Starting from today, commuters taking the Circle Line (CCL) can expect shorter waits and less crowded rides with the addition of four new trains, which will increase the capacity of the CCL by 10 per cent^[1]. Between HarbourFront and Promenade where certain stretches see higher ridership, waiting time during the peak period will be reduced from the current 3.5 minutes to 3.2 minutes.

2.   These new trains are the first of the 24 new trains that will be added to the CCL from now until mid 2016. Seven trains are currently undergoing testing at the Kim Chuan Depot and will be deployed later this year.

3.   The new trains come with commuter-centric features such as additional straphangers in the trains and gap fillers to reduce the gap between the platform and the trains. Commuters can also refer to the Dynamic Route Map Display located at the top of each door for their current location, route information and the side the train doors will open at the next station.

4.   For the North East Line (NEL), six of the 18 new trains have arrived and are undergoing testing. The first of these trains will be put into service this August.

5.   Commuters can identify the 42 new trains for the CCL and NEL by the stickers pasted in the cabins (see Annex). These trains are part of LTA’s continuous efforts to add more capacity to the system so that commuters can enjoy a better travel experience. LTA will continue to monitor the ridership along the various rail lines and work with the operators to augment the capacity to meet the long-term projected demand.