On the track of the Singapore Railway Testing Center, a silver grey train is quietly dormant. This is the CR151 subway train built by CRRC Qingdao Sifang, which is about to enter the longest fully underground artery in Lion City - the Cross Island Line. From the pantograph on the roof to the five doors, China's intelligent manufacturing is integrating into the pulse of Nanyang's underground transportation with a quieter and smarter posture.

Project Overview

Recently, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore showcased the CR151 subway train, which is about to be put into use, at the unveiling event of the third phase of the Cross Island Line project at the Singapore Rail Testing Centre. The train model was developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. A total of 44 CR151 trains will serve the cross island line this time. The first phase of the line is planned to be opened in 2030 and will be equipped with fully automatic 6-car trains. Singapore also has the option to purchase up to 11 additional trains to match the increasing demand for future passenger flow.

According to the bureau's prediction, the average daily passenger flow during the initial opening of the cross island line will not be less than 600000, and in the long term, the daily passenger flow will climb to 1 million. This CR151 procurement contract was awarded to CRRC Qingdao Sifang by the Singapore Land Transport Authority in June 2023. Two trains have arrived in Singapore by 2026, and the remaining vehicles will be delivered in batches starting from 2027.

The two CR151 trains that have arrived are undergoing multiple tests at the Singapore Railway Testing Center, conducting rigorous verification of train communication signals, integrated monitoring, and communication systems, covering various working conditions such as normal operation, faults, and emergencies. After completing local testing, the train will be sent back to the manufacturer for final adaptation optimization. Bukit Bintang has also adopted the same testing process for its new light rail vehicles.

Speed increase in traffic

As Singapore's eighth and longest fully underground subway line, the CR151 Cross Island Line features multiple designs that balance passenger experience, operational reliability, and maintenance convenience. Each carriage is equipped with five doors on both sides, benchmarking the Thomson East Coast Line trains. Currently, most subway carriages in Singapore only have four doors on one side. The five door design accelerates passenger boarding and alighting speed, shortens station stopping time, and improves line traffic efficiency.

The train is equipped with micro sliding pin doors for the first time, which are different from the traditional sliding doors of the Singapore MRT. They have stronger sound insulation performance and further improve the passenger experience.

Intelligent Operations

The CR151 train abandons the commonly used third rail power supply in the local area and adopts a 1500 volt DC overhead rail power supply mode, which has better energy consumption compared to the traditional 750 volt DC third rail solution. Except for the Northeast Line, all other subway lines in Singapore use third rail power supply. The new trains rely on the overhead pantograph on the roof to obtain power from the overhead guide rails, which is consistent with the power supply mode of the Northeast Line. Keywords: Singapore Cross, CRRC Qingdao Sifang, CR151 train, rail transit

The train is equipped with a status monitoring and fault diagnosis system, which can identify potential equipment hazards in advance and synchronously monitor the status of the axle box and gearbox. Some trains are equipped with automatic track detection systems, which can collect real-time data on the operation status of tracks and overhead guide rails, and assist in the development of operation and maintenance work.Editor/Gong Ziwei