Sumang LRT Station

The Punggol LRT line (PGLRT) is a elevated automated guideway transit line in Punggol, Singapore. The driverless system consists of 15 stations on two loops, with Punggol station serving as the interchange for both loops and linking the line to the North East MRT line. It is the third Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in Singapore and the second LRT line to be operated by SBS Transit.

The PGLRT was conceived as part of the Punggol 21 development plan. Construction of the LRT line began in June 2000 and was completed in June 2004, and the Land Transport Authority transferred operations to SBS Transit in December that year. The East Loop began operations on 29 January 2005, with Oasis and Damai only opening in 2007 and 2011 respectively. The West Loop commenced operations on 29 June 2014, with Teck Lee station being the last to open on 15 August 2024.

The line utilises the Kyosan Automated People Mover (APM) fixed block signalling system and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries's Crystal Mover APM vehicles. Two-car operations were introduced in December 2016 to accommodate increased ridership. Between 2018 and 2022, the PGLRT underwent renewal works to improve reliability. A new fleet of 25 two-car APMs is expected to enter service in 2025, replacing 25 one-car trains and half of the 16 two-car trains in the existing fleet.

History

Planning and construction

At the launch of the Punggol 21 housing concept in August 1996, prime minister Goh Chok Tong announced plans for a light rail (LRT) system in Punggol. According to Mohinder Singh, the planning director of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the LRT system was not part of the original 1991 Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Concept Plan, but was later jointly developed by the Housing Development Board (HDB), URA, and LTA during the planning of Punggol 21. The Sengkang and Punggol LRT systems were planned in tandem, with these agencies collaborating to integrate transport and housing for optimal service. In July 1998, communications minister Mah Bow Tan confirmed the government's decision to proceed with the Punggol LRT system, with 19 stations planned on the route.

The contract for the design and construction of the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines (SPLRT) was awarded to a joint venture for S$656 million (US$ million). The joint venture comprised Singapore Technologies Industrial Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation. On 20 May 1999, SBS Transit (then Singapore Bus Service) was appointed to operate the Punggol LRT along with the North East MRT line and the Sengkang LRT line.

Construction of the Punggol LRT line began in June 2000 and was completed in June 2004. Due to limited funding from the 1997 financial crisis and low projected ridership, the SPLRT was initially constructed for single-car operations, even though it had been designed for two. Nevertheless, provisions were made for future upgrades to two-car operations during the expected equipment replacement cycle within 15 to 20 years. The LTA conducted tests on the line before handing it over to SBS Transit in December 2004 for additional trial operations. SBS Transit announced that the East Loop would open first as the West Loop served a less populated area of Punggol at that time.

Stations opening

On 10 January 2005, SBS Transit confirmed that the East Loop would open on 29 January, with the exception of the Oasis and Damai stations. The opening ceremony on the day itself was officiated by transport minister Yeo Cheow Tong. Early ridership remained low, especially due to the SARS outbreak. The East Loop initially operated unidirectional services in the peak flow direction. Morning services from 5:20am to 3:00pm ran anti-clockwise from Kadaloor to Punggol, while evening services from 3:00pm to 12:35am operated clockwise from Punggol to Kadaloor. After requests by residents to open Oasis station, the station opened on 15 June 2007. Damai station opened on 20 June 2011 and bidirectional services commence on the East Loop.

The West Loop began operations from 29 June 2014 with the opening of Nibong, Sumang and Soo Teck. The West Loop initially operated unidirectional services at a frequency of 7 to 8 minutes, with morning services running from Nibong to Punggol, and evening services running from Punggol to Nibong via Soo Teck. Sam Kee station opened on 29 February 2016 to serve Punggol Waterway Park and the SAFRA Punggol Clubhouse.

Punggol Point station opened on 29 December 2016. Samudera station opened on 31 March 2017 to serve Marina Country Club. Bidirectional services on the West Loop commenced on 29 September 2018 in response to increased ridership. In May 2024, ''CNA'' reported that a post on the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) website had mentioned Teck Lee station was scheduled to open in August. However, the information was later removed. The LTA later clarified that the planned opening of Teck Lee station was part of its broader efforts to improve public transport connectivity for students in anticipation of the upcoming SIT campus in Punggol. As announced by the LTA on 31 July, Teck Lee station opened on 15 August 2024.

