Sengkang-Punggol LRT Upgrading Works on Track for October Completion

The first phase of the upgrading involves civil construction works on the LRT tracks and viaduct. It starts with wire-saw cutting, or the use of a diamond-infused cable to cut through materials, to remove existing concrete walls along the tracks that weigh one tonne each. The viaduct slab on which the LRT tracks sit will then be manually hacked during the day, with less noisy rebarring works to create a new connecting slab taking place at night.

Following that, existing LRT concrete tracks need to be hacked, and a 140-metre stretch needs to be realigned to level the heights of the new and existing viaduct slabs. These works on two new reception tracks near Layar and Tongkang LRT stations are needed to connect an expanded SPLRT depot to the main SPLRT network. The depot will more than triple in size with the completion of expansion works in 2027, to house the new fleet comprising 25 two-car light rail vehicles.

For the duration of the works, there is no service on the Sengkang West Inner Loop, via Cheng Lim station from Sengkang station. Passengers can use the Sengkang West Outer Loop via Renjong station, which is running entirely with two-car light rail vehicles. A shuttle bus service also operates from Sengkang Bus Interchange on weekdays during peak hours.

Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the works must be “carefully sequenced and carried out for worker safety” and that the system must be thoroughly inspected and tested before being reopened for service. Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling, who is also a Punggol GRC MP, said crowd control measures including the closure of some escalators at Sengkang LRT station have been put in place to prevent “choke points” and minimise danger to commuters.

While the six-month disruption is an inconvenience, the long-term outcome is a significantly upgraded LRT system with a tripled depot capacity and a new fleet of 25 two-car trains. Once completed, the expanded network will improve connectivity for residents across both Sengkang and Punggol, supporting the ongoing development of the Punggol Digital District and the broader North-East corridor.

For property owners and buyers in the area, enhanced public transport reliability is a positive factor for long-term values. The Sengkang-Punggol corridor has seen steady demand for both HDB resale flats and private condominiums, underpinned by young families attracted to the relatively newer housing stock and improving amenities. The completion of the LRT upgrade by October should restore full service and remove the current transport penalty that temporary disruptions create.