Upgraded air-cons, more inclusive lifts: Bukit Panjang LRT renewals on track for completion by Feb 2027

Renewal works on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) will be completed by Feb 2027, with upgraded systems and commuter-friendly enhancements being rolled out across the line.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday (Oct 15) that they have substantially completed the renewal of the BPLRT system since works first began in 2018.

"The renewed system and fleet will deliver smoother and more reliable journeys for commuters," said the authority.

They added that they aim to complete the 16.6km power rail replacement and operations control centre (OCC) upgrades by the end of October, marking the completion of most of the renewal programme.

The additional renewals to the lifts, escalators and communications systems, are set to be completed by February 2027, a month ahead of schedule.

The BPLRT renewal programme, launched in 2018, marks the first major upgrade of the 16.6km, 13-station line since it began operations in 1999.

By the late 2010s, many of its core systems, including its 19 first-generation Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), were nearing the end of their design life, said LTA.

All of the legacy first-generation LRVs have since been replaced and an entire renewed fleet of 32 LRVs has been in passenger service since October 2025.

Improved reliability, more comfort

Speaking at the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) Depot on Thursday, Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said the upgrading project is "very close to my heart".

"When I was in the Ministry of Transport as a civil servant in 2017, we made the decision to upgrade the LRT," he said.

"And having spent this amount of time looking at how the project has been progressing, I think we are very happy that the team has managed to achieve the results that we want."

He then spoke about the October 2026 Rail Reliability Report, highlighting that the nation's overall MRT network is going to cross two million Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF) for six consecutive months.

"This is a sustained period of good performance and it's quite unprecedented. We are going to reach an MKBF of more than three million which we have never done before.

"And I think it shows that we have been working really hard and making sure that the reliability of the system is good," Siow said.

For BPLRT, its reliability has improved significantly since 2025, with its MKBF increasing from 53,000 car-km in 2017 to 443,000 car-km currently, said LTA.

This improved reliability follows the introduction of the full fleet of third-generation LRVs and the migration to the new CBTC signalling system from the legacy system.

The third-generation LRVs can support earlier detection of potential faults and pre-emptive maintenance with its condition monitoring systems.

The new LRVs also come equipped with upgraded air-conditioning systems that provide improved airflow, dynamic route displays and brighter, more energy-efficient LED lighting.

Greater accessibility at stations

On top of the original renewals, additional lift upgrading works at 11 stations will be completed by end-October, said LTA.

Lift upgrading at the remaining two stations — Choa Chu Kang (BP01) and Bukit Panjang (BP06) — are on track to be completed by February 2027, one month ahead of schedule.

The 25 lifts across the 13 stations will be fitted with features to improve accessibility and ease of use, especially for wheelchair users.

These features include tilted floor indicators for better visibility, rear wall mirrors, side-mounted operating panels and larger illuminated lift buttons.

All of the lifts also operate on energy-efficient motors, drives and LED lighting. Enhancements to all 25 lifts are expected to be completed by February 2027.

As most of the stations have only one lift per platform, LTA said they have taken additional measures to expedite the remaining works and provide alternative arrangements for commuters, including a stair climber service.

LTA reminds commuters to refer to posters and banners at BPLRT stations for information on the upgrading schedule and alternative travel arrangements.

"We thank commuters and residents for their patience and understanding throughout the renewal programme," said LTA.

Siow also thanked the MRT and LRT operators, SMRT and SBST, for working closely with LTA and focusing on rail reliability as well as the "unsung heroes" who made the improved reliability possible.

He added: "The people who deserve the most credit for these good results are our public transport workers — the many Singaporeans, many men and women who work every single day in the quiet hours of the night to make sure that the system can run well the next day, the next morning, every day."

LTA emphasised that it will continue to complete the remaining works safely and monitor the condition and performance of the BPLRT’s systems and infrastructure.

