The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced the alignment and station locations for the Cross Island Line Phase 3 (CRL3). This new line will extend the CRL westwards from CR19 station in Jurong Lake District to CR23 station at Gul Circle, enhancing rail connectivity in Singapore’s western region and cutting travel times.
CRL3 is approximately 10 km long and comprises four underground stations – CR20, CR21, CR22 and CR23 stations. Two of the four stations will be interchange stations, with CR21 station connecting commuters to the Jurong Region Line at JS12 station, and CR23 station connecting them to the East-West Line at Gul Circle station. Together with other ongoing rail expansion projects, CRL3 will expand Singapore’s rail network to more than 360 km.
As part of CRL3, a second CRL rail depot of approximately 23 ha will be constructed at the former Raffles Country Club site to house maintenance facilities and stabling for the CRL train fleet. This will be co-located with a multi-storey bus depot, which will provide parking, charging and maintenance facilities for public buses.
Construction works for CRL3 are expected to commence in 2027, with the stations targeted to open by the late 2030s. According to LTA, noise and vibration impact studies will be conducted prior to the commencement of construction works. The authority will engage and work closely with stakeholders to implement comprehensive mitigation measures to address construction noise, dust, safety and traffic concerns.
To facilitate the construction of CRL3 and related road works, the government will need to acquire seven industrial properties. In addition, eight industrial properties will be partially acquired. These partial acquisitions will largely affect ancillary features such as green verges and boundary fences. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has already gazetted the acquisition of the affected land. SLA and LTA will work closely with the affected parties and assist them throughout the acquisition process.
The CRL will be Singapore’s eighth and longest fully underground MRT line, at around 67 km in length. It will serve existing and future developments in the eastern, western and north-eastern corridors, linking major hubs such as Changi, Punggol Digital District, Jurong Lake District and Tuas. It will also provide additional travel options for commuters, helping to reduce crowding across other parts of the rail network. When fully completed, the CRL is projected to have a daily ridership of at least 600,000 in its initial years, growing to one million in the longer term.
Phase 1 of the CRL is approximately 29 km long and comprises 12 stations. Construction works for this phase are progressing well, with completion expected by 2030. The CRL-Punggol Extension, which is around 7 km long and consists of four stations, is scheduled for completion in 2032. CRL Phase 2 spans around 15 km with six stations, and is targeted for completion in 2032. Works are also underway for an approximately 6 km extension from CR2 station to CR1/TE32 station at Changi Terminal 5.
All images: LTA
