The Downtown Line is the blue line on the map. It is about 42 km long with 35 stations, its codes start with DT, and SBS Transit operates it. LTA describes it as the longest underground driverless line in Singapore: it runs below ground from Bukit Panjang in the north-west, through Bukit Timah and the city, and out to Tampines and Expo in the east. Two more stations open at the eastern end on 26 December 2026, and LTA plans a northern extension for 2035. This page is part of our MRT and LRT guide.
The route in three parts
The line is easiest to picture in three sections, which match the order in which it was built.
In the north-west, it starts at Bukit Panjang, where it meets the Bukit Panjang LRT, and runs south-east through Cashew, Hillview and Hume to Beauty World. It then follows the Bukit Timah corridor through King Albert Park, Sixth Avenue and Tan Kah Kee to Botanic Gardens, Stevens and Newton.
In the city, it calls at Little India and Rochor, then makes a loop through the centre: Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown, before heading back north to Fort Canning, Bencoolen and Jalan Besar.
In the east, it runs through Bendemeer and Geylang Bahru, then Mattar, Macpherson and Ubi, and on through Kaki Bukit, Bedok North and Bedok Reservoir to Tampines West, Tampines, Tampines East and Upper Changi, ending at Expo beside the Changi Airport branch.
Every station in order
Stations in service run from DT1 to DT35. The second table lists the stations LTA has announced: Xilin and Sungei Bedok at the eastern end, opening on 26 December 2026, and DE1 and Sungei Kadut on the northern extension, targeted for 2035.
Stations in service, in order (35)
| Code | Station | Other lines here | eGuide area |
|---|---|---|---|
| DT1 | Bukit Panjang | BP6 | Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang |
| DT2 | Cashew | – | Bukit Panjang |
| DT3 | Hillview | – | Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang |
| DT4 | Hume | – | Bukit Batok |
| DT5 | Beauty World | – | Bukit Timah |
| DT6 | King Albert Park | CR15 2032 | Bukit Timah |
| DT7 | Sixth Avenue | – | Bukit Timah |
| DT8 | Tan Kah Kee | – | Bukit Timah |
| DT9 | Botanic Gardens | CC19 | Tanglin |
| DT10 | Stevens | TE11 | Novena, Tanglin |
| DT11 | Newton | NS21 | Newton |
| DT12 | Little India | NE7 | Kallang, Rochor |
| DT13 | Rochor | – | Rochor |
| DT14 | Bugis | EW12 | Downtown Core |
| DT15 | Promenade | CC4 | Downtown Core |
| DT16 | Bayfront | CC34 | Downtown Core |
| DT17 | Downtown | – | Downtown Core |
| DT18 | Telok Ayer | – | Downtown Core, Outram |
| DT19 | Chinatown | NE4 | Outram |
| DT20 | Fort Canning | – | Museum, Singapore River |
| DT21 | Bencoolen | – | Museum, Rochor |
| DT22 | Jalan Besar | – | Rochor |
| DT23 | Bendemeer | – | Kallang |
| DT24 | Geylang Bahru | – | Kallang |
| DT25 | Mattar | – | Geylang |
| DT26 | Macpherson | CC10 | Geylang |
| DT27 | Ubi | – | Geylang |
| DT28 | Kaki Bukit | – | Bedok |
| DT29 | Bedok North | – | Bedok |
| DT30 | Bedok Reservoir | – | Bedok |
| DT31 | Tampines West | – | Tampines |
| DT32 | Tampines | EW2 | Tampines |
| DT33 | Tampines East | – | Tampines |
| DT34 | Upper Changi | – | Tampines |
| DT35 | Expo | CG1 | Tampines |
Stations announced by LTA, with the target year (4)
| Code | Station | LTA target | Other lines here | eGuide area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT36 | Xilin | 26 Dec 2026 | – | Tampines |
| DT37 | Sungei Bedok | 26 Dec 2026 | TE31 26 Dec 2026 | Bedok |
| DE1 | Station DE1 (LTA lists it by code) | 2035 | – | Sungei Kadut |
| DE2 | Sungei Kadut | 2035 | NS6 2035 | Sungei Kadut |
Interchanges
- Bukit Panjang (DT1) with the Bukit Panjang LRT.
- Botanic Gardens (DT9) with the Circle Line.
- Stevens (DT10) with the Thomson-East Coast Line.
- Newton (DT11) with the North-South Line.
- Little India (DT12) with the North East Line.
- Bugis (DT14) with the East-West Line.
- Promenade (DT15) and Bayfront (DT16) with the Circle Line.
- Chinatown (DT19) with the North East Line.
- Macpherson (DT26) with the Circle Line.
- Tampines (DT32) with the East-West Line.
- Expo (DT35) with the East-West Line's airport branch.
From 26 December 2026, Sungei Bedok (DT37) adds an interchange with the Thomson-East Coast Line at TE31. King Albert Park (DT6) is planned as a Cross Island Line interchange at CR15 in 2032, and Sungei Kadut will link the Downtown Line with the North-South Line in 2035.
