Rail reliability improved between Jan and May, compared to last year: Ng Chee Meng

Minister Ng Chee Meng arrives at the Tuas Link MRT during the official launch of the the Tuas West Extension. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

SINGAPORE - Rail reliability here is improving, with the MRT network clocking 387,000 train-km between delays in the first five months of this year (2017), announced Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng on Friday (June 16).

This is more than double the 168,000 train-km achieved during the same period in 2016, he said at the Tuas Link MRT station, at the opening ceremony of the Tuas West extension.

Mr Ng, who is also Minister for Education (Schools), also announced that in March, a site in Tengah had been gazetted for the Jurong Region Line depot.

Expected to be ready in 2025, the Jurong Region Line will connect areas such as the Jurong Innovation District, the Jurong Industrial Estate and the Jurong Lake District.

Site preparation works for the depot are ongoing, and construction is expected to begin in 2019.

The Tuas West Extension, which is expected to serve 100,000 commuters daily, will be connected to the Tuas and Jurong industrial estates by two new bus services and four amended bus services.

Passenger service on the Tuas West extension, which will include four new stations - Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link - will begin on Sunday (June 18).

Remote video URL

These developments are part of the Land Transport Master Plan, which aims to expand the rail network to 360km by 2030.

"So here in the west, we can look forward to many exciting, new MRT facilities in the coming years," said Mr Ng.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.