Light Rail Transit (Singapore)

Light Rail Transit (LRT)
Platforms of Sengkang LRT station
Platforms of Riviera LRT station LRT station
Platforms of Chua Chu Kang LRT station
A C801A LRT train approaching Pending LRT station
Platforms of Punggol LRT station
From top, left to right: Platforms of Sengkang, Riviera and Choa Chu Kang LRT stations; a C801A train approaching Pending LRT station; Platforms of Punggol LRT station
Overview
Native nameSistem Rel Ringan (Malay)
轻轨列车系统 (Chinese)
இலகு கடவு ரயில் (Tamil)
OwnerLand Transport Authority
LocaleSingapore
Transit typeAutomated guideway transit / People mover
Number of lines2
Number of stations42
Daily ridership208,000 (2019)[1]
Operation
Began operation6 November 1999; 25 years ago (1999-11-06)
Operator(s)SBS Transit Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation)
SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Number of vehicles~89 trainsets
Technical
System length30 km (18.64 mi)
Track gaugeBukit Panjang: 2,642 mm (8 ft 8 in)
Sengkang & Punggol: 1,850 mm (6 ft 2732 in) (guide rail span: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in))
ElectrificationThird rail (Bukit Panjang: 600 volts 3-phase AC at 50 Hz, Sengkang & Punggol: 750 volts DC)
Top speed50–80 km/h (31–50 mph)

The Light Rail Transit system, locally known by the initialism LRT, are a series of localised automated guideway transit (AGT) systems in Singapore which acts as feeder services to the heavy rail Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), and together forms the core of the country's rail transport services. The first LRT line was opened in 1999 and the system has since expanded to two lines, each serving three new towns, namely Bukit Panjang, Sengkang and Punggol, with a total system length of approximately 30 km (19 mi). Trains on these lines have at least one station interchange link to the MRT.

The conventional definition of light rail generally refers to an upgraded form of tram that uses articulated low-floor tram cars and partial grade separation; in some cases such as the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London or the Skytrain in Vancouver, LRT refers to a medium-capacity rail-based light metro system. However, the term "LRT" in Singaporean parlance refers to rubber-tired automated people mover (APM) trains that are more comparable to the Metromover in Miami, the Macau Light Rapid Transit and those found in airport people mover systems, including the Changi Airport Skytrain.[2]

Along with the MRT, the LRT is constructed and owned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), with operating concessions currently handed to SMRT Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation, and SBS Transit Ltd, a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro. With the completion of Singapore's two LRT lines, there are currently no plans for further LRT networks in the future, aside from linking existing LRT stations to newer MRT lines.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Average Public Transport Ridership (2015 to 2019)" (PDF). LTA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. ^ Tai Chong Chew; Chong Kheng Chua (December 1998). "Development of Singapore's Rapid Transit System and The Environment" (PDF). ejrcf.or.jp. East Japan Railway Culture Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ "A Journey into Singapore MRT's past". Remember Singapore. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. ^ "15 Interesting Facts About The MRT You Probably Didn't Know". GoodyFeed. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2020.