Alstom to install Urbalis system for East-West Line stations

The deal covers upgrading three stations and extending the line to Changi Airport Terminal 5.

Alstom has secured a contract from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to supply a driverless signalling system for parts of the East-West Line that will be integrated with the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) extension.

The deal includes the conversion of Tanah Merah, Expo, and Changi Airport stations to TEL, as well as equipping the line extension to the future Changi Airport Terminal 5 station.

Alstom will provide its Urbalis communications-based train control (CBTC) system, whilst its consortium partner, ST Engineering Urban Solutions Ltd, will provide the data communication system (DCS) and platform screen doors (PSD).

Once complete, the 57-kilometre TEL will run from Tanah Merah to Gardens by the Bay, Maxwell, Orchard, and up to Woodlands North, with a transfer option to the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link.

The TEL is expected to reduce travel time between Changi Airport and Marina Bay from 55 minutes to approximately 45 minutes.

Additionally, journeys between Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay will be shortened to 40 minutes via the TEL, compared to the current 60-minute duration.