TEL Stage 4 slated for opening in first half of 2024

Testing of Tanjong Rhu-Bayshore trains to take at least 3 months, says Chee Hong Tat

- Esther Loi

The authorities aim to open the fourth stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) in the first half of 2024, said Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

“We will try our best to open it as soon as possible, but we want to make sure that it’s safe and reliable before we open it,” he said in an interview with Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao published on Jan 9.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in December 2023 that it was conducting train testing on TEL Stage 4 – comprising seven stations from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore – before operator SMRT does further testing and staff familiarisation, as well as operation and maintenance training.

When contacted by The Straits Times, LTA was unable to confirm when the handover of stations to SMRT would take place, but said it would provide more details when available.

Mr Chee said the testing of trains would take at least three months, depending on issues that may crop up. For instance, he noted that signalling problems had delayed the launch of the second stage of the line in 2021.

Industry sources had told ST that train testing usually takes between three and six months to complete.

The three-station TEL Stage 1 from Woodlands North to Woodlands South opened in January 2020, the six-stop TEL Stage 2 from Springleaf to Caldecott became operational in August 2021, and the 11-station TEL Stage 3 from Stevens to Gardens by the Bay opened in November 2022.

Mr Chee also spoke about other issues such as the ongoing review of the point-to-point transport sector, public transport fares, and the decision to retain bus service 167 for now.

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