SINGAPORE - For eight Sundays starting Nov 12, the Bukit Panjang LRT will begin service at 7am instead of the usual 5.30am every Sunday.

The late Sunday opening, which will last till the year end, will facilitate track maintenance and renewal work to replace ageing rail mounting frames and rail expansion joints.

"These works are important to maintain the reliability of the power rail system, and ensure smooth operations of the trains," SMRT said in a statement on Monday (Oct 23).

SMRT says it has only two hours each night - between the last train service and the first one the next morning - to do maintenance and repairs. The late Sunday opening will increase this to 3.5 hours per night, it said.

To reduce the impact of the late opening on commuters, shuttle bus services, which run along the LRT route, will be available. These services will operate from 5.30am to 7am.

"Commuters are advised to plan their journeys ahead and consider alternative transport arrangements," SMRT added.