The Thomson-East Coast Line is the brown line on the map and the sixth MRT line in Singapore. Its codes start with TE, and SMRT operates it. Today it runs from Woodlands North, near the Johor Strait, south through Thomson and Orchard into Marina Bay, then east along the coast to Bayshore. With its fifth stage, opening on 26 December 2026, it reaches Bedok South and Sungei Bedok. LTA gives the completed line as about 43 km with 32 stations, a total that includes three stations which open with the developments around them. Our MRT and LRT guide sets out how it fits the wider network.
The line is driverless, and LTA notes that its four-car trains are fully automated. LTA also notes that from this line onwards, every entrance to a new station is barrier-free.
From Woodlands to the East Coast
The line starts in the north at Woodlands North, Woodlands and Woodlands South, then runs through Springleaf in Yishun and Lentor and Mayflower in Ang Mo Kio. It continues south through Bright Hill and Upper Thomson in Bishan and Caldecott in Toa Payoh, passes Mount Pleasant, which is built but not open, and reaches Stevens.
From Napier and Orchard Boulevard it runs below Orchard Road at Orchard, then through Great World and Havelock to Outram Park, Maxwell and Shenton Way. Marina Bay is followed by Marina South, which is also built and waiting for its development, and then Gardens by the Bay.
East of the gardens the line crosses to Tanjong Rhu, then follows the East Coast through Katong Park, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, Siglap and Bayshore. From December 2026 it continues to Bedok South and Sungei Bedok.
Station list
The first table shows the 27 stations in service. The second shows Bedok South and Sungei Bedok with their opening date, and the three stations whose opening LTA has tied to their surroundings: Mount Pleasant (TE10), Marina South (TE21) and Founders' Memorial (TE22A).
Stations in service, in order (27)
| Code | Station | Other lines here | eGuide area |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE1 | Woodlands North | – | Woodlands |
| TE2 | Woodlands | NS9 | Woodlands |
| TE3 | Woodlands South | – | Woodlands |
| TE4 | Springleaf | – | Yishun |
| TE5 | Lentor | – | Ang Mo Kio |
| TE6 | Mayflower | – | Ang Mo Kio |
| TE7 | Bright Hill | CR13 2030 | Bishan |
| TE8 | Upper Thomson | – | Bishan |
| TE9 | Caldecott | CC17 | Toa Payoh |
| TE11 | Stevens | DT10 | Novena, Tanglin |
| TE12 | Napier | – | Tanglin |
| TE13 | Orchard Boulevard | – | Orchard, River Valley |
| TE14 | Orchard | NS22 | Orchard, River Valley |
| TE15 | Great World | – | River Valley, Singapore River |
| TE16 | Havelock | – | Bukit Merah |
| TE17 | Outram Park | EW16NE3 | Bukit Merah, Outram |
| TE18 | Maxwell | – | Downtown Core, Outram |
| TE19 | Shenton Way | – | Downtown Core |
| TE20 | Marina Bay | NS27CC33 | Downtown Core, Straits View |
| TE22 | Gardens by the Bay | – | Marina South |
| TE23 | Tanjong Rhu | – | Kallang |
| TE24 | Katong Park | – | Kallang, Marine Parade |
| TE25 | Tanjong Katong | – | Marine Parade |
| TE26 | Marine Parade | – | Marine Parade |
| TE27 | Marine Terrace | – | Bedok, Marine Parade |
| TE28 | Siglap | – | Bedok |
| TE29 | Bayshore | – | Bedok |
Stations announced by LTA, with the target year (5)
| Code | Station | LTA target | Other lines here | eGuide area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TE10 | Mount Pleasant | with the surrounding development | – | – |
| TE21 | Marina South | with the surrounding development | – | Marina South, Straits View |
| TE22A | Founders' Memorial | with the surrounding development | – | – |
| TE30 | Bedok South | 26 Dec 2026 | – | Bedok |
| TE31 | Sungei Bedok | 26 Dec 2026 | DT37 26 Dec 2026 | Bedok |
Interchanges
- Woodlands (TE2) with the North-South Line.
- Caldecott (TE9) with the Circle Line.
- Stevens (TE11) with the Downtown Line.
- Orchard (TE14) with the North-South Line.
- Outram Park (TE17) with the East-West and North East lines.
- Marina Bay (TE20) with the North-South and Circle lines.
From 26 December 2026, Sungei Bedok (TE31) joins the Downtown Line at DT37. Bright Hill (TE7) is planned as an interchange with the Cross Island Line at CR13, targeted for 2030.
Five stages, 2020 to 2026
| Stage | Stations | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| TEL1 | Woodlands North, Woodlands, Woodlands South | 31 January 2020 |
| TEL2 | Springleaf to Caldecott (6 stations) | 28 August 2021 |
| TEL3 | Stevens to Gardens by the Bay (11 stations) | 13 November 2022 |
| TEL4 | Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore (7 stations) | 23 June 2024 |
| TEL5 | Bedok South and Sungei Bedok | 26 December 2026 |
The three Woodlands stations ran on their own for about eighteen months. The second stage linked them to the Circle Line at Caldecott, and the third, in November 2022, brought the line through Orchard into the city and Marina Bay. The fourth stage in June 2024 opened the East Coast section, giving Marine Parade its first MRT stations. The fifth stage was announced by LTA on 4 November 2026; our TEL5 and DTL3e article covers it.
