The 3rd Stage of the Downtown Line will consist of the initial Eastern Region Line, which was announced in 2001. This route travels to Expo from Chinatown. On the 20th of August in 2010 the location of the station along with a finalized route plan was announced. The 3rd Stage of the Downtown line will run 13 miles (21km) in length and offer 16 stations. Its date of completion is schedules for the 1st half of 2017 for Kingsford Waterbay.

Kingsford Waterbay Singapore

A new depot is currently under construction to serve this line, the Gali Batu Depot, at a section of what was formerly Woodlands Road’s cemetery, Kwong Hou Sua Teochew.

SBS Transit won the bid in August of 2011 and was soon appointed as operator of the Downtown line. Under the established framework, this meant that the authority would remain owner of the line. It is estimated that the final figure for this lines construction could exceed $20.7 billion (S), a figure that is 70% higher than the $12 billion (S) that was originally estimated for the building of the line. Planning for a southern extension were made in January of 2013, with an estimated completion by 2025. This southern extension would travel from Expo and through the area of the East Coast with an interchange at Eastern Region Line.

New Downtown Line in Singapore

December 22nd of 2013 saw service begin on Stage 1 of the Downtown Line, after an official inauguration by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made the day prior for Kingsford Waterbay.

The 3rd Stage of the Extension was announced in 2014 on August 15th, alongside another announcement of the Thomas-East Coast MRT Line. Being added to the Downtown Line are two stations, Sungei Bedok MRT and Park Hill Xilin MRT Stations. Sungei Bedok will serve as an interchange station with the Thomas-East Coast Line. The extension adds on an additional 2.2 kilometres to the line. Stage 3 is due for 2024 and will link the present East West line to the upcoming Thomas-East Coast line which travels through Marine Parade.

Kingsford Waterbay Singapore

Invensys Rail will equip the Downtown Line with a communication based, fully automated, train control system which utilizes a digital radio system that allows for communication between the central control system and trains. There will also be a backup signalling system included, which will rely on detection via the conventional track circuit occupancy. This is meant to ensure operations that are fully automatic as well as independent protection for trains that are independent from the radio system. Also to provide safety for its passengers will be automatic screen doors on the platform to offer passengers Kingsford Waterbay protection from both departing and arriving trains.