Opening history, stage by stage
| Stage | Section | Length and stations | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Line 1 | Bugis to Chinatown | 4.3 km, 6 stations | 22 December 2013 |
| Downtown Line 2 | Bukit Panjang to Rochor | 16.6 km, 12 stations | 27 December 2015 |
| Downtown Line 3 | Fort Canning to Expo | 21 km, 16 stations | 21 October 2017 |
| Hume station | between Hillview and Beauty World | 1 station | 28 February 2025 |
| Downtown Line 3 extension | Expo to Sungei Bedok | 2 stations | 26 December 2026 |
| Downtown Line 2 extension | Bukit Panjang to Sungei Kadut | 2 stations | 2035 (LTA target) |
The city loop came first in 2013, then the north-western arm in 2015, which brought four stations to the Bukit Timah Road corridor. The eastern arm in 2017 completed the original plan. Hume, an in-fill station between Hillview and Beauty World, opened in February 2025 with the code DT4.
The eastern extension adds Xilin (DT36) in Tampines and Sungei Bedok (DT37) in Bedok. LTA announced the opening date on 4 November 2026, together with the Thomson-East Coast Line's fifth stage. Our TEL5 and DTL3e article has the details of both.
Deep stations and a driverless fleet
All Downtown Line trains are driverless. Because much of the line runs under older parts of the city, some stations are very deep. LTA names Bencoolen, about 43 m below ground, as the deepest station on the line.
Areas the line serves
The line has exits in Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah, Tanglin, Novena, Newton, Rochor, Kallang, the Museum area, the Singapore River area, the Downtown Core, Outram, Geylang, Bedok and Tampines, with Sungei Kadut to follow in 2035.
eGuide area pages on this route: Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Timah, Tanglin, Novena, Newton, Kallang, Rochor, Downtown Core, Outram, Museum, Singapore River, Geylang, Bedok, Tampines, Sungei Kadut.
| Planning area | URA region | Stations open | Stations announced | Residents (June 2026) | eGuide page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bukit Batok | West | 3 | 0 | 165,680 | Area profile |
| Bukit Panjang | West | 3 | 0 | 135,110 | Full guide |
| Choa Chu Kang | West | 1 | 0 | 185,520 | Area profile |
| Bukit Timah | Central | 4 | 0 | 86,720 | Full guide |
| Tanglin | Central | 2 | 0 | 25,190 | Area profile |
| Novena | Central | 1 | 0 | 53,930 | Area profile |
| Newton | Central | 1 | 0 | 10,390 | Area profile |
| Kallang | Central | 3 | 0 | 102,550 | Area profile |
| Rochor | Central | 4 | 0 | 12,640 | Full guide |
| Downtown Core | Central | 5 | 0 | 6,230 | Full guide |
| Outram | Central | 2 | 0 | 17,010 | Area profile |
| Museum | Central | 2 | 0 | 860 | Area page |
| Singapore River | Central | 1 | 0 | 4,770 | Area profile |
| Geylang | Central | 3 | 0 | 121,350 | Area profile |
| Bedok | East | 3 | 1 | 272,120 | Full guide |
| Tampines | East | 5 | 1 | 296,060 | Full guide |
| Sungei Kadut | North | 0 | 2 | 700 | Area page |
A station on a boundary counts in each area it touches. Residents: SingStat, June 2026; the 17 areas together had 1,496,830 residents.
Bukit Timah shows what the line changed: four of its six stations, from Beauty World to Tan Kah Kee, are on the Downtown Line. Tampines already has five Downtown Line stations and gains a sixth when Xilin opens, and Bedok gains Sungei Bedok. The Rochor and Downtown Core guides list the city stations.
Living along the Downtown Line
The line ties together places with very different populations. At its eastern end, Tampines and Bedok are two of Singapore's largest towns: SingStat counted 296,060 residents in Tampines and 272,120 in Bedok in June 2026. In the north-west, the line serves Bukit Panjang, with 135,110 residents, and passes Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang. In between, it runs through Bukit Timah's private estates and the city centre, where far fewer people live.
For the eastern towns, the Downtown Line gives a second route into the city alongside the East-West Line, reaching Bugis and Marina Bay by a more northerly path through Geylang, Kallang and Rochor. For Bukit Panjang and Bukit Timah, it is the main fast route into the centre.
Frequently asked questions
Who operates the Downtown Line?
SBS Transit, which also runs the North East Line and the Sengkang and Punggol LRT.
When do Xilin and Sungei Bedok open?
On 26 December 2026, together with Bedok South and Sungei Bedok on the Thomson-East Coast Line.
What is DE1?
The first station on the Downtown Line 2 extension north of Bukit Panjang. LTA lists it by its code, with Sungei Kadut beyond it, and targets 2035 for both.
Is the Downtown Line underground all the way?
Yes. LTA describes it as the longest underground driverless line in Singapore.
Which towns gain from the 2026 extension?
Tampines gains Xilin and Bedok gains Sungei Bedok, which also becomes an interchange with the Thomson-East Coast Line.
Sources
- Land Transport Authority, Downtown Line page: length, station count, stage lengths and opening dates, Hume and Bencoolen.
- Land Transport Authority news release, 4 November 2026: Downtown Line 3 extension opens on 26 December 2026.
- Land Transport Authority, Downtown Line 2 and 3 extensions page: DE1 and Sungei Kadut in 2035.
- Land Transport Authority, rail system map and MRT station exits (data.gov.sg, 18 October 2026).