Downtown Line
AC951 train atStevens station.
Overview
Native name	Malay:Laluan MRT Pusat Bandar Chinese:滨海市区地铁线 Tamil:டவுன்டவுன் எம்ஆர்டி வழி
Status	Operational (Stages 1, 2 & 3) Under construction (Stage 3 Extension) Under planning (Stage 2 Extension)
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Locale	Singapore
Termini	Sungei Kadut (2035) Bukit Panjang Expo Sungei Bedok (2H 2026)
Stations	35 (Operational)[1] 2 (Under construction) 2 (Under planning)
Color on map	Blue (#005ec4)
Service
Type	Rapid transit Light metro
System	Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Services	2
Operator(s)	SBS Transit DTL Pte Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation)[2]
Depot(s)	Gali Batu Tai Seng East Coast (Future)
Rolling stock	Bombardier Movia C951(A)
Daily ridership	251,556 (July 2020)[3]
History
Planned opening	2H 2026 (Stage 3 Extension) 2035; 10 years' time (2035) (Stage 2 Extension)
Opened	22 December 2013; 11 years ago (2013-12-22) (Stage 1) 27 December 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12-27) (Stage 2) 21 October 2017; 8 years ago (2017-10-21) (Stage 3) 28 February 2025; 8 months ago (2025-02-28) (Hume)
Technical
Line length	41.9 km (26.0 mi) (Operational)[1] 2.2 km (1.4 mi) (Under construction) 4 km (2.5 mi) (Under planning)
Track length	41.9 km (26.0 mi) (Operational)[1] 2.2 km (1.4 mi) (Under construction) 4 km (2.5 mi) (Under planning)
Character	Fully underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	limit of 80 km/h (50 mph)[4]
Route diagram Legend North–South Line toMarina South Pier ■ ■ Thomson–East Coast Line toWoodlands North  NS6  DE2  Sungei Kadut Sungei Bedok  TE31  DT37  North–South Line toJurong East ■ ■ Thomson–East Coast Line toTanah Merah Sungei Bedok  DE1  DE1 East Coast Integrated Depot Gali Batu Depot Xilin  DT36  Expo  DT35   DT1  Bukit Panjang ■ ← toChangi Airport toTanah Merah →  CG1   BP6  ← toChoa Chu Kang toFajar via Petir/Senja → ■ Upper Changi  DT34   DT2  Cashew Pan Island Expressway  DT3  Hillview Tampines East  DT33   DT4  Hume ■ ← toPasir Ris toTuas Link →  EW2   DT5  Beauty World Tampines  DT32  Pan-Island Expressway Tampines West  DT31   CR15  ← toJurong Lake District toAviation Park → ■ Bedok Reservoir  DT30   DT6  King Albert Park Bedok North  DT29   DT7  Sixth Avenue Kaki Bukit  DT28   DT8  Tan Kah Kee Tai Seng Facility Building  CC19  Circle Line toHarbourFront ■ Ubi  DT27   DT9  Botanic Gardens  CC10   TE11  ← toBayshore toWoodlands North → ■ MacPherson  DT26   DT10  Stevens Kallang–P.L. Expressway  DT11  Newton Mattar  DT25   NS21  ← toMarina South Pier toJurong East → ■ Pan Island Expressway Central Expressway Geylang Bahru  DT24  North East Line toPunggol Coast ■ Kallang River  DT12  NE7  Little India Bendemeer  DT23   DT13  Rochor Jalan Besar  DT22   DT21  Bencoolen ■ East–West Line toPasir Ris  DT20  Fort Canning Bugis  EW12  DT14  Singapore River ■ East–West Line toTuas Link Promenade  DT15  CC4   NE4  North East Line toHarbourFront ■ ■ Circle Line toDhoby Ghaut  DT19  Chinatown Marina Reservoir  DT18  Telok Ayer Bayfront  DT16  CE1   DT17  Downtown ■ Circle Line toMarina Bay This diagram: view talk edit

Interactive Map

TheDowntown Line (DTL) is amedium-capacityMass Rapid Transit (MRT) line inSingapore. It runs fromBukit Panjang station in the north-west of the country towardsExpo station in the east via aloop around thecity-centre. Coloured blue on the rail map, the line serves 35 stations, all of which are underground.^[2] The DTL is the fifth MRT line on the network to be opened and the third line to be entirely underground. It is the second MRT line to be operated byComfortDelGro'sSBS Transit after theNorth East Line. It also serves as an alternative to theEast–West Line where it runs roughly geographically parallel fromBugis toExpo station.

