Singapore (VNA) – Singapore has broken ground on Phase 2 of its Cross Island Line (CRL), part of a wider effort to encourage the use of public transport through a system that is more user-friendly, accessible, green, and sustainable.
The new phase is scheduled to be operational by 2032.
At the groundbreaking ceremony held on July 7 in Clementi, Acting Minister of Transport Jeffrey Siow said technical studies for Phase 3 of the CRL are nearing completion, with detailed plans for future stations, particularly those serving the Jurong Industrial Estate, to be released by late 2025.
Describing the CRL as Singapore’s next “outer ring” MRT line, Siow emphasised that it will provide commuters with more route options and resilience in case of service disruptions or maintenance.
Once completed, the Cross Island Line will span 50 km with 21 stations, making it Singapore’s longest and eighth MRT line. It will integrate with the current MRT network via eight interchange stations, enhancing the overall connectivity and capacity of the city-state’s urban rail system.
The CRL project is part of Singapore’s ongoing public investment in urban infrastructure. In June 2024, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attended the launch of Phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), which has helped expand the MRT network from just 67 km in its early years to over 240 km today.
By the 2030, the government aims for 80% of households to live within a 10-minute walk of an MRT station, strengthening Singapore’s commitment to sustainable urban mobility./.
