Singapore’s Minister of Transport, Khaw Boon Wan, has unveiled a 
USD 43.3 billion (SGD 60 billion) plan to renew and expand the railway network from currently 230 km to 360 km.
Under the 10-year strategy, around 80% of citizens will live within walking distance of a train station. “We would have achieved or exceeded the level of train connectivity enjoyed by the residents in Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York today. This is our commitment to build a liveable city and to reduce traffic jams as well as carbon emissions,” the minister said.
The plan envisages that in 2023, the North-South and East-West lines will be completely renewed, and the entire Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will enter services. The first stage of TEL (3.2 km) was recently opened, and the second phase will follow within the next few months. Also, in 2023, the North East line will be opened, and in 2024, Downtown Line will follow.
In 2026, the Jurong Region Line will be operational, while the Cross Island Line will enter services in 2029.
The North East Line and Sengkang Punggol LRT will be also renewed.
The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will bring residents in the east and along the North-South Corridor closer to a train station, providing a 35-minute journey instead of currently 50-minute travel. The 43 km TEL is Singapore’s sixth MRT line, adding 32 new stations to the existing rail network.
The 1.6 km North East line’s extension includes the link with new residential estates at Northshore District and Punggol Point District, as well as the Punggol Digital District. The section will enter services in 2023, when the line will have a total length of 20 km and 16 stations, of which six interchanges.
The Downtown Line is Singapore’s fifth MRT line. The line will be extended by 2.2 km served by two stations which will offer 15 minutes reduction in traveling time from east to west Singapore. The extension will cut down travel time to the downtown area by up to 30 minutes for those living in the north-western area of Singapore
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