The Light Rail Transit (LRT) system [b] is a series of local automated guideway transit lines in Singapore. Owned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), [4] the system has three lines: the Bukit Panjang LRT line (BPLRT), the Sengkang LRT line (SKLRT), and the Punggol LRT line (PGLRT). The BPLRT, operated by SMRT Trains, serves the residential estates of Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang, whilst the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines (SPLRT), operated by SBS Transit, serve the estates of Sengkang and Punggol, respectively. [5] Spanning 26.5 kilometres (16.5 mi), [6] the system acts as a feeder service for the country's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. As of 2023 [update] , the LRT system serves an average of 202,000 passengers per day. [7]
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Plans for the LRT system were conceptualised in 1991, in anticipation of Singapore's population reaching four million. [8] In 1994, it was announced by Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan that an LRT line would be built in Bukit Panjang. [9] In August 1996, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced that as part of the Punggol 21 housing concept, a housing plan for Punggol intended to serve as "a model for new towns in the 21st century", an LRT line would be built in Punggol. [10] A month later, Goh also announced that as part of developments for the Sengkang estate, an LRT line would be built there. [11]
The BPLRT opened on 6 November 1999 with 14 stations. The east loop for the SKLRT opened on 18 January 2003. The east loop for the PGLRT opened on 29 January 2005, with the exception of Oasis and Damai stations, which opened later on 15 June 2007 and 20 June 2011, respectively. The west loop for Sengkang opened on 29 January 2005 with the exception of Farmway, Cheng Lim, and Kupang stations, which opened later on 15 November 2007, 1 January 2013, and 27 June 2015, respectively. The PGLRT's west loop began operating on 29 June 2014 with Nibong, Sumang, and Soo Teck stations. Sam Kee, Punggol Point, and Samudera on the PGLRT's west loop opened on 29 February 2016, 29 December 2016, and 31 March 2017, respectively. Ten Mile Junction station on the BPLRT closed on 13 January 2019 due to low ridership. [12] Teck Lee station on the PGLRT's west loop opened on 15 August 2024.
As of July 2025 [update] , there are 42 LRT stations in operation, all of which are elevated stations [13] [14] and have barrier-free access. [15] All stations in operation have fixed platform screen doors, which were added to prevent commuters from falling onto the tracks. [16] There are 13 stations on the BPLRT, 14 on the SKLRT, and 15 on the PGLRT. The BPLRT starts from Choa Chu Kang and goes to the east until Bukit Panjang station, where it loops between Petir and Senja stations in both directions before going back to Choa Chu Kang. [17] There was a branch loop service to Ten Mile Junction via Bukit Panjang and Senja when Ten Mile Junction was in operation. [18] Within the SPLRT, the SKLRT and PGLRT have a loop on their termini's east and west side. There are 8 stations on the SKLRT's west loop and 5 stations on its east loop, with Sengkang station as the terminus for both loops. [19] Trains services run in both directions for both loops. [7] Next to Sengkang station is Punggol station, which is the terminus for both of the PGLRT's loops. There are 7 stations on its west loop and 7 stations on its east loop. [19] Trains services run in both directions for both loops. [20] [21] There are 4 LRT stations that interchange with MRT lines, being Choa Chu Kang with the North–South line, Bukit Panjang with the Downtown line, and Sengkang and Punggol with the North East line. These 4 are also the only LRT stations to be connected to bus interchanges. There are 3 stations planned to interchange with upcoming MRT lines, being Choa Chu Kang with the Jurong Region line and Punggol and Riviera with the Cross Island line.
