C751A

The Alstom Metropolis C751A is the first generation of communications-based train control (CBTC) electric multiple unit rolling stock in operation on the North East line (NEL) of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system since 2003. 25 trainsets were purchased for the line.

Operational history and overview

In February 1997, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore shortlisted several rolling stock companies for the bidding of the trains. In January 1998, GEC Alsthom (now known as Alstom) secured a contract to supply rolling stock for the NEL. The contract was for 25 trains, each consisting of six cars, under Contract 751A. The trains were part of the Metropolis family of the urban EMU trains. Unlike all other MRT lines, it draws power from the overhead catenary.

Also, the C751A was the first MRT rolling stock to have seats of the same color in every compartment of the train and is also the first fully driverless rolling stock in Singapore. Nevertheless, SBS Transit hires rover employees to drive trains manually if needed. For Alstom, it uses the URBALIS 300 moving-block communications-based (CBTC) Automatic Train Control (ATC) system, which optimizes headway and enables extra trains to be injected automatically into the system at rush hour to increase passenger capacity and reduce congestion. In the depot, trains are also operated in fully automatic mode. Communication between the train and the fixed signaling equipment is enabled by the IAGO two-way continuous transmission system. Station-based automatic train supervision ensures a greater degree of availability. Built-in test equipment has also been included, and Eurobalise standards have been adopted for spot transmission.

This rolling stock was the first to have seats of the same color in every compartment of the train, which is the uniform two-tones color of beige and purplish blue seats, indigo color floor and the interior body panels beige and cream color. Trains also have two side windows at each end for viewing the tracks. The exterior of the C751A trains are white and black together with red and purple stripes. C751A trains do not have a middle window cut out, unlike the newer driverless trains in the MRT system. This is because it had to make way for the old detrainment ramp, which was not as compact as that of the newer Alstom Metropolis models on the North East line and the Circle line.

Platform gap reducers were since added to all C751A trains.

All C751A trains consist of the Visual Passenger Information System (VPIS). These displays show the name of the next station, the current station, door-closing messages, and occasionally the date and time. Also, some of the C751A trains have been installed with four rows for the standing area since 2015.

Refurbishment

In December 2018, LTA announced that the C751A trains will undergo mid-life refurbishment works from 2019 onwards. A contract worth $116.7 million was awarded to CRRC Nanjing Puzhen for the refurbishment works. All 25 first-generation C751A trains will be upgraded. The trains' interior, such as seats, panels, and flooring, will be replaced. The current 6 LCD screens on the side panels (which formerly showed rail travel information of the next station and terminating station, silent commercials, and safety videos) above some seats had already been deactivated and were removed in refurbished trains. However, a new LTA LCD Dynamic Route Map Display (DRMD) located above each door will be retrofitted. These DRMDs will be similar to those on newer MRT trains such as the T251 and R151. In addition, Air-conditioning & ventilation systems will be upgraded.

The exterior livery design will be retained with the exception of Land Transport Authority logos. Smaller SBS Transit logos are located on the gangway ends of each car in a similar fashion to LTA's earlier corporate livery designs. Works are expected to be completed by Q1 2026.

The first refurbished train set (7013/7014) re-entered passenger service on 28 February 2022.

As of 5 June 2025, 19 trains are refurbished, 2 trains is undergoing refurbishment and 4 trains are not refurbished.

Train formation

The coupling configuration of a C751A in revenue service is DT–Mp–Mi+Mi–Mp–DT.

The car numbers of the trains range from 7x001 to 7x050, where x depends on the carriage type. Individual cars are assigned a five-digit serial number by the rail operator SBS Transit. A complete six-car trainset consists of an identical twin set of one driving trailer (DT) and two motor cars (Mi & Mp) permanently coupled together. For example, set 7013/7014 consists of cars 71013, 72013, 73013, 73014, 72014 and 71014.

* The first digit is always a 7.
* The second digit identifies the car number, where the first car has a 1, the second has a 2 & the third has a 3.
* The third digit is always a 0.
* The fourth digit and fifth digit are the train identification numbers. A full-length train of 6 cars has 2 different identification numbers. For example, 7013/7014.
* Alstom built sets 7001/7002 – 7049/7050.

References

External links

{{Rail Transport in Singapore

Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) rolling stock
Alstom multiple units
Train-related introductions in 2003
1500 V DC multiple units