16 first-gen NEL trains refurbished, remaining 9 to follow by 2026: Chee Hong Tat
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Refurbishment includes stripping down the trains, from the interior to the structures under the cabin.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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SINGAPORE – Sixteen of 25 first-generation trains on the North East Line (NEL) have been refurbished as part of a major renewal project that began in 2019, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said.
The remaining nine trains will be progressively put into service by the first quarter of 2026 after they have been refurbished, Mr Chee said in a written parliamentary reply to Hougang MP Dennis Tan on Feb 28.
Mr Tan had asked for an update on the renewal works for the NEL, how the programme will enhance the line, and how long the upgrades will last before more renewal works may be needed.
The first-generation Alstom Metropolis C751A trains have been in service since the MRT line was opened in 2003.
Besides the trains, other parts of the renewal programme, such as upgrades to the track, power, signalling system and the platform screen doors, were completed in 2021, said Mr Chee.
The total refreshment project, including NEL trains and associated systems, was meant to be completed by the third quarter of 2024 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The train refurbishment work is done by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen at the Sengkang Depot. This is where NEL trains are parked at the end of service hours, as well as for maintenance work.
Refurbishment includes stripping down the trains, from the interior to the structures under the cabin. Besides putting in new fittings like flooring and seating, the lighting and air-conditioning systems are changed to improve effectiveness and energy efficiency.
The upgrade also sees the static route map stickers in the trains replaced by a digitalised system that provides passengers with real-time information.
A new condition monitoring system is also installed. This is intended to help the operator measure the system’s performance and help decide the kind of maintenance work needed.
The updated trains undergo a variety of tests from assessing their water tightness to whether they work correctly with the other systems, and running them on the actual MRT line after service hours before they are redeployed to carry passengers.
Valued at $116.7 million, the contract to refurbish the 25 first-generation NEL trains was awarded to CRRC Nanjing Puzhen in 2018.
The NEL is Singapore’s third-oldest MRT line. Operated by SBS Transit, the line was opened in 2003. In December 2024, it was extended with the opening of the Punggol Coast station, which is the 17th station on the 22km-long line.
The NEL fleet also comprises 18 second-generation Alstom Metropolis C751C trains, which have been plying the NEL daily since 2015.
Six third-generation trains, costing $130 million, were progressively added to the NEL from 2023, bringing the total fleet on the line to 49 trains, up from 43 trains.