Originally planned as three separate lines, the lines merged into the Downtown Line in 2007 and construction began in three stages. Stage 1, fromBugis toChinatown stations^[a] opened in 2013, followed by Stage 2 fromBukit Panjang toRochor stations^[b] opening in 2015. The third and final stage, fromFort Canning toExpo stations,^[c] opened in 2017. At 41.9 kilometres (26.0 mi), the DTL is the longest underground andautomatedrapid transit line in Singapore.^[1] It utilises theBombardier Movia C951electric multiple unit (EMU) and runs in a three-car formation, and is Singapore's second medium-capacity rail line after theCircle Line.

The line is set to have new stations and extensions in the 2020s and 2030s. Aninfill station initially constructed as part of Stage 2,Hume, began operations in February 2025.^[5] Stage 3e, a two-station extension consisting ofXilin andSungei Bedok, is under construction and is scheduled to begin operations from the second half of 2026.^[6] By 2H 2026, it will be about 45 kilometres (28 mi) long with 37 stations, and will serve more than half a million commuters daily.^[7] A two-station extension to connect with theNorth–South Line atSungei Kadut is also being planned and set to open in 2035.^[8]

At the official opening of theDover station on 23 October 2001, then-Minister for Communications and Information TechnologyYeo Cheow Tong announced three MRT lines, two of which―the Bukit Timah Line and the northern part of the Eastern Region Line―are part of today's DTL. The Bukit Timah Line aimed to alleviate the traffic problems along the Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road corridor, and provide a direct link to the city area for residents inChoa Chu Kang andBukit Panjang. The proposed Eastern Region Line, slated to be a loop in the eastern regions, aimed to relieve the passenger load on the often-congestedEast–West Line and benefiting those living inTampines,Bedok andMarine Parade.^{[9]: 16―17 [10][11]}

On 14 June 2005, theLand Transport Authority (LTA) announced the Downtown Extension (renamed to "Downtown Line Stage 1"), which would serve the New Downtown atMarina Bay area, where anintegrated resort (Marina Bay Sands) and Singapore's second botanical garden (Gardens by the Bay) were to be located. The 3.4-kilometre (2.1-mile) extension, estimated to cost S$1.4 billion, was initially announced to be part of the Circle Line.^[12] On 27 April 2007, then Transport MinisterRaymond Lim announced that the Downtown Line would be built in three stages stretching 40 kilometres (25 miles) with 33 stations.^{[13][14][15][16]}

The line was built in 3 stages:Stage 1 of the Downtown Line, stretching 4.3-kilometre (2.7 mi), started construction in January 2008 atChinatown station,^[9]: 30 where platform provisions were built to facilitate an interchange station during the construction of theNorth East Line. It began service on 22 December 2013,^[20] with its official inauguration made on the day before by Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong.^[21]

Stage 2, first conceptualized and announced as the Bukit Timah line on 23 October 2001, is 16.6 kilometres (10.3 mi) long with 12 stations connectingBukit Panjang andRochor stations, including four interchange stations. Construction for Stage 2 began on 3 July 2009 with a groundbreaking ceremony atBeauty World station.^[22][23] The line inaugurated on 27 December 2015, with free travel for all 18 stations from 27 December 2015 to 1 January 2016.^[24][25][26]