Improvements

On 31 October 2012, the LTA announced plans to increase passenger capacity of the SPLRT to cater to increased ridership. The upgrading works involved retrofitting 16 of the 41 one-car trains for two-car operations while purchasing 16 additional cars. After tests for two-car operations on the Punggol LRT began on 5 December 2016, two-car operations officially commenced on the East Loop from 29 December.

On 15 December 2017, the LTA announced plans to renew and upgrade the SPLRT to enhance its operational reliability. The works included replacing the power rail and its assemblies, along with conducting maintenance on the signalling switch machines and cables. Additionally, the crossheads supporting the viaducts were to be reinforced and the viaduct bearings replaced, following the discovery of cracks on the crossheads during routine inspections.

The maintenance works took place on selected Sunday mornings from 14 January to 25 February 2018. On these days, the affected loops ran unidirectional services from 5:30am to 7:00am. Unidirectional services remained in operation on Sunday mornings from 4 March to 29 April due to the extension of maintenance works on the SPLRT. These works involved replacing the power rail and power rail assemblies, as well as carrying out preventive maintenance on the signalling cables. Rectification works on the concrete plinths and elevated slabs were conducted on Sunday evenings between May 27 and October 7. These works involved breaking up the existing concrete plinths, realigning the finger joints, and recementing them into position. Maintenance works during service hours continued in 2020, 2021, and 2022. On 9 June 2024, the signalling system's power supply failed during upgrading works. As a result, no trains could be launched on that morning, with services only resuming at 10:12am.

On 5 February 2021, the LTA announced plans to purchase 17 two-car trains for the SPLRT, which were expected to be delivered from 2024 to 2027. The Sengkang Depot would also be expanded to to ensure additional capacity and maintenance space for the new trains. The depot expansion also included the construction of two new reception tracks to reduce train launching time. In February 2022, the contract for the depot expansion was awarded to Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd for S$157 million (US$ million), and the contract for the new fleet of trains was awarded to Mitsubishi Corporation for S$439 million (US$ million).

Network and operations

Route and service

The Punggol LRT line (PGLRT) is a fully elevated automated guideway transit line, with a route length of . It is coloured grey on official maps. On dynamic passenger information displays and static signs on the LRT platforms, yellow indicates the east loop, and red indicates the west loop. The two loops of the PGLRT have been described as a pair of “butterfly wings" that converge at Punggol station.

On the East Loop, the line heads south before curving southeast and running along the median of Punggol Field. After Coral Edge station, the line turns northwards along Punggol East to Riviera before turning west to Kadaloor. The loop continues along Punggol Drive before turning south toward Punggol station.

On the West Loop, the line heads north to Sam Kee station before crossing Punggol Waterway. It runs along Sentul Walk before turning west toward Punggol Point station. The line continues along Punggol Way as it turns south after Samudera station. Between Nibong and Sumang, the loop crosses the Punggol Waterway once more, and after Soo Teck station, the line turns east and north back to Punggol station. A spur connects the PGLRT to the Sengkang LRT line across the Tampines Expressway.

The line operates between 5:18am (5:38am on Sundays and public holidays) and 12:40am daily. The PGLRT is operated by SBS Transit. Since 2018, the PGLRT has been part of the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF). Previously, the operator (the owner of the rail assets) had to bear the cost of maintaining and upgrading trains and signalling. Under the NRFF, the LTA and SBS Transit share the profits and financial risks in operating the line and the LTA will take control of its operating assets on 1 April 2033. SBS Transit operate the line under a 15-year licence which will expire on 31 March 2033.

Stations

The PGLRT has 15 stations – 7 stations on the East Loop, 7 stations on the West Loop and Punggol station which serves as an interchange for both loops. Each station was positioned to serve residents within a radius.

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

The Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines (SPLRT) utilise the Crystal Mover Automated People Mover (APM) rolling stock manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The rubber-tyred trains are fully automatic and can accommodate up to 105 passengers per vehicle. The SPLRT has an initial fleet of 41 APMs, with 16 more APMs delivered under contract C810A. The APMs are configured for single car or two-car operations, with a maximum capacity of 36 trainsets on the network. In February 2022, the LTA ordered another fleet of 17 two-car APMs from Mitsubishi for S$439 million. This was followed by another order for eight more two-car trains in May 2023, costing S$87 million. The new trains are set to replace the 25 one-car trains and half of the 16 two-car trains, bringing the overall SPLRT fleet to 33 two-car APMs. The first two trainsets were delivered to Singapore on 23 November 2024 and are expected to commence operations in 2025.

