Downtown Line and Thomson-East Coast Line reliability fell in March; Circle Line improved

The reliability of Singapore’s Downtown Line (DTL) declined in March, dropping from the second to the third most reliable MRT line, while the Circle Line (CCL) showed improvement. Overall MRT reliability remained stable compared to February, with trains averaging 1.74 million train-kilometers between delays lasting more than five minutes, surpassing the national rail reliability target of one million train-kilometers. The North East Line (NEL) maintained its position as the most reliable line, followed by the CCL and then the DTL. The NEL, operated by SBS Transit, slightly improved its reliability to 4.45 million train-kilometers between delays. The CCL, managed by SMRT, saw a significant increase to 2.37 million train-kilometers, up from 1.8 million the previous month. In contrast, the DTL’s performance dropped to 2.1 million train-kilometers from 2.8 million. The East-West Line (EWL) and North-South Line (NSL), Singapore’s oldest MRT lines, ranked fourth and fifth respectively, with relatively stable reliability figures. The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), the newest MRT line operated by SMRT, experienced a decline in reliability due to three delays over five minutes in March, averaging 374,000 train-kilometers between delays. However, TEL’s performance is not included in the overall MRT reliability statistics because it is still in its early operational phase, with lower ridership and train frequencies. The final stage of the TEL, which includes Bedok South and Sungei Bedok stations, is expected to open in the second half of 2026, after which its performance can be more accurately compared with other lines. Light Rail Transit (LRT) reliability also decreased in March, with both the Sengkang-Punggol and Bukit Panjang LRT lines showing reduced distances between delays. The Land Transport Authority continues to monitor these trends as part of ongoing efforts to improve rail service reliability and passenger experience across Singapore’s public transport network.