Stage 3 goes fromChinatown toExpo. The station locations and finalised route were unveiled on 20 August 2010.^[27][28] Stage 3 of the Downtown Line is 21 kilometres (13 mi) long and serve 16 stations.^[1][29] The route opened on 21 October 2017,^[30] with free travel for all DTL stations on the first two days of the line completion.^[31][32]

The line, with an estimated cost of S$12 billion, was considered the government's most ambitious rail project. The cost exceeded those of the Circle Line (at $6.7 billion) and the North East Line (at $4.6 billion). Final costs of building the line may reach an estimated about S$20.7 billion, up more than 70% from the initial estimation, due to sharp rises in construction costs and a number of changes in plans.^{[33][9]: 19}

In October 2014, it was announced that Stage 2's opening would be pushed back to the first quarter of 2016. This was because one of the main contractors for the DTL2, Alpine Bau (which was buildingKing Albert Park,Sixth Avenue andTan Kah Kee), went bankrupt in mid-2013.^[34] On 28 June 2015,Transport MinisterLui Tuck Yew announced that the delay was "completely resolved" by the authorities and Stage 2's opening date was brought forward to 27 December 2015.^[35][36] The DTL 3 started operations on 21 October 2017, officially opened by Transport MinisterKhaw Boon Wan.^[37][38][39]

To serve the line, theGali Batu Depot was opened in December 2015 to stable 42 trains. It is situated at part of the former Kwong Hou Sua Teochew Cemetery off Woodlands Road.^[40] Also in February that year, the Land Transport Authority announced that the capacity of the depot will be expanded to stable 81 trains by 2019.^[41]

On 7 March 2019,Hume station was announced to be opened by the second quarter of 2025 to better serve Hillview residents.^[5][42] The station was opened on 28 February 2025, ahead of the original timeline.

On 17 January 2013, plans were announced for a southern extension extending fromExpo to connect with theEastern Region Line (ERL); the ERL has since been subsumed into the Thomson–East Coast Line. The extension was to provide more travel options and enhance connectivity for the residents along the East Coast.^[43][44] The Downtown Line 3 extension (DTL3e) was finalised and announced on 15 August 2014, in conjunction with the announcement of the Thomson–East Coast Line.^[45] Two stations,Xilin MRT station andSungei Bedok MRT station, will be added to the Downtown Line, with Sungei Bedok as an interchange station with the Thomson–East Coast Line. It will lengthen the line by 2.2 km (1.4 mi).^[45] Expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, Stage 3e will connect the currentEast–West Line at Expo station and the future TEL atSungei Bedok station.^[46]

An additional extension to the Downtown Line toSungei Kadut station fromBukit Panjang station was announced on 25 May 2019 by the LTA. The extension is set to cut down travel time to the downtown area by up to 30 minutes for those living in the northwestern area of Singapore. The extension is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. A study will also be conducted to determine the stops to be added between the Sungei Kadut and the existing Bukit Panjang stations.^[8]

On 6 December 2024, it was announced that Stage 3e will commence operation in the second half of 2026.^[47]

On 6 January 2025, a 4 km (2.5 mi) extension to the future Sungei Kadut station was announced, including an additional unnamed station between Sungei Kadut station and Bukit Panjang station, slated to begin operation in 2035.^[48][49]

A fire occurred on a maintenance locomotive which was carrying out works atMattar station on 24 May 2024 at around 1:00 am. This resulted in the section betweenFort Canning and Mattar stations to be closed as the locomotive could not be moved until heat from its body dissipated. The fire was put out bySCDF and one staff member was conveyed to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Train services at the affected MRT stations resumed at 7:26 am after more than an hour since the start of train service.^[50]

The Downtown Line generally goes in an east–west direction fromBukit Panjang in thenorthwestern side of Singapore, through thedowntown area of Singapore, toTampines and theSingapore Expo in theeast. It is 41.9 kilometres (26.0 mi) long and is entirely underground. BeforeBukit Panjang station, there exists a brief northwards extension to the line's depotGali Batu Depot. The line begins at the Bukit Panjang station and then goes in the southeast direction, running parallel to Upper Bukit Timah Road and along the Bukit Timah Canal throughBukit Timah. The line then enters thecentral area, passing throughLittle India station before reaching theCentral Business District viaBugis station. The Downtown Line runs parallel to theCircle Line at thePromenade andBayfront stations. Passing through theDowntown Core, the line interchanges with theNorth East Line atChinatown station.

