Early closure of the NEL stations on four Fridays and Saturdays in April and May 2021

27 April 2021 - Update: We have completed the replacement of all the 132 insulators ahead of schedule. Hence, there will be no early closure between NE1 HarbourFront and NE6 Dhoby Ghaut planned on 7 and 8 May 2021.

Selected MRT stations on the North East Line (NEL) will close earlier on four Fridays and Saturdays in April and May 2021 for intensified replacement works to be carried out on the insulators of the overhead catenary system (OCS), which supplies power to the trains. This will help bring forward the replacement works for completion by May 2021 and enhance reliability of train services for our commuters. 

Starting from next week, on 9 and 10 April, and on 16 and 17 April, NEL stations between NE12 Serangoon and NE17 Punggol will close earlier at about 11.00pm. Train services for the rest of the NEL, between NE1 HarbourFront and NE12 Serangoon, will also operate at longer intervals of about nine minutes during the early closures.

Another stretch of stations between NE1 HarbourFront and NE6 Dhoby Ghaut Stations will similarly close earlier on 23 and 24 April as well as on 7 and 8 May. During this period of early closures, train services will be available from NE6 Dhoby Ghaut to NE17 Punggol Stations. No works will be carried out on the May Day public holiday weekend to avoid inconveniencing our commuters.  

During the early closures on the first two Fridays and Saturdays, Shuttle Bus Service 21 will be available to maintain connectivity for commuters travelling along the affected sector from NE12 Serangoon to NE17 Punggol Stations. The shuttle service will operate at a frequency of about 5 minutes and will stop at designated bus stops/bus interchanges near the affected stations. 

During the early closures on the remaining two Fridays and Saturdays, Shuttle Bus Service 22 will be available to maintain connectivity for commuters travelling along the affected sector from NE1 HarbourFront and NE6 Dhoby Ghaut Stations. The shuttle service will operate at a frequency of about 5 minutes and will stop at designated bus stops near the affected stations.

Fares for the shuttle bus services will follow the same fare structure as the trains.

Extension of Service Hours

To facilitate onward connectivity, southbound train services from NE12 Serangoon to NE1 HarbourFront will be extended to 12.15am during the first two Fridays and Saturdays of the Early Closure. Light Rail Transit (LRT) services will also be extended to 1.10am in Sengkang and 1.15am in Punggol. 

Similarly, northbound train services from NE6 Dhoby Ghaut to NE17 Punggol will be extended to 12.36am during the last two Fridays and Saturdays of the Early Closure. Light Rail Transit (LRT) services will also be extended to 1.03am in Sengkang and 1.05am in Punggol. 

The operating hours of Service 325 will also be extended for the early closures in April and May, with its last bus departing Hougang Central Bus Interchange at 12.50am for the first two Fridays and Saturdays, and at 1.05am for the last two Fridays and Saturdays. For the early closures on the remaining two Fridays and Saturdays, Service 315 will also have its operating hours extended to 1.00am from Serangoon Bus Interchange.

As last train timings vary for each station, commuters are advised to plan ahead by checking the station-specific timings at affected MRT stations, or through SBS Transit’s website at www.sbstransit.com.sg and social media platforms. Commuters should also cater for additional travel time when travelling between affected stations using the shuttle bus service.

Publicity posters will be put up at MRT stations to keep commuters informed of the NEL’s early closures in April and May 2021. Commuters will also be informed via announcements on the MRT platforms and alerts on SBS Transit’s social media pages. Ground staff will be deployed to inform and guide commuters on affected dates.

Please refer to the attached posters for details.