SMRT announced that the early closures and later openings for the entire East-West Line (EWL) over weekends will continue in April.
This is to free up more hours for testing and improving the network, said a report by Todayonlines.
The 35 stations will close at 11pm every Friday and Saturday, and will open at 8am every Saturday and Sunday. The original operation hours for the MRT stations were from 5.30am daily to around midnight.
Shuttle and express bus services will be made available during the affected period “as an alternative travel option for commuters along the EWL".
Commuters however are advised to "cater for additional travel time when using the shuttle bus service".
"The extended engineering hours allow more time to run the line fully on the CBTC system, and to test the system's integration with the North-South Line (NSL)," said SMRT. The additional time also allowed SMRT to replace track circuits, rail grinding and track tamping, according to a report. "These also include the replacement of the existing concrete track bed near Raffles Place MRT station earlier this year.”
Trains will also travel at a slightly lower speed along the affected stretch during the morning peak period" – both to facilitate the works and as a safety precaution.
