CR151 - Preview of the CRL trains

 

31 July 2026 - The first two train sets for the Cross Island Line during the unveiling ceremony
at the Singapore Rail Test Centre.

Interior colours chosen from the online poll conducted during the public design consultation.
Cars 1 and 6 will feature light blue, Cars 2 and 5 will feature green & Cars 3 and 4 will feature
dark blue schemes respectively.

Today, SgMC was at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC). The visit was premised under the pretext of the Transport Minister's visit to view the testing of Cross Island Line (CRL) trains in Singapore. During his opening speech for the visit, the Minister also unveiled the alignment and locations of stations & depot for the final phase of the CRL. There will be a separate post on that. In this post, we'll tackle the things that we're sure you're eagerly awaiting for - the design features of the CRL trains. You may recall that the LTA had solicited for the public's opinion on certain design features for the CRL trains. We're bringing you along on this visit to the trains that were on display in static mode at the SRTC today.

Special thanks to Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the invite.

CR151 - The first train arrives

Source: Land Transport Authority (LTA)

Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that the first Cross Island Line (CRL) trainset under contract CR151 had reached Singapore's shores. Upon arrival, the train will be transported to the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) in Tuas for testing & integration works. Similar tests were conducted there for the Circle Line (CCL)'s new batch of third generation trains under contract 851E. Did you manage to catch some of the details from the video that LTA put up? Here's what SGMC has uncovered after a closer look (after the jump).

CR151 - Contract awarded for 44 electric trains

 

Render of the CR151 train awarded to CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
Source: LTA

Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the award of contract CR151 for 44 train sets to CRRC Qingdao Sifang. The contract also includes an option to purchase 11 further train sets. Initially formed of 6 carriages, the trains can be further lengthened to 8 carriages in the future. Here are some of the features unique to the Cross Island Line (CRL) trains:

• Starting capacity with 6-cars per train set
• Future scalability to 8-cars per train set
• Powered via an overhead catenary rail (OCR) - essentially a third rail but affixed to the tunnel roof and capable of transmitting higher voltage
• Wider carriage-to-carriage gangways than available on currently existing trains at 1.6m instead of 1.4m

We had previously posted an image from a presentation showing the large diameter single bored tunnel which showed the inclusion of OCR support equipment within the tunnel. In addition, early renders of the Changi East depot also showed the presence of OCR masts within the depot area.