The APMs have a top speed of , with a maximum operational speed of . They are powered by 750V DC third rail located on one side of the guideway. Each vehicle is long and wide. The exterior has a crystal-like design with a polyhedral nose reflective of its namesake. Mitsubishi describes the curved sides of the APM as a design choice to "soften" the sharpness of its polyhedral shape. The exterior is painted pearl white and indigo blue.

As driverless vehicles, the APMs do not include a driver cabin. Instead, detrainment doors at both ends of the cabin allow emergency evacuation of passengers onto the track. The emergency stop button and emergency notice system are located at the right-side corner of the vehicle's front, while line maps and service information are displayed on the left. The interior features white side panels and ceiling, a grey floor, grayish-blue seats, and handrails and grip bars accented in a wine color. The cabins are air-conditioned.

The SPLRT trains are maintained and stabled on the second floor of Sengkang Depot. Located between the Layar and Tongkang LRT stations on the Sengkang LRT line, the depot also houses the trains of the North East line. Its facilitates include a two-story main building with an operation control center room, automatic vehicle washing facility, maintenance garage, departure inspection track, stabling yard, power receiving and transforming facilities, and a test track. The site is being expanded to , which will include two more reception tracks and three new traction power substations to expand the depot's stabling and maintenance capacity.

Train control and power system

The Punggol LRT line is fully automatic and is equipped with a Kyosan APM fixed block signalling system. The line's automatic train control (ATC) is composed of automatic train protection (ATP) which ensures safe operations, automatic train operation (ATO) which controls the automatic operations, and automatic train supervision (ATS) for overall command, monitoring and recording of the system. To reduce equipment mass on the train, the onboard ATP and ATO systems are integrated into one unit, although for safety reasons, the function and control logic of the ATP and ATO systems remain independent. These subsystems are connected via LAN and managed by a computer-based interlocking (CBI) system that oversees traffic safety of the APM.

The power system of the SPLRT includes a 22 kV AC power intake and distribution network, a 750V DC traction power system, and a 400V AC system for station services. Power is supplied via two 22kV AC feeders from the North East line to improve reliability and take advantage of the 66kV tariff. The AC supply is distributed through a closed ring network to prevent power disruptions during single outages. At each station, the AC supply is stepped down to 400V AC using service transformers for mechanical and electrical needs. Traction power substations (TPSS) further step down the 22kV AC to power rectifiers that convert it to 750V DC for train operations. Each TPSS is equipped with an inverter system to return excess energy from regenerative braking back to the 22kV distribution network. In 2004, the SKLRT had three traction power substations (TPSS), with one on standby to maintain operations during outages; it presently has five operational substations, which will increase to eight with the planned expansion of Sengkang Depot.

Station facilities

All Punggol LRT stations are equipped with lifts connecting passengers from the ground level to the station concourse, and from the concourse to the platform level. Each station also has at least one wider faregate for wheelchair users and tactile flooring to guide the visually-impaired from the ground floor to the platforms. The stations are also equipped with fire extinguishers and fire phones. Emergency stop buttons on both sides of the station platform, when activated, cut off traction power supply and halt incoming trains.

Fixed platform barriers installed by Chee Yam Contractor are intended to prevent commuters falling to the tracks. However, the barriers lack doors and instead have fixed openings for boarding, as the limited space on LRT platforms cannot accommodate the power, communications, and signal control systems required for platform screen doors.

Following a few facilities reported on the LRT, especially after a 33-year-old woman was found dead at Cove station along the East Loop, SBS Transit has implemented the VAnGuard track intrusion detection system on the SPLRT to enhance safety. Using video analytics and artificial intelligence, the system monitors footage of tracks and platforms to identify individuals or objects on the tracks. When an intrusion is detected, operations control centre staff can press the emergency stop button to halt services on a specific loop. The system also triggers an alarm when intruders or foreign objects are detected. In addition to track intrusions, the system can spot unattended items on station platforms, allowing staff to provide assistance or undertake security precautions.

Notes and references

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Citations

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External links

Punggol LRT line

{{Authority control

Railway stations in Singapore opened in 2005
Light Rail Transit (Singapore) lines
Punggol

Crystal Mover people movers
Railway lines opened in 2005
Transport in North-East Region, Singapore
Automated guideway transit