Singapore's MRT Network Faces Reliability Crisis

In a shocking report from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore's MRT network has plummeted to its lowest reliability levels since 2020. Over the 12 months leading up to June 2025, trains managed only 1.6 million train-km without delays exceeding five minutes, a significant drop from the 1.98 million recorded in 2024.

Despite this decline, it's worth noting that the MRT system has set itself a target of one million train-km for reliability, and all lines still managed to surpass this benchmark, albeit with varying degrees of performance.

Spotlight on Line Performance: Who's Winning and Losing?

The recent figures reveal a mixed bag for different MRT lines. The North East Line (NEL) and Circle Line (CCL) showed improvements, but the remaining lines reported disappointing results.

The CCL, operated by SMRT, recorded an average of 1.07 million train-km between delays, a rise from 919,000 in 2024, yet it remains the least reliable line. Meanwhile, the NEL knocked the Downtown Line (DTL) off its pedestal, achieving an impressive 4.23 million train-km without delays.

In contrast, the DTL experienced a decline, managing just 4.12 million train-km, a staggering drop from its peak of 8.13 million in 2024.

LRT Network on the Rise!

While the MRT struggles, the LRT network has been on an upswing, averaging 534,000 car-km between delays—an improvement from 382,000 in the previous year. The Sengkang-Punggol LRT line made headlines by clocking an astonishing 1.25 million car-km without delays, a drastic leap from 549,000 in 2024.

Even the Bukit Panjang LRT managed to enhance its performance, hitting 247,000 car-km between delays up from 232,000.

Disruptions and Delays: What Happened?

Looking back at the early months of 2025, the LTA reported two significant MRT delays lasting over 30 minutes. One incident on the CCL affected 10 stations due to a train fault, leading to emergency shuttle services and free bus transport for passengers.

A Global Perspective: How Does Singapore Compare?

In the report's comparative analysis of global metro systems, Singapore’s MRT showed better reliability than cities like Hong Kong and New York, yet fell short of the performance seen in Taipei’s metro.

While the declining reliability of the MRT raises concerns, the simultaneous rise of the LRT network offers a glimmer of hope in Singapore’s public transport evolution. Will these trends continue to develop, or will the MRT bounce back? Stay tuned!