Up to 17 Minutes Off-Peak Wait Time at Bedok & Kembangan MRT Due to Testing for New Depot

Commuters at Bedok and Kembangan stations along the East-West Line (EWL) may experience significantly longer waiting times of up to 17 minutes during off-peak hours as works to connect the line to the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID) enter the critical testing phase.

The update was shared by LTA Group Director for Rail (Electrical and Mechanical), Chia Choon Poh, on December 5, 2025.

Live Testing Phase Begins

Several stations along the EWL, between Bedok and Expo, have been closed since November 29 to facilitate construction works in preparation for the opening of the new East Coast Integrated Depot.

"For the past six days, our teams were focused on the three main tasks, which were to remove, reconnect and test," Chia shared.

He confirmed that the replacement of new rails and track components have been successful, and trains can now be launched from the new ECID. Despite heavy downpours and rain over the past few days, the team managed to push on and remain on track to resume East-West Line services on December 9 as planned.

17 Minutes Additional Wait During Testing

What follows is the critical work of retesting the system to ensure safety and reliability in preparation for passenger services. One platform each at Bedok and Kembangan stations will be used to carry out the testing works.

During this live testing phase, LTA is conducting tests on 4.8km of newly installed tracks leading to the new depot. Testing began on December 4 at slow speeds of 18km/h to test the new tracks, the third rail supplying power to trains, signalling, and other systems.

Once these tests are conducted successfully, LTA will then test the trains at regular speeds of around 80km/h.

As a result, during off-peak hours, commuters may experience up to 17 minutes of additional waiting time at Bedok and Kembangan stations. More than 280 staff will be on the ground to help guide commuters during this period.

"Thank you to the public and commuters for your patience and kind understanding. We will continue to work hard to finish testing as soon as possible," Chia said.

Services to Resume December 9

Regular rail service along the affected stretch between Tanah Merah and Expo stations, and between Bedok and Tampines stops, is slated to resume as planned on December 9.

Over the past six days, 880 LTA and SMRT engineers and contractors have worked around the clock on three main tasks:

• Removal: Taking out existing trackside components, including rail panels and signalling equipment
• Reconnection: Installing new trackside components and creating a new junction leading to the new depot for both EWL and future Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) trains
• Testing: Conducting phased testing of newly installed equipment to ensure safety and reliability

Mr. Chia confirmed that the LTA team has successfully completed the first two tasks. The team will continue tests over the weekend, and EWL operator SMRT will then conduct its own tests before normal services can resume.

New Depot and Station Layout Changes

Following the completion of the construction works, the East Coast Integrated Depot will serve the EWL, Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), and the Downtown Line, increasing capacity for train launches and withdrawals.

The new ECID is a four-in-one depot that brings together three train depots and one bus depot within a single site. It is slated to begin full operations in the second half of 2026.

The layout of Tanah Merah train station will also change, with the addition of a new platform to accommodate the TEL extension:

• From December 9, the eastbound EWL service towards Pasir Ris will operate from the new platform
• Passengers heading in the Pasir Ris direction will alight and board trains on a different platform
• Commuters who need to transfer between trains will need to go down to the level of the passenger service centre before ascending to get to the other platform
• This is a change from the previous set-up, where passengers could simply cross to the other side of the platform to board trains to Changi Airport

Platforms will be re-labelled and signages will be put up to guide commuters on the changes.

Future TEL Extension

The new platform at Tanah Merah station will allow the TEL to operate on two tracks. The 14km stretch between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport stations will become part of a new TEL extension, which will pass through the future Changi Airport Terminal 5.

The TEL extension is expected to be completed in the mid-2030s, when the new airport terminal opens.