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Circle Line Schedules 93-Day Tunnel Closures, With Peak Waits Up To 30 Minutes

LTA will install steel plates over a 450m stretch to address “tunnel squatting” in soft clay, with consultants affirming trains can run safely in the adjacent tunnel.

Overview

  • From Jan 17 to Apr 19, 2026, the two parallel tunnels between Mountbatten, Dakota and Paya Lebar will close one at a time, with shuttle trains using the open tunnel at 10-minute intervals.
  • Peak-hour headways will lengthen elsewhere on the line, rising from about 2 to about 3 minutes between HarbourFront and Paya Lebar and from 6 to about 10 minutes from Mountbatten toward Dhoby Ghaut or Marina Bay.
  • Weekday peak shuttle buses begin Jan 5 to link unaffected sections, with services 37A, 38, 37B and 37C operating at intervals of roughly 3 to 10 minutes.
  • LTA expects heavier crowding at Bishan, Serangoon and Buona Vista during peaks and advises commuters to use alternative MRT routes to avoid the affected stretch.
  • More than 300 workers will carry out round-the-clock works to install the steel plates, and LTA says additional interventions may be needed based on continued monitoring.