No EWL train services between Tanah Merah and Tampines stations from Dec 7 to 10

Train services will not run between Tanah Merah and Tampines stations from Dec 7 to 10, so that works can be carried out to connect tracks from the East-West Line (EWL) to the new East Coast Integrated Depot.

- Esther Loi

Affected passengers can take a shuttle bus service, Shuttle 7, for travel between Tampines, Simei and Tanah Merah stations, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and rail operator SMRT on Nov 5.

The shuttle service will run at a frequency of three to five minutes, with up to 55 double-decker buses being deployed on all four days. Fares for the shuttle will be the same as that for an MRT journey along the same stretch.

It will take around 15 minutes for the shuttle buses to travel between Simei and Tanah Merah stations and 18 minutes between Simei and Tampines stations, but this is dependent on traffic conditions.

Alternatively, an LTA spokesperson said commuters travelling to and from Tampines and Tanah Merah stations can consider using the Downtown Line (DTL) or other travel routes.

Passengers can switch from the EWL to the DTL at Tampines and Expo stations before continuing their journeys.

The closure between Tanah Merah and Tampines will affect adjacent sections of the EWL.

But trains will continue to run every five minutes between Tampines and Pasir Ris stations. They will also run every eight minutes between Tanah Merah and Expo stations, and every 11 minutes between Expo and Changi Airport.