The last stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line now has a date. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on 4 November 2026 that Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 5 (TEL5) and the Downtown Line 3 Extension (DTL3e) will open for passenger service on Saturday 26 December 2026. Three stations join the network: Bedok South, Sungei Bedok and Xilin. If you live or work along the East Coast, or commute to Changi Business Park, some of your trips are about to get noticeably shorter.
> Quick view: opens 26 Dec 2026 · new stations TE30 Bedok South, TE31/DT37 Sungei Bedok, DT36 Xilin · Sungei Bedok is a new TEL-DTL interchange · Havelock to Changi Business Park about 45 min (now 1 h 10 min) · 4.3km of new track · adult fares rise 12-13 cents the same day
What opens on 26 December
| Station | Line | Location, per LTA | What it serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE30 Bedok South | Thomson-East Coast | Along Upper East Coast Road, near the Bedok South residential area | Residents and schools nearby, including the Bayshore precinct |
| TE31/DT37 Sungei Bedok | Thomson-East Coast and Downtown (interchange) | Near Upper East Coast Road and Bedok Road | Transfers between the two lines, with underground bicycle parking |
| DT36 Xilin | Downtown | Beneath the junction of Xilin Avenue and Changi South Avenue 3 | Changi South industrial estate and Changi Business Park |
The TEL currently ends at Bayshore and the DTL at Expo. TEL5 adds about 2.1km from Bayshore to Sungei Bedok, and DTL3e adds about 2.2km from Expo to Sungei Bedok. Sungei Bedok becomes the eastern terminus of both lines and only the second place you can change between them, after Stevens.
Which trips get faster
These are LTA's own examples from Annex B of the release:
| From | To | Today | From 26 Dec | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havelock | Changi Business Park | 1 h 10 min | 45 min | 25 min |
| Marine Terrace | Expo | 40 min | 25 min | 15 min |
| Marine Parade | Tampines | 45 min | 35 min | 10 min |
LTA also says more than 240,000 households will be within a 10-minute walk of a TEL station, and over 220,000 within a 10-minute walk of a DTL station. Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow, speaking at the opening of Singapore Urban Mobility Week, said residents in the east will have a direct route up to Woodlands, and eventually to Johor Bahru once the RTS Link is running, The Straits Times reported. That link is not part of this opening: LTA said in October that RTS Link service is now expected in February 2027, subject to safety certification and final approvals.
What LTA has not said yet
The release is short on day-to-day details, so do not plan around any of these yet:
- First and last train times for the new stations are not in the release.
- An open house or free preview ride is not mentioned.
- Bus route changes around the new stations are not mentioned.
What this means for you
- The fare rise lands the same day. From 26 December, adults pay 12 to 13 cents more per card journey, while students, seniors and persons with disabilities pay 5 cents more. Monthly pass prices do not change. The increase applies across the network and is not tied to the new stations. Our fare guide has the full table.
- Check the name before you tap out. Bedok South is a new TEL station, and Sungei Bedok is on the TEL and DTL. Neither is the East-West Line's Bedok station.
- Rework your route after the opening. With a second TEL-DTL interchange, the fastest way across the east may change. Compare routes on a journey planner once the new stations are listed.
- Scheduled dates can move. This is LTA's announced date as of 4 November 2026. Check LTA again before you make plans that depend on it.
The bigger picture
TEL5 completes the line's five-stage opening, bringing it to 29 operational stations over 42.8km, with a future extension to Changi Terminal 5. The DTL grows to 37 operational stations over 44.6km. The next piece on that line, the DTL 2 Extension connecting it to the North-South Line, is expected to be completed in 2035.
Source: Land Transport Authority, "Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 5 and Downtown Line 3 Extension to Open for Passenger Service from 26 December 2026" and Annexes A to C, 4 November 2026. Photo: Land Transport Authority (Sungei Bedok station, from Annex C).