After Chinatown station, the line goes in a northeast direction and under the Singapore River. Between theBencoolen andJalan Besar stations, the line intersects itself, the first MRT line to do so. AfterGeylang Bahru station, the line continues in a general eastwards direction, through the industrial areas ofKampong Ubi andKaki Bukit (briefly paralleling Ubi Avenue 2 and Kaki Bukit Avenue 1), before continuing towards theTampines Regional Centre and goes southwards, ending atChangi Business Park. The DTL3 extension (DTL3e) fromExpo station will extend the line further towards theThomson–East Coast Line atSungei Bedok station.^[52]

Station codes for the line are blue, corresponding to the line's colour on the system map. Most stations have island platforms, with the exception ofDowntown,Telok Ayer,Chinatown andMacPherson stations having side platforms whilstStevens andPromenade stations having stacked side platforms.

The initialLED Dynamic Route Map Display (DRMD) system on DTL trains that was in use from 2013 to 2024 (top), and the currentLCD DRMD which has since replaced the former (bottom).

Legend

Elevated	Lineterminus	Transfer outsidepaid area
Ground-level	Wheelchair accessible	Bus interchange
Underground	Civil DefenceShelter	Other transportation modes

List

Station code	Station name	Images	Interchange; Adjacent transportation	Opening	Cost
DT1 – BP6	Bukit Panjang		Bukit Panjang LRT  ― Bukit Panjang	27 December 2015; 9 years ago	S$452.4 million[d]
DT2	Cashew		—		S$431 million[e]
DT3	Hillview
DT4	Hume			28 February 2025; 9 months ago	S$259.538 million[f]
DT5	Beauty World		Beauty World (2028)	27 December 2015; 9 years ago	S$339.88 million[g]
DT6  CR15	King Albert Park		Cross Island Line  (2032)		S$574.7 million[h]
DT7	Sixth Avenue		—
DT8	Tan Kah Kee				S$572 million[i]
DT9  CC19	Botanic Gardens		Circle Line		S$378.2 million[j]
DT10  TE11	Stevens		Thomson–East Coast Line
DT11 – NS21	Newton		North–South Line		S$356 million[k]
DT12  NE7	Little India		North East Line		S$803.3 million[l]
DT13	Rochor		—
DT14  EW12	Bugis		East–West Line	22 December 2013; 11 years ago	S$582 million[m]
DT15  CC4	Promenade		Circle Line  ― Marina Centre		S$231 million[n]
DT16  CE1	Bayfront		Circle Line Extension		S$463 million[o]
DT17	Downtown		—		S$230.3 million[p]
DT18	Telok Ayer				S$224.9 million[q]
DT19  NE4	Chinatown		North East Line		S$160.3 million[r]
DT20	Fort Canning		—	21 October 2017; 8 years ago	S$255.05 million[s]
DT21	Bencoolen				S$177.58 million[t]
DT22	Jalan Besar				S$171.46 million[u]
DT23	Bendemeer				S$215.24 million[v]
DT24	Geylang Bahru				S$123 million[w]
DT25	Mattar				S$199.85 million[x]
DT26  CC10	MacPherson		Circle Line		S$188 million[y]
DT27	Ubi		—		S$161.71 million[z]
DT28	Kaki Bukit				S$93.8 million[aa]
DT29	Bedok North				S$480.38 million[ab]
DT30	Bedok Reservoir				S$196.46 million[ac]
DT31	Tampines West				S$226.92 million[ad]
DT32 – EW2	Tampines		East–West Line  ― Tampines Tampines Concourse		S$118.5 million[ae]
DT33	Tampines East		—		S$208.52 million[af]
DT34	Upper Changi				S$256.98 million[ag]
DT35  CG1	Expo		East–West Line (Changi Airport Branch Line)  (until mid-2030s)  Thomson–East Coast Line  (after mid-2030s)		S$211.35 million[ah]
Stage 3 Extension (under construction, to be ready by 2H 2026)
DT36	Xilin		—	2H 2026; 1 year's time	S$833.6 million[ai]
DT37  TE31	Sungei Bedok		Thomson–East Coast Line  (2026)		S$418 million[aj]
Stage 2 Extension (under planning, to be ready by 2035)
DE1	DE1	Does not appear	—	2035; 10 years' time	TBA
DE2  NS6	Sungei Kadut	Does not appear	North–South Line  (2035)

