SMRT mulls over what to do with ageing Bukit Panjang LRT system — including getting rid of it

Residents of Bukit Panjang reacted in horror as news emerged that SMRT was considering getting rid of their troubled LRT system.

That’s not to say that the Bukit Panjang LRT system (BPLRT) is beloved by all during its tenure in the district. Since launching in 1999, operations haven’t exactly been described as smooth — faulty air-conditioning, repeated breakdowns, forgoing station stops, uncomfortably jerky rides and more have marred the reputation of Singapore’s first light rail system. Just last Wednesday, the system went down for eight whole hours. 

Despite its many faults, the 14-station LRT network remains a crucial mode of transport for the folks who live deep inside Bukit Panjang. For many, it’s a preferred option over buses, and a convenient connection to Chua Chu Kang MRT station. 

With the BPLRT system coming to the end of its 20-year lifespan in 2019, Managing Director of SMRT Trains Lee Ling Wee is considering a couple of options aimed to improve public transport in the area. One of which is to scrap the network altogether and return to buses. 

“This is not far-fetched as a fully loaded high capacity bus like a double-decker bus can take 130 passengers, which is more than the 105-person capacity of a single Bombardier CX100 train car used on the BPLRT,” Lee wrote on the SMRT blog. 

But he noted that this would just lead to more congestion on the roads. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has also assured that abolishing the network wouldn’t be practical either, given the road capacity. 

Other considerations include using autonomous guided vehicles that travel on existing viaducts and using an overhauled LRT system with significant design enhancements in key infrastructure. 

Lee also proposed renewing the existing Bombardier system, where an advanced signalling system can have more trains travelling at faster speeds and more accurate controls for more people to enjoy quicker journeys. 

Whatever the decided solution, they’ll cross the bridge when they get there in 2019. For now, Lee has assured that short-term measures are being carried out to boost the reliability of the “legacy system”. An in-depth review of the BPLRT will also be executed to future-proof the transport system, he wrote. 

“This will enable the future system to serve Bukit Panjang residents years from now by providing transport options for safe, reliable, comfortable journey that are cost-effective to operate and maintain”.