Where necessary, LTA will carry out further renewals and enhancements to ensure that BPLRT continues to meet commuters’ travel needs.

laili.abdeen@asiaone.com

武吉班让轻轨 (BPLRT) 的翻新工程将于 2027 年 2 月完成，届时将推出升级后的系统和方便乘客的改进措施。

陆路交通管理局（LTA）周四（10月15日）表示，自2018年工程启动以来，他们已基本完成了BPLRT系统的更新。

“更新后的系统和车队将为通勤者提供更顺畅、更可靠的旅程，”有关部门表示。

他们补充说，他们的目标是在 10 月底之前完成 16.6 公里电力铁路的更换和运营控制中心 (OCC) 的升级，这将标志着大部分更新计划的完成。

对电梯、自动扶梯和通信系统的额外更新预计将于 2027 年 2 月完成，比原计划提前一个月。

BPLRT 更新计划于 2018 年启动，标志着这条 16.6 公里长、13 个车站的线路自 1999 年投入运营以来首次进行重大升级。

陆路交通管理局表示，到 2010 年代后期，其许多核心系统，包括 19 辆第一代轻轨车辆 (LRV)，都已接近设计寿命的终点。

所有老旧的第一代轻轨车辆都已被替换，全新的 32 辆轻轨车辆车队自 2025 年 10 月起投入客运服务。

可靠性更高，舒适度更高

交通部长萧敬腾周四在武吉班让轻轨（BPLRT）车厂发表讲话时表示，升级改造项目“与我息息相关”。

他说：“2017年，我作为公务员在交通部工作时，我们决定升级轻轨。”

“在花了这么长时间观察项目的进展情况后，我们非常高兴团队能够取得我们想要的结果。”

然后他谈到了 2026 年 10 月的铁路可靠性报告，强调全国地铁网络将连续六个月的平均故障间隔里程 (MKBF) 超过 200 万公里。

“这是一个持续良好业绩的时期，而且是前所未有的。我们将达到超过三百万的营业额，这是我们以前从未达到过的。”

“我认为这表明我们一直在努力工作，确保系统的可靠性良好，”萧先生说。

陆路交通管理局表示，自 2025 年以来，BPLRT 的可靠性已显著提高，其 MKBF 从 2017 年的 53,000 车公里增加到目前的 443,000 车公里。

可靠性的提高得益于第三代轻轨车辆的全面投入使用以及从传统系统向新的基于通信的列车控制系统 (CBTC) 信号系统的迁移。

第三代轻型车辆可通过其状态监测系统支持更早地检测潜在故障和进行预防性维护。

新型轻轨车辆还配备了升级的空调系统，可提供更好的气流、动态路线显示和更明亮、更节能的 LED 照明。

车站无障碍设施更加完善

陆路交通管理局表示，除了原有的更新工程外，11 个车站的额外电梯升级工程将于 10 月底完成。

剩余两个车站——蔡厝港 (BP01) 和武吉班让 (BP06)——的电梯升级工程正在按计划进行，预计将于 2027 年 2 月完成，比原计划提前一个月。

13 个车站的 25 部电梯将配备各种功能，以提高无障碍性和易用性，特别是对于轮椅使用者而言。

这些功能包括倾斜的地板指示器以提高可视性、后墙镜、侧面安装的操作面板和更大的照明电梯按钮。

所有电梯均采用节能电机、驱动装置和LED照明。预计所有25部电梯的升级改造将于2027年2月完成。

由于大多数车站每个站台只有一部电梯，陆路交通管理局表示，他们已采取额外措施加快剩余工程进度，并为通勤者提供替代安排，包括楼梯升降机服务。

陆路交通管理局提醒通勤者，请参考BPLRT车站的海报和横幅，了解升级计划和替代出行安排。

“我们感谢通勤者和居民在整个更新计划期间的耐心和理解，”陆路交通管理局表示。

萧先生还感谢地铁和轻轨运营商SMRT和SBST与陆路交通管理局密切合作，并专注于提高轨道交通可靠性，以及为提高可靠性而做出贡献的“幕后英雄”。

他补充道：“这些良好成果最值得称赞的是我们的公共交通工作人员——众多新加坡人，许多男男女女每天在夜深人静之时辛勤工作，以确保公共交通系统第二天、第二天早上、每一天都能正常运转。”

陆路交通管理局强调，将继续安全地完成剩余工程，并监测BPLRT系统和基础设施的状况和性能。

必要时，陆路交通管理局将进行进一步的更新和改进，以确保BPLRT继续满足通勤者的出行需求。

laili.abdeen@asiaone.com