On 12 July 2026, the Circle Line stopped being a horseshoe. Stage 6 put three new stations between HarbourFront and Marina Bay and closed the loop, so trains can now run the full circle. For people living in the south and the city, it is the biggest rail change of the year. This article sets out what LTA opened, how station codes changed, and what the loop means for the neighbourhoods we cover.
What opened
LTA announced in May 2026 that Circle Line Stage 6 would open for passenger service on 12 July 2026, after a public preview on 4 July 2026. The stage adds three new stations:
- Keppel (CC30)
- Cantonment (CC31)
- Prince Edward Road (CC32)
These sit on the stretch that was previously missing between HarbourFront (CC29) and Marina Bay. With them in place, the line connects HarbourFront directly to Marina Bay, completing the loop.
The station code changes
Completing the loop meant renumbering two existing stations. Before July 2026, Bayfront and Marina Bay carried Circle Line Extension codes, CE1 and CE2. From the opening of Stage 6, LTA renumbered them as part of the main line:
| Station | Before 12 July 2026 | From 12 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Marina Bay | CE2 (with NS27, TE20) | CC33 (with NS27, TE20) |
| Bayfront | CE1 (with DT16) | CC34 (with DT16) |
If you use older maps or station signs in photographs, expect to see the CE codes. On current LTA maps, the Circle Line runs from CC1 Dhoby Ghaut round to CC34 Bayfront.
Where the new stations are
LTA's station exit records place the exits of Keppel and Cantonment in the Bukit Merah planning area, and the exits of Prince Edward Road in the Downtown Core. URA's Master Plan 2025 rail layer marks Keppel and Cantonment in Bukit Merah and Prince Edward Road in the Downtown Core, in line with those records.
In other words, two of the three new stations are in Bukit Merah, and the third is in the city centre.
What changes for residents
Bukit Merah
Bukit Merah gains the most. Before Stage 6, residents in the southern part of the area, around Telok Blangah and Labrador Park, could ride the Circle Line north towards Pasir Panjang, Buona Vista and Bishan, but not east into the city on the same line. Now the Circle Line runs directly from Labrador Park and Telok Blangah through HarbourFront, Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road to Marina Bay. Two of the three new stations are in Bukit Merah itself, adding rail access for homes on the Keppel side. Our Bukit Merah guide lists all nine stations with exits in the area.
Queenstown
The southern Queenstown stations, Pasir Panjang (CC26), Haw Par Villa (CC25), Kent Ridge (CC24) and one-north (CC23), now sit on a line that continues into the southern CBD without a change. For people living near Kent Ridge or Pasir Panjang and working around Shenton Way or Marina Bay, that is a new direct route. See our Queenstown guide.
Southern Islands and Sentosa Cove
There is still no MRT station on Sentosa. But HarbourFront, the nearest station to the island, now has direct Circle Line trains to Marina Bay as well as the North East Line. Our Southern Islands guide explains how Sentosa Cove residents reach the mainland.
Downtown Core
The Downtown Core gains Prince Edward Road, its fourteenth station on LTA's exit records. For residents of the Tanjong Pagar and Anson end of the core, it adds a Circle Line option alongside Tanjong Pagar (EW15) and Shenton Way (TE19). See our Downtown Core guide.
How services run
On the completed line, trains run in both directions round the loop. The short spur to Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah and Esplanade remains, so if your journey uses one of those three stations, check LTA's current service information for the direction and platform to use.
Journeys that change
A few example trips show the difference in station terms. We do not quote journey times, which depend on the time of day and service intervals, but the number of changes tells most of the story.
- Labrador Park to Marina Bay. Before: Circle Line to HarbourFront, then the North East Line into the city and a further change. Now: one Circle Line ride through HarbourFront, Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road to Marina Bay.
- Pasir Panjang or Kent Ridge to the Shenton Way end of the CBD. Before: a change onto the East-West or North East Line. Now: a direct Circle Line ride to Prince Edward Road.
- Telok Blangah to Bayfront. Before: at least one change. Now: direct on the Circle Line via Marina Bay.
- HarbourFront to Marina Bay. Before: no direct Circle Line link between the two. Now: four stops on the Circle Line.
For trips into the northern half of the city, such as Dhoby Ghaut or Bugis, the older routes on the North East, East-West and Downtown lines remain strong options, so it is worth comparing both.
What did not change
Stage 6 did not add a station on Sentosa, and it did not change the North East, East-West or Downtown lines. And with the loop complete, URA's Master Plan 2025 rail layer shows no further Circle Line stations planned inside our twelve neighbourhoods.
Why it matters for choosing a home
A loop changes how far a neighbourhood feels from everywhere else. On a horseshoe line, a station near one end is a long ride from the other. On a loop, trains can go either way, so the longest trips get shorter. For the southern neighbourhoods in particular, Stage 6 means the Circle Line is now a genuine alternative to the East-West and North East lines for getting into the city.
When you compare homes, it is worth checking:
- Which direction you would ride. On a loop, the shorter direction to your workplace may be different from what older maps suggest.
- Interchanges along the way. HarbourFront, Outram Park, Marina Bay and Bayfront all connect to other lines.
- Walking distance to the new stations. Exits at Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road can make a home that was a long walk from rail much better connected.
Questions to ask about a home near the new stations
- How long is the walk from the front door to Keppel, Cantonment or Prince Edward Road?
- Which direction round the loop would you ride for your usual trip?
- Does the new route replace a change of line you make today?
Frequently asked questions
When did Circle Line Stage 6 open?
For passenger service on 12 July 2026, after a public preview on 4 July 2026.
Which stations were added?
Keppel (CC30), Cantonment (CC31) and Prince Edward Road (CC32).
Why did Marina Bay and Bayfront change codes?
Because they became part of the main Circle Line loop. Marina Bay is now CC33 and Bayfront CC34, replacing CE2 and CE1.
Which neighbourhoods are the new stations in?
Keppel and Cantonment are in Bukit Merah. Prince Edward Road is in the Downtown Core.
Is there now an MRT station on Sentosa?
No. HarbourFront, across the water in Bukit Merah, remains the nearest station, but it now has direct Circle Line trains to Marina Bay.
Sources
- Land Transport Authority news releases, 14 May 2026 and 24 June 2026, on the Circle Line Stage 6 public preview and opening for passenger service on 12 July 2026.
- Land Transport Authority, rail system map (CCL6 edition), for station codes.
- Land Transport Authority, MRT Station Exit dataset (data.gov.sg), and URA Master Plan 2025 Rail Station Name layer (data.gov.sg), for station locations by planning area.