92 SMRT trains to be upgraded by mid-2030s

New systems will enable problems to be detected early and cut breakdowns

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan Correspondent

By the mid-2030s, 92 trains on Singapore's oldest and busiest MRT lines will be upgraded with new systems to detect problems early and reduce breakdowns, rail operator SMRT said on Dec 18.

The trains to get these advanced systems make up just under half of the 198 trains on the North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL). Upgrades will also make train rides safer, smoother and more comfortable, SMRT added.

The first train to be upgraded in this manner - a fifth-generation C151B model in service since 2017 - has already been retrofitted by Chinese train manufacturer CRRC Sifang.

It was returned to Singapore for testing in October, and will undergo further tests until May 2026 before entering passenger service the following month.

The train will serve as proof-of-concept to test the new systems, which will be installed in other fourth-, fifthand sixth-generation trains if they perform as intended. Upgrades are typically carried out when trains are about 15 years old.

Of the 92 trains, 35 are fourth generation, 45 are fifth-generation and 12 are sixth-generation.

The rest of the fleet is made up of the newest seventh-generation trains, 78 of which are currently in service, with another 28 pending arrival or undergoing testing.

Fourth-generation trains have been in service since 2011 and sixth-generation trains since 2018. The first seventh-generation trains entered service in 2023.

The upgraded train also features enhanced air-conditioning and ventilation systems to improve passenger comfort and energy efficiency, SMRT said.