Bukit Panjang LRT closing earlier 4 days a week for almost 1 year to facilitate upgrading

Bukit Panjang LRT closing earlier from Thursdays to Sundays from 14 Nov to 31 Oct 2025

Service on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) will be closing earlier on four days a week for almost one year.

According to a news release from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (1 Nov), this is to facilitate upgrading.

Bukit Panjang LRT closing one hour earlier at 10.30pm

The BPLRT will close at 10.30pm every Thursday to Sunday — one hour earlier than usual, LTA said.

This takes effect from 14 Nov to 31 Oct 2025.

An exception will be made for public holidays, when train services will run as normal.

Bukit Panjang LRT closing earlier for signalling upgrade

LTA said the “service adjustment” was necessary to facilitate the upgrading of the BPLRT’s signalling system.

This is part of the network’s renewal programme “that aims to provide commuters with a more reliable and improved travel experience”.

Works to upgrade the existing signalling system to a new Communications-Based Train Control signalling system have been carried out since 2022.

However, intensive testing is required, which can be carried out only during engineering hours, LTA explained.

As each period of testing exceeds the engineering hours available during a typical night, train service needs to be shortened.

Bukit Panjang LRT closing earlier for testing of new vehicles

The early closure is also needed for the testing of the new and retrofitted Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) on the BPLRT network, which will become available progressively over the next year.

19 new trains will replace the first-generation vehicles, which have been in service since 1999, in a process that is “going well”, LTA said.

Four new LRVs have already entered passenger service since 1 Aug, with another currently undergoing testing.

All new and upgraded BPLRT vehicles are expected to enter passenger service by the end of 2025.

The full BPLRT renewal programme is being targeted for completion by the end of 2026.

Alternative travel options available

During the BPLRT’s early closure period, alternate travel options by bus are available for journeys after 10.30pm.

These are bus services serving Bukit Panjang and/or Choa Chu Kang, LTA said.

“LTA will monitor ridership and adjust service levels where required to meet commuter demand,” it added.

BPLRT previously closed early from 22 March to 30 June

The previous early closure of the BPLRT was earlier this year.

From 22 March to 30 June, train service ended at 10.30pm on Fridays and weekends.

This was to facilitate the testing of new trains and systems as part of renewal works, LTA said at the time.

Also read: Bukit Panjang LRT train ‘immobilised’, service disrupted for 5 hours & eventually ends earlier

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Featured image adapted from HargaiNyawa on Flickr.