SMRT Partners Guangzhou Metro For Cross Island Line Bid

Sinapore, August 2026 – SMRT Trains has partnered Guangzhou Metro Group (GMG) to jointly bid for the operating contract of Singapore’s Cross Island Line (CRL), the country’s eighth MRT line and its longest fully underground railway. The partnership combines SMRT’s local operating experience with GMG’s expertise in large-scale metro operations.

The two companies signed their partnership agreement in June ahead of the reopening of the operator tender. The CRL is planned to span approximately 67km and 27 stations from Changi Airport Terminal 5 to Gul Circle, with construction divided into three phases. Its first phase is scheduled for completion in 2030.

A key consideration for the partnership is the CRL’s fixed overhead conductor rail power system. GMG has extensive experience operating networks using this technology, while Singapore currently has only one MRT line—the North East Line—that uses an overhead power system. GMG also operates a network carrying more than nine million passengers daily.

Beyond the operating bid, SMRT and GMG have established the SMRT-Guangzhou Metro Rail Innovation Laboratory at Bishan Depot. The facility is testing technologies including AI-supported commuter flow analysis, systems for monitoring and remotely operating station facilities, and integrated monitoring of track, tunnel and rail systems to identify anomalies and maintenance issues.

The partnership reflects a broader shift towards international knowledge-sharing and digitalisation in urban rail operations. As metro networks become larger and more technologically complex, collaboration between operators can provide access to specialised expertise while accelerating the adoption of predictive monitoring, AI-assisted crowd management and digitally enabled maintenance practices.

Source: The Straits Times