SINGAPORE: Commuters travelling between Kembangan and Bedok may have to wait up to 17 minutes during off-peak hours as works to connect the East-West Line to a new train depot enter the final phase. 

The updates were given by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (Dec 5) during a planned 10-day closure of Simei and Tanah Merah MRT, which began on Nov 29.

Trains have not been running between Bedok and Tampines stations, as well as between Tanah Merah and Expo stations. This is to facilitate track connection works to the new East Coast Integrated Depot.

Works are still expected to be completed by Dec 8, with normal service resuming by Dec 9.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Mr Chia Choon Poh, group director of rail (electrical and mechanical) at LTA said that the longer delay is due to retesting works.

“The reason behind this is because we need to make use of one of the platforms at both Bedok and Kembangan stations for testing,” he said.

The retesting process, which began on Thursday afternoon, comprises tests of a third rail that delivers power to trains, as well as making sure trackside equipment does not obstruct the train.

Trains will also be run at a slower speed on the rails to ensure that the track signalling is functioning properly.

Mr Chia added that over the past six days, 880 LTA and SMRT engineers and contractors have worked around the clock to remove the existing track components and rail and reconnect the new rail and tracks to the new depot.

The connection to the depot will allow trains to be housed and maintained there and ease congestion of East-West Line trains.

The four-in-one depot will house trains from the East-West Line, Downtown Line and Thomson East-Coast Line, as well as buses at a bus depot.

While the engineers were working on the tracks, more than 280 staff from LTA, SMRT, and SBS Transit were deployed to help commuters in their journeys, such as by ushering commuters to shuttle buses.

Two shuttle routes have been operating between affected stations to maintain connectivity.

• Shuttle bus 7 travels between Bedok and Tampines stations at a frequency of three to five minutes, stopping at Tanah Merah and Simei stations en route.
• Shuttle bus 8 runs between Bedok and Expo stations, ...