New stations will ‘stitch together’ TEL & DTL, says Transport Minister
Over seven months after three new MRT stations opened on the Circle Line, three more new stations will open this year — this time on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and the Downtown Line (DTL).
Announcing the news on Wednesday (4 Nov), Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow described it as a “Christmas present” for Easties.
Source: Jeffrey Siow on Facebook
New stations provide transfer link between TEL & DTL
According to a news release by Land Transport Authority (LTA), the three new stations that are set to begin passenger service on 26 Dec are:
- TE30 Bedok South
- TE31/DT37 Sungei Bedok
- DT36 Xilin station
Bedok South MRT is on the TEL and Xilin MRT is on the DTL, while Sungei Bedok is an interchage station between the two lines.
Their opening will finally connect the lines together, giving commuters a new connection in the east, thereby providing more travel options and strengthening the resilience of the rail network.
Source: Land Transport Authority
Faster journeys to & from the east
The new stations will also provide faster and more convenient journeys for those living and working the east, and make employment nodes such as Changi Business Park and Tampines Regional Centre more accessible.
For example, travelling from Havelock to Changi Business Park would take about 45 minutes via the new link — 25 minutes less than now.
Those coming from the Marine Parade area to Tampines or Expo should save 10 to 15 minutes of travel time.
Source: Land Transport Authority
After the stations open, more than 240,000 households will be within a 10 minute walk of a TEL station, while more 220,000 households will be within a 10 minute walk of a DTL station.
Easties can soon take TEL all the way to M’sia
Speaking at the Singapore Urban Mobility Week 2026 on Wednesday, Mr Siow said the three new stations are a “Christmas present” for Easties, who will enjoy new routes and faster journeys.
They will “stitch together” two major train corridors, he noted, adding:
In fact, residents in the East will be able to take the Thomson-East Coast Line continuously into the city centre, up north to Woodlands, and soon, conveniently across the Straits into Malaysia.
Source: Jeffrey Siow on Facebook
3 new stations to improve access in their vicinities
As for the stations themselves, LTA said Bedok South will improve rail connectivity for residents and schools in the vicinity, including the Bayshore precinct. It is also expected to integrate with future developments in the area.
Source: Land Transport Authority
Sungei Bedok station, the second interchange between the TEL and DTL after Stevens station, will also serve as the eastern terminus of both lines.
The station is located near the corner junction where Upper East Coast Road turns into Bedok Road. It is near Bedok Food Centre and Bedok Camp and will feature underground bicycle parking facilities.
Source: Land Transport Authority
Xilin station, which is under the junction of Xilin Avenue and Changi South Avenue 3, will improve access to the Changi South industrial estate, Changi Business Park and surrounding workplaces.
Source: Land Transport Authority
More new stations to come on TEL & DTL
With the opening of Bedok South and Sungei Bedok station, the TEL’s initial five stages will finally be complete, expanding the line to 29 stations over 42.8km.
More is to come with another extension to Changi Airport, after which the TEL will serve about one million commuters a day.
The DTL also gets its first new stations since Hume opened in February 2025, and first extension since Stage 3 from Chinatown to Expo opened in October 2017.
After the new openings, the DTL will have 37 stations over 44.6km.
Similarly to the TEL, there is also more to come, with two more stations to connect Bukit Panjang to the North-South Line expected to be completed in 2035.
Also read: S’porean Rides All MRT Lines & Rates Them, Both TEL & DTL Ranked 1st
S’porean Rides All MRT Lines & Rates Them, Both TEL & DTL Ranked 1st
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Featured image adapted from Land Transport Authority and Jeffrey Siow on Facebook.
