Singapore’s Circle Line metro network completed its continuous 39 km loop on July 12, 2026, with the launch of Stage 6 connecting Harbour Front and Marina Bay over 4.3 km.
New Stations and Network Expansion
Stage 6 introduced three underground stations named Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road, selected through a public naming vote. These additions complement the existing 33 stations on the Circle Line, 12 of which serve as interchange points.
Operated by SMRT, the Circle Line now comprises a 35.5 km ring plus a branch to Dhoby Ghaut, providing seamless connections to all other Singapore metro lines and offering alternatives to crowded interchange
hubs like City Hall and Raffles Place.
Construction Challenges and Urban Integration
Construction of Stage 6 encountered significant challenges due to the dense urban environment near the port area. Work included tunnelling beneath the active Keppel Viaduct and removing undocumented underground coastal structures, requiring careful engineering and planning.
The three new stations were designed to align with their urban context, featuring accessibility elements such as lifts, escalators, and tactile guidance to assist passengers with disabilities.
Sustainability, Heritage Preservation, and Operations Enhancements
Energy-efficient technologies such as smart lighting, motion sensors, and hybrid cooling systems were implemented in the stations. Facilities include bicycle parking and sheltered links to encourage walking and cycling within
the network.
Cantonment station was integrated with Singapore’s national monument, the historic Tanjong Pagar railway station. Construction necessitated removing some former platforms but reinstated canopy structures upon completion to maintain the heritage site’s historic character.
The new stage’s opening coincided with the introduction of 23 Class C851E Alstom Metropolis trains supplied from Spain, supplementing the existing C830 and C830C fleets to expand the total fleet to 87 trains. To support increased operations, the Kim Chuan Depot was nearly doubled in capacity, now capable of housing 133 trains alongside 550 buses.
Enhanced wayfinding systems were rolled out, featuring improved static signage,
information displays, and announcements highlighting upcoming interchange stations. These updates were piloted at Promenade, Esplanade, Buona Vista, and Paya Lebar stations starting in late May 2026 to prepare passengers for navigating the circular route’s clockwise and anticlockwise services.
The completion of the Circle Line loop provides continuous rail travel around Singapore, simplifying passenger circulation and expanding connectivity options across the metro network.
