The Alstom Movia R151 is the seventh generation electric multiple unit (EMU) rolling stock in operation on the existing North–South (NSL) and East–West (EWL) lines of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. It is manufactured by Changchun Alstom Railway Vehicles[a], a joint venture of Alstom[b] and CRRC Changchun under Contract R151 as part of their Movia family of trains.

Alstom Movia R151
Alstom Movia R151 at Tuas Depot
Interior of the Alstom Movia R151
In service4 June 2023; 17 months ago (2023-06-04) – Present[1]
ManufacturerChangchun Alstom Railway Vehicles[a] (Alstom[b] and CRRC Changchun)
Built atChangchun, China[2]
Family nameMovia[3]
Replaced
Constructed2020 –
Entered service4 June 2023; 17 months ago (2023-06-04)[1]
Number built636 Vehicles (106 Sets)
Formation6 per trainset
Capacity1920 passengers
OperatorsSMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium-alloy construction
Train length138.86 m (455 ft 6+78 in)
Car length
  • 23.83 m (78 ft 2 in) (DT)
  • 22.8 m (74 ft 10 in) (M)
Width3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Height3.7 m (12 ft 1+58 in)
Doors1,450 mm (57+18 in), 4 sets per side of car
Maximum speed
  • 90 km/h (56 mph) (design)
  • 80 km/h (50 mph) (service)
Traction systemAlstom MITrac TC1500 SiCVVVF
Acceleration1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2)
Deceleration
  • 1.2 m/s2 (3.9 ft/s2) (service)
  • 1.3 m/s2 (4.3 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)750 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)Collector shoe
UIC classification2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Safety system(s)Thales SelTrac® moving block CBTC ATC under ATO GoA 3 (DTO), with subsystems of ATP, NetTrac ATS and CBI[4][5]
Coupling systemDellner
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The new rolling stock is set to progressively replace all of the C151s, C651s and C751Bs, which have been in service for at least 20 years. These new trains are part of the North–South and East–West lines' core systems upgrade and renewal programme. 106 six-car high-capacity trainsets comprising 636 cars were delivered from 21 February 2022 onwards, with the first train entering service on the East–West Line on 4 June 2023.[1]

Overview

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In October 2016, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced plans to replace the first-generation rolling stock on the North–South and East–West lines[6][7] as part of an asset renewal programme for the two lines. The LTA awarded the contract for the replacement of the first-generation trains to Bombardier Transportation in July 2018, which comprised the provision of 66 new trains, and their maintenance and technical support, to replace all the first-generation C151 trains, which have been in service for more than 30 years.[2]

On 1 April 2019, Bombardier Transportation and the LTA launched a mockup of the interior of the R151 at the SG Mobility Gallery at LTA's office at Hampshire Road.[8]

In September 2020, the LTA ordered an additional 40 R151 trains at a cost of S$337.8 million, to replace all 19 second-generation C651 trains, and all 21 third-generation C751B trains, which had been in service for more than 20 years. These trains, and the ones ordered in 2018, were to be assembled by Bombardier in Changchun.[9]

The first two trains arrived in Singapore on 21 February 2022,[10][11] and the remaining trains will progressively be delivered. The trains underwent testing and commissioning works before entering passenger service from 4 June 2023.[1]

Tender

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The tender for trains under the contract R151 was closed on 4 September 2017 with 5 bids. The LTA then shortlisted all of them and the tender results were published.[12]

S/N Name of tenderer Amount (S$) Option 9 (Long Term Service Support)[13]
1 Alstom Transport S.A. / Alstom Transport (S) Pte Ltd Consortium 682,696,431.00 S$626,697,233.00
2 Bombardier (Singapore) Pte Ltd 827,075,921.00 SGD 269,652,420.94 + EUR 75,135,673.16 + GBP 2,670,699.27
3 Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. 867,275,662.00 S$307,320,742
4 Hyundai Rotem Company 696,960,000.00 S$517,973,000.00
5 Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. / Kawasaki Heavy Industries(Singapore) Pte Ltd & CRRC Qingdao Sifang Consortium / Singapore CRRC Sifang Railway Vehicles Service Pte. Ltd. Consortium 941,906,324.00 S$1,111,653,342

Design and features

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Driver's cab of the Alstom Movia R151
Car Door Display of the Alstom Movia R151
Ceiling Level Display of the Alstom Movia R151

The exterior of the R151 trains feature a new livery of green and red stripes against a black and white background running around the cars, similar to the C151C. The interior of the trains sport certain design features similar to the C951, such as the matte finishing of the walls, positioning of the overhead lighting as well as the builder plates.

The trains include several unique engineering features, such as an onboard self-test system that checks whether the train is fit for operation prior to revenue service. In addition, four trains will be equipped with an automatic track inspection system consisting of cameras, lasers and sensors to detect rail defects.[2] Condition monitoring sensors and analytic systems will be subsequently equipped on all trains to detect developing faults and to facilitate prompt rectification as part of predictive maintenance.[14]

The trains have wider areas near the doors to facilitate efficient movement of passengers in and out of the train. Preliminary designs of the R151 featured tip-up seats to increase passenger capacity, while catering to parents with prams, wheelchair users and people with personal mobility devices or foldable bicycles without reducing seat count.[15][2] However, these tip-up seats has since been replaced with perch seats in the final product of the R151.[16]

Train formation

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The coupling configuration of an R151 in revenue service is DT–M1–M2+M2–M1–DT. D stands for "driver's desk", M for "motor" and T for "trailer".

Cars of R151
Car Type Driver Cab Motor Collector Shoe Car Length Wheelchair Bay
m ft in
DT       23.83 78 ft 2.2 in  
M1       22.8 74 ft 9.6 in  
M2       22.8 74 ft 9.6 in  

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Formerly Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles.
  2. ^ a b Formerly Bombardier Transportation prior to its acquisition by Alstom.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "First Batch of New North-South and East-West Lines' Trains to Be Rolled Out from 4 June". LTA. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Tan, Christopher (26 July 2018). "North-South and East-West lines to get 66 new trains". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Bombardier Wins Contract to Provide 396 MOVIA Metro Cars for Singapore's North-South and East-West Lines". Bombardier. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. ^ "THALES Urban Rail Signalling Singapore – North-South / East-West Lines" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. ^ Fang, Joy (2 February 2012). "Coming: $600m upgrade for MRT system/New train measures a 'catch-up'". My Paper. pp. A2, A6. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  6. ^ "The Rail Report: New Signalling System, Rail Line and Tuas West Extension Opening Next Year". Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  7. ^ Lim, Adrian. "Launch of upgraded signalling system on North-South Line delayed". Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Virtual experience lets you pick a colour for your train". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  9. ^ Abdullah, Ahmad Zaki (28 September 2020). "40 ageing trains on North-South, East-West MRT lines to be replaced". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  10. ^ Kok, Yufeng (21 February 2022). "New trains for North-South, East-West lines arrive in Singapore". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  11. ^ "New trains for North-South and East-West MRT lines arrive in Singapore". CNA. 21 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Tender Details R151". Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Tender information | Land Transport Authority". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  14. ^ "LTA | First Batch of New North-South and East-West Lines' Trains to Be Rolled Out from 4 June". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ "New fleet to replace 66 oldest MRT trains from 2021". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  16. ^ "More cabin space on new MRT trains for North-South, East-West Lines". CNA. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
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