Tunnel strengthening works on the Circle Line caused delays of up to 30 minutes during peak hours and up to 10 minutes at other times between January 17 and April 19, 2026, affecting commuters in Singapore [1, 2]. Stations including Mountbatten, Dakota, and Paya Lebar deployed staff with light sticks to guide commuters and manage crowds amid the disruptions [1, 2].
A survey conducted in February among 1,010 public transport users found that 70% regarded backend transport technologies—those that operate behind the scenes—as important to them [1, 2]. Moreover, 75% said that knowing about such technologies increased their confidence in the safety and performance of the public transport network [1, 2]. The survey was commissioned by SPH Media and SMRT, with respondents sourced from Kantar Profiles Audience Network [1, 2].
Ms Celine Tan, a 30-year-old operations executive who uses the MRT 3-4 times weekly, noticed longer travel times during the tunnel works but expressed understanding of the complexity involved. She said, “I don’t like it, but I understand that this was necessary,” and added, “A lot of coordination and technology must be happening behind the scenes to keep (such a large system) running smoothly every day.” She also remarked that the experience made her more patient during occasional disruptions, noting, “It also makes me more understanding when disruptions happen occasionally because there are so many moving parts involved.” [1]
With tunnel strengthening scheduled to end on April 19, normal Circle Line service is expected to resume thereafter [1, 2].
