First of 23 new Circle Line MRT trains arrived from Spain

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Mar 11 that the first of 23 new Circle Line (CCL) trains has arrived in Singapore. 

Manufactured in Barcelona, Spain, the new trains are part of the $250 million contract LTA signed in April 2018 with Alstom, the French multinational rolling stock manufacturer. 

Manufacturing of the new train began in Spain in 2020 and has undergone a series of functional tests before being transported to Singapore. It is currently being stored at the Kim Chuan Depot where it is being prepared for service.

LTA said that the new trains will feature a new integrated suite of condition monitoring systems to monitor equipment health for preventive maintenance.

The new trains will be rolled out in 2026, when the upcoming Circle Line 6 (CCL6) stations open. 

LTA added that the construction work for CCL6 is currently about 55 per cent complete, after tunnelling works were completed earlier this year on Jan 21.

With the addition of the three new stations, commuters travelling from Telok Blangah will have a more direct route to the Marina Bay area, cutting travelling time by up to 10 minutes.

Commuters travelling from Paya Lebar and Stadium will also enjoy faster access to the retail and office centres in the HarbourFront area, and those from the west such as Pasir Panjang and Telok Blangah can also have a direct route to the Central Business District.  

This will bring the total number of CCL stations to 33, including 12 interchange stations that connect to other rail lines.