and the company also selectively hedges its foreign exchange risks. 'But obviously hedging also has a cost associated with it, so the headwinds from foreign exchange movement is something that we're actually quite mindful about,' Png added. Still, a weaker dollar can offer some upside for US companies with significant overseas earnings, noted Sipahimalani. 'If you can manage to mitigate the currency risk, actually it makes the earnings growth slightly higher,' he said. Opportunities abroad Temasek continues to see opportunities in the US, particularly in the AI space, though these are tempered somewhat by high equity valuations. 'They are high by historical standards, and so you have to be disciplined and make sure that you find the right opportunities,' said Sipahimalani. In China, Temasek has been 'fairly steady' in its capital deployment, with a focus on domestic sectors such as consumer brands and sustainability. One recent investment was in a commercial solar firm that installs solar panels on factory rooftops and similar structures. China is Temasek's third-largest market, making up 18 per cent of its portfolio. The Americas account for 24 per cent, and Singapore leads with 27 per cent. In China, Temasek targets investments that are more 'self-contained' within the local economy, reducing exposure to external shocks, said Chia. That same logic is also applied elsewhere – favouring businesses with a narrower range of outcomes regardless of macroeconomic shifts, Sipahimalani added. This includes companies serving large domestic markets, such as hospitals, banks and consumer brands in India. 'None of that really gets impacted by what's happening in global geopolitics as such,' he said.
