Downtown Line 3 Extension
Look forward to as much as 15 minutes reduction in traveling time from east to west with the Downtown Line 3 extension (DTLe).
With the addition of two stations – Xilin and Sungei Bedok – residents in the Marine Parade area can look forward to more travel options and easier transfers to the East-West Line (EWL) and the future Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).
- Travel time from Marine Parade to Tampines is reduced to about 25 minutes by rail, compared to over 40 minutes by bus currently.
- Greater public transport accessibility to the Changi Business Park and Expo areas.
- Commuters will also enjoy more direct access to the Central Business District.
Commuters in the regions can look forward to more space on the train as DTLe together with TEL and EWL will offer alternative routes for commuter in the region.
Latest Updates
In light of COVID-19-induced factors such as a general manpower crunch due to border closures and materials supply disruptions, the completion timelines for a number of LTA projects have been delayed up to a year. The revised rail completion and opening timelines are being finalised and updates will be issued in due course.
In 2026, the 2.2km future extension of the DTL3 from Expo station will join the EWL and future TEL to allow commuters to easily transfer between the DTL and TEL.
Location of Stations
Xilin
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Sungei Bedok
Key Facts
Number of stations
2
Length of line
2.2 km
Expected completion
2026
Engineering Marvels
The new extension is located near water bodies such as the Sungei Bedok river mouth and several canals. Tunnelling will also have to be done amid a dense maze of underground pipes. These are some of the challenges posed to engineers, who will have to ensure that the construction of the extension is safe and as disruption-free as possible.
Tunnelling through thick marine clay and sand near the river mouth will require the deployment of special construction methods to ensure the structural integrity of the tunnels.
Configuring the tunnels will be complex as multiple tunnel cells are needed for both the DTL and TEL main line and reception tracks. An added challenge is the proximity of the existing deep tunnel sewage system that runs 4m directly below the proposed tunnel.
The Sungei Ketapang and Sungei Bedok canals will both be diverted in stages to make way for tunnel construction. Other diversions to major utility pipes will also be required to construct Xilin MRT station and ease cut-and-cover construction, which will require comprehensive planning and timely coordination with all agencies.
Did You Know?
About 38,000 votes were received!
In finalising the station names, LTA also consulted partnering agencies such as the National Heritage Board, Urban Redevelopment Board, Housing and Development Board, as well as the National Translation Committee’s Resource Panel for the translation and transliterations into Chinese, Malay and Tamil station names. Advisers and grassroots of the respective constituencies where these stations are located were also consulted.
The finalised names for DTL3e are Xilin and Sungei Bedok.
