LTA launches real-time MRT status webpage to improve commuter disruption response

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that it will roll out a new real-time webpage on 13 December 2025 to provide operational status updates across all MRT and LRT lines. The move aims to improve the clarity and timeliness of communication during service disruptions.

The webpage, accessible at mytransport.sg/trainstatus, will go live at 6pm and consolidate information from both SMRT and SBS Transit. The portal will show live status changes during rail incidents, giving commuters centralised and up-to-date information.

Delays will be categorised using a colour-coded system:

• Yellow indicates a minor delay, with services expected to resume within 30 minutes.

• Orange signals a major disruption, where service resumption is likely to take more than 30 minutes.

These classifications are based on historical data regarding similar faults. As situations develop, advisories may be upgraded or downgraded accordingly, and will eventually return to “green” once service resumes fully.

The LTA stated that the new platform will also incorporate information about planned disruptions in the future. This addition responds to past frustrations expressed by commuters who felt unprepared when delays were not communicated early enough.

The announcement follows a policy change made on 3 December 2025, where the LTA directed rail operators to focus on station-level communication for minor delays rather than issue system-wide social media advisories.

The shift prioritises passengers already on-site, reflecting LTA’s findings that travel time advisories often do not account for individual commuter journeys and may cause unnecessary detours.

However, the lack of broader communication during recent delays has sparked criticism. Several incidents, including disruptions on the Thomson–East Coast Line on 18 November and the East–West Line on 2 December, were not posted promptly on SMRT’s social media platforms.

Most recently, on 8 December, a commuter on Reddit reported a delay on the Circle Line from HarbourFront. The user noted trains were running five minutes late and raised concerns about limited communication and uncertainty about wider network conditions.

Commuters have expressed that delays known only upon reaching a station hinder alternative planning and can result in additional costs, such as private-hire rides. LTA acknowledged this concern, stating that social media posts may not appear quickly in a user’s feed, whereas a dedicated webpage ensures timely, consistent access to information.

In cases of major delays, the new system will direct commuters to alternative options such as nearby MRT lines or free bus bridging services. Each advisory will include a timestamp, affected rail line and sector, and whether passengers can remain on the train or should divert their journeys.

When disruptions are classified as major, the LTA and rail operators will still post updates on their official social media platforms. However, social media will now serve as a secondary channel, with the webpage acting as the main source of real-time information.

LTA added that the webpage system mirrors practices in other major cities such as London and Paris, where centralised platforms provide operational rail information during faults.

Looking forward, the authority is also developing additional tools, including a mobile application offering personalised updates based on a user’s real-time location.

It is collaborating with Google Maps to feed more accurate journey-time data into the platform, allowing travellers to adjust plans dynamically during disruptions.

These enhancements come in the wake of the formation of a rail reliability task force in September 2025. The task force was established to improve disruption response following at least 15 rail incidents between July and