Bombardier, a renowned Canadian rail manufacturer, would reportedly be providing over 40 new trains to two of the oldest MRT lines in Singapore. The government plans to replace 40 trains which have been operating for a minimum of two decades in the nation.

The new 40 trains purchased for a total cost of S$337.8 million would be launched on the East-West and North-South Lines from 2024 in a progressive manner, as per by the LTA (Land Transport Authority).

The new trains will be a replacement for the 21 third-generation trains manufactured by Kawasaki-Nippon Sharyo, and 19 second-generation trains purchased from Siemens, the German engineering company. the Kawasaki-Nippon Sharyo third-generation trains were introduced in 2000, while the second-generation Siemens trains began running in 1995,.

The newly ordered trains would first be assembled at the Canadian company’s facility located in Changchun, China with its parts coming from Germany, Sweden, and other nations. They will be equipped with a set of condition-monitoring features that would help address potential faults before they adversely impact commuter service.

The trains would also contain more open spaces for wheelchair users and baby strollers. Likewise, the trains will also have LCD screens giving information about train travel.

The new announcement came two years after the rail manufacturer was awarded the S$1.2 billion deal to replace over 66 first-generation trains from Kawasaki running on the East-West and North-South lines. These 66 trains had been running ever since the establishment of the MRT system in 1987.

The LTA added that all 106 trains supplied by Bombardier running on two lines will have the same design.

Ong Ye Kung, Singapore Minister for Transport stated that combining the acquisition of replacement trains will result in economies of scale, reducing the trains’ purchase as well as operating costs.

Ye Kung further added that after the completion of the replacement, the ministry will have less diverse type of trains. This will help engineers develop a much more deeper level of expertise on each type of train.

Source credit: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mrt-new-trains-north-south-east-west-lines-replaced-bombardier-13155038