Closure of Front Section on Driverless MRT Trains

SMRT and SBS Transit have closed off the front section of the Circle Line, North East Line, and Downtown Line trains. These lines are driverless, and do not have a separate cab to partition the on-board Rover from passengers, unlike those on the East-West Line and North-South Line. This allows additional space for on-board Rovers to be socially distanced from passengers.

SMRT Circle Line

Not all Circle Line trains were observed have the front section closed off to the public.

For those that are closed off to the public, only the absolute front of the section after the 4 seats are closed off. Passengers are allowed to sit down in the open seats just before the “Please Do Not Enter” strap.

The strap will be removed by the Rover at terminals, and will be brought to the new front end of the train to be strapped up again.

SBS Transit North East Line

On the North East Line, the “No Entry” strap is permanent on both ends of the train at all times. All trains were observed to have the strap on. The Rover is stationed on the front end of the train.

The “No Entry” strap is placed just beside the front and back doors, closing off the 4 seats for the on-board Rover to use and to have more space between the Rover and nearest passenger.

SBS Transit Downtown Line

Similar to the North East Line, the Downtown Line trains also have the “No Entry” strap permanent on both ends of the train at all times, and is placed just beside the front and back doors, closing off the 2 seats for the on-board Rover to use and to have more space between the Rover and nearest passenger.

SMRT Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 1

On the Thomson-East Coast Line (Stage 1 era), despite operating with driverless trains without a partitioned cab, no closing off any section of the train for the on-board Rover was observed.

But then again, the entire Thomson-East Coast Line is already socially distanced by default even before COVID-19 with the current low demand of only 3 stations served (Stage 1 era), so perhaps it is not necessary for further adjustments at this point of time.

SMRT Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2

A month into Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 operations, with passenger numbers increasing on the Thomson-East Coast Line now that there are more stations on it, the “No Entry” strap is now seen on board Thomson-East Coast Line trains, permanent on both ends of the train at all times. The Rover is stationed on the front end of the train.

The “No Entry” strap is placed just beside the front and back doors, closing off the perch seats for the on-board Rover to use and to have more space between the Rover and nearest passenger.