Stations that wait for their surroundings
Three stations on the line have been planned so that they open when the places around them are ready. Mount Pleasant (TE10), between Caldecott and Stevens, will open with the development around it. Marina South (TE21) has been built, and trains pass through it today. Founders' Memorial (TE22A) will open with the Founders' Memorial at Bay East Garden. LTA's line page sets out this approach for all three.
Beyond 2026
LTA's annual report for 2024/25 lists an extension of the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Cross Island Line to Changi Airport Terminal 5 for the mid-2030s. In the north, the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link has its Singapore station at Woodlands North, near TE1. LTA and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport stated in October 2026 that passenger service is expected to start in February 2027, subject to safety certification and regulatory approvals.
The areas along the line
The Thomson-East Coast Line has exits in Woodlands, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh, Novena, Tanglin, Orchard, River Valley, the Singapore River area, Bukit Merah, Outram, the Downtown Core, Straits View, Marina South, Kallang, Marine Parade and Bedok.
eGuide area pages on this route: Woodlands, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh, Novena, Tanglin, Orchard, River Valley, Singapore River, Bukit Merah, Outram, Downtown Core, Straits View, Marina South, Kallang, Marine Parade, Bedok.
| Planning area | URA region | Stations open | Stations announced | Residents (June 2026) | eGuide page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodlands | North | 3 | 0 | 255,280 | Full guide |
| Yishun | North | 1 | 0 | 231,030 | Full guide |
| Ang Mo Kio | North-East | 2 | 0 | 159,330 | Full guide |
| Bishan | Central | 2 | 0 | 87,810 | Area profile |
| Toa Payoh | Central | 1 | 0 | 148,940 | Area profile |
| Novena | Central | 1 | 0 | 53,930 | Area profile |
| Tanglin | Central | 2 | 0 | 25,190 | Area profile |
| Orchard | Central | 2 | 0 | 1,550 | Area profile |
| River Valley | Central | 3 | 0 | 13,350 | Area profile |
| Singapore River | Central | 1 | 0 | 4,770 | Area profile |
| Bukit Merah | Central | 2 | 0 | 144,690 | Full guide |
| Outram | Central | 2 | 0 | 17,010 | Area profile |
| Downtown Core | Central | 3 | 0 | 6,230 | Full guide |
| Straits View | Central | 1 | 1 | none recorded | Area page |
| Marina South | Central | 1 | 1 | none recorded | Area page |
| Kallang | Central | 2 | 0 | 102,550 | Area profile |
| Marine Parade | Central | 4 | 0 | 48,490 | Full guide |
| Bedok | East | 3 | 2 | 272,120 | Full guide |
A station on a boundary counts in each area it touches. Residents: SingStat, June 2026; the 18 areas together had 1,572,270 residents.
Marine Parade is the area it changed most: all four of its stations sit on this line. Bedok gains two more in December 2026, adding to Marine Terrace, Siglap and Bayshore. Woodlands, a full guide, has three stations at its northern end.
Living along the line
The line connects two of the largest northern towns with the East Coast. SingStat counted 255,280 residents in Woodlands and 231,030 in Yishun in June 2026, and 272,120 in Bedok, which gains two more stations in December 2026. In between it serves Ang Mo Kio and Bishan, the private estates of Thomson and Tanglin, and the city. Marine Parade, with 48,490 residents, had no MRT station inside the planning area until the line's fourth stage opened.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Thomson-East Coast Line open?
In stages: the first three stations on 31 January 2020, and the fourth stage, to Bayshore, on 23 June 2024. The fifth opens on 26 December 2026.
Why do some stations not open with the rest of the line?
LTA has tied Mount Pleasant, Marina South and Founders' Memorial to the developments around them, so each opens when its surroundings are ready.
Does the line go to Changi Airport?
Not today. LTA's annual report lists an extension to Terminal 5, together with the Cross Island Line, for the mid-2030s.
Who operates it?
SMRT.
Which areas gain stations in December 2026?
Bedok gains Bedok South and Sungei Bedok, and Sungei Bedok links the line with the Downtown Line.
Sources
- Land Transport Authority, Thomson-East Coast Line page: length, station count, stage opening dates, automated trains, barrier-free entrances and the three stations tied to developments.
- Land Transport Authority news release, 4 November 2026: TEL5 opens on 26 December 2026.
- Land Transport Authority, Annual Report 2024/25: Thomson-East Coast and Cross Island lines to Terminal 5 in the mid-2030s.
- Land Transport Authority and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport, RTS Link update, October 2026.
- Land Transport Authority, rail system map and MRT station exits (data.gov.sg, 18 October 2026).