Singapore’s MRT reliability dips in August as LTA releases first monthly rail report
Singapore’s rail reliability metrics showed a softer performance in August, according to the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) first-ever monthly report on rail reliability. The move to a monthly cadence marks a shift toward greater transparency, with LTA saying the update will provide the public with clearer, more timely insights into how Singapore’s rail network is performing over time.
The primary metric used by LTA to gauge reliability is the mean kilometres between failures (MKBF), calculated as a 12‑month moving average. MKBF measures how far trains travel before a delay exceeding five minutes occurs, offering a broad view of system stability rather than isolated incidents.
August MKBF declines across most mature lines
At the end of August, the overall MRT MKBF stood at 1,740,000 train-km, down from 1,818,000 train-km at the end of July. The target MKBF for the network remains 1,000,000 train-km, a benchmark the MRT has been working toward for several years.
Individual lines showed mixed results. The Downtown Line (DTL) dipped from 4,131,000 train-km to 2,760,000 train-km, while the North East Line (NEL) fell from 4,262,000 train-km to 2,142,000 train-km. LTA attributed these declines in August to one delay on each line, underscoring the MKBF metric’s sensitivity to small changes when the figure is already high.
The East-West Line also experienced a drop, sliding from 2,021,000 train-km to 1,684,000 train-km. In contrast, the North-South Line (NSL) and Circle Line (CCL) registered increases, with the NSL rising from 1,413,000 train-km to 1,648,000 train-km and the CCL from 1,067,000 train-km to 1,245,000 train-km. LTA noted that these fluctuations reflect the dynamic nature of a dense, complex rail network where even single incidents can influence the rolling average.
Ongoing monitoring for TEL and broader reliability efforts
One notable adjustment in the report concerns the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). The TEL’s MKBF and the number of delays lasting more than 30 minutes began to be published in this edition, recognizing the line’s ongoing development. LTA explained that TEL is in an early phase, often referred to as a “bathtub” stage, where teething issues and system updates can temporarily affect performance as the line stabilises.
The agency emphasised that TEL’s performance is expected to improve after full opening in 2026 and once operations stabilise, allowing for fairer comparisons with mature lines. LTA also highlighted that TEL’s current teething issues include the new signalling system in collaboration with the operator and OEMs, with ongoing efforts to resolve these problems.
Light shed on LRT performance and overall reliability strategy
The Light Rail Transit (LRT) network also saw a marginal decline in MKBF, from 442,000 train-km at the end of July to 420,000 train-km at the end of August. On the Sengkang-Punggol LRT, MKBF dropped to 840,000 train-km, while the Bukit Panjang LRT recovered slightly to 209,000 train-km. Acknowledging the evolving data landscape, LTA said it records four delays lasting more than 30 minutes on the MRT network this year, with two such disruptions occurring in August.
Looking ahead, LTA committed to continuing monthly MKBF updates for both the overall MRT network and each individual line. The agency also signalled plans to publish additional indicators—such as the proportion of scheduled mileage travelled by revenue trains and the punctuality of trains reaching terminus stations—to enable broader international benchmarking. Preliminarily, LTA is exploring metrics that quantify commuter impact, such as the number of trips affected by disruptions, to be reviewed in the next rail reliability report.
In sum, August’s data reflects a transitional period as Singapore’s rail system gains more granular visibility into performance. While the MKBF is a useful indicator, LTA recognises its limitations and will continue refining how reliability is measured and communicated to commuters.
