Fare gates in mass rapid transit (MRT) systems in Singapore are used in two directions: for entering as well as exiting the stations. The existing fare gates at the North-South, East-West and Circle lines have their fair share of challenges as they are nearing the end of their lifespan. But now these gates will be removed with a new generation of technology to improve customer experience and reduce challenges.
New Fare Gates at NSEWL and Circle Line
French technology firm Thales has won a contract worth $31.68 million from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to replace the fare gates on the North-South, East-West and Circle lines. The existing fare gates at these MRT lines are on the verge of the end of their operational lifespan. They pose maintenance challenges and will become obsolete soon. The new fare gates will be installed by July 2026. Thales will be replacing and installing 1,350 fare gates at MRT stations of these lines. All replacement works will be done during non-operating hours, so commuters will not face any problem using the MRT lines.
New Fare Gate Features
The new gates will have slimmer swing flaps that will open in the direction the commuters are travelling. Currently, the gates have retractable flaps. The new fare gates will be designed in a modular fashion so it becomes easier to upgrade when necessary.
Thales has installed Automatic Fare Collection Gates on the Downtown Line (DTL). Advanced fare gates are also expected to be installed on the NSEWL and Circle Line. Thales will also work on fare gates for the Jurong Region Line, which is slated to begin operations in three phases starting from 2027 to 2029.
Thales and LTA have shared visions – Using the power of digital to build a safe, secured, seamless and reliable journey that is inclusive for all commuters. With the addition of new fare gates on the NSEWL Line and Circle Line, commuters can seamlessly enter and exit MRT stations.
More improvement works are going on in various MRT lines. Recently, rail operator SMRT announced that it is deploying a predictive maintenance system for the Circle Line. This will help to improve rail reliability. SMRT is working with American infrastructure engineering software firm Bentley Systems in implementing the maintenance system on the North-South, East-West line, and Circle Line. The predictive maintenance system collects, processes, and analyses to help engineers visualise data so they can prioritise maintenance and repair works.
Commenting on new technology being introduced in the MRT system, Neo Kian Hong, SMRT CEO, said, “We must ensure that the capabilities and processes required to run the public transport are continuously improved upon. Our Engineering Group is growing its data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to support evolving needs.”
Conclusion
As the North-South Line, East-West Line, Circle Line and the upcoming Jurong Region Line will see modernised and standardised fare gates supplied by Thales, commuters will enjoy travelling via the MRT system. The new fare gates will improve the commuter experience once the new gates are installed in these MRT lines.