Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) will be supplying the trains.
Set to start operations in 2026, the Jurong Region Line (JRL) will feature a total of 62, three-car trains.
South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) has been awarded the $416.5 million contract for the supply of such trains.
“This is the first time that HRC is supplying new trains for the Singapore market,” revealed the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Thursday (6 February).
The company previously carried out mid-life refurbishments for the first-generation trains of East-West and North-South lines in 2006.
Singapore’s seventh MRT line, JRL will serve both existing and future developments within the western part of Singapore.
Construction works for the line will begin this year, reported CNA.
The fully automated and driverless trains will be designed and manufactured by HRC in South Korea, with the first train set to arrive in Singapore for testing in 2024.
“As the line travels through an already built-up area, each train will be made up of three smaller train cars, so that they are more manoeuvrable along tighter curves,” said LTA.
The trains will have wider doors for easy boarding and alighting and space for strollers and wheelchair users.
They will also feature condition monitoring and diagnostic systems allowing for detection of train faults.
In fact, some trains will be equipped with an automated track inspection system, enabling operators to monitor the condition of the running rail for defects in real-time.
Meanwhile, HRC has committed to establish a base in Singapore in order to “facilitate knowledge transfer and technical support to the JRL operator”, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan at the contract signing with the South Korean company.
“This will also allow HRC to provide the operator with long-term service support for enhanced maintenance of these trains.”
The company also plans to tap on the existing suppliers of sub-systems of other trains within the city-state.
“This allows for greater commonality of spares, and enables more efficient and responsive maintenance support,” said LTA.
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Victor Kang, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email victorkang@propertyguru.com.sg