Depot name; Lines	Location	Image	Line-specific stabling capacity	Cost	Opening
Gali Batu	Sungei Kadut		81 trains	S$410 million	27 December 2015; 9 years ago
Tai Seng	Hougang	Does not appear	18 trains	S$81.5 million	21 October 2017; 8 years ago
East Coast   EWL   TEL	Changi	Does not appear	66 trains	S$1.99 billion[53][54][55]	2H 2026

As of 2011^[update], the Downtown Line has one type of rolling stock, theBombardier MOVIA C951(A) cars,^[56] running in a three-car formation. They have been stabled atGali Batu Depot since it opened with Stage 2 of the downtown line on 27 December 2015. For the period between the opening of Stage 1 and that of Stage 2, trains were stabled at a maintenance facility that was built atMarina Bay as part of theCircle Line project.Kim Chuan Depot housed the Operations Control Centre for the Downtown Line Stage 1 untilGali Batu Depot was ready.^[57]

On 12 October 2012, the first of 11 trains for the line arrived atJurong Port. It was transported toKim Chuan Depot to undergo testing by theLTA before it was handed over toSBS Transit.^[58] As of 28 February 2013^[update], Bombardier had delivered five of the 11 trains for Downtown Line stage 1.^[59] LTA together with the operator, SBS Transit, conducted the necessary tests to ensure safety standards, functional performance and systems compatibility requirements were met before revenue service began on 22 December 2013.^[60]

Testing for Stage 2 began on 25 October 2015 and rolling stock that was delivered toGali Batu Depot commenced service in Stage 1 on 21 October 2015, while SBS Transit slowly moved the equipment managing the DTL trains to Gali Batu Depot during non-revenue hours.^[9]Kim Chuan Depot, together with the adjacentTai Seng Facility Building, operated in a minor capacity until Stage 3 opened. A new depot, named theEast Coast Integrated Depot, is planned to provide additional stabling capacity to the line in the second half of 2026.^[61] Testing on the integration of systems of Stage 3 and the rest of the line started from 14 May 2017 till 27 August 2017.^[62]

The Downtown Line is equipped withSiemens (previouslyInvensys before Siemens acquisition) Trainguard SiriusCommunications-based train control (CBTC)moving block signalling system withAutomatic train control (ATC) underAutomatic train operation (ATO) GoA 4 (UTO).^[63] The subsystems consist ofAutomatic train protection (ATP) to govern train speed, Controlguide Rail 9000 Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) to track and schedule trains and Trackguard Westrace MK2Computer-based interlocking (CBI) system that prevents incorrect signal and track points to be set.^[64][65]

A fall-back signalling system, relying on conventional track-circuit occupancy detection, is included to ensure fully automatic operation and train protection independent of the radio system.

Platform screen doors (PSDs) along the line were installed by Westinghouse Signal (Invensys Rail Group), supplied byFaiveley.^[66] The PSDs provide safety for passengers, offering protection from arriving and departing trains.^[67][68]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toDowntown MRT line.

• Downtown Line
• The Downtown Line - A commemorative book by LTA detailing the construction of the DTL

• Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) lines
• Railway lines opened in 2013
• 2013 establishments in Singapore
• Automated guideway transit

• CS1 Chinese-language sources (zh)
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from February 2022
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• Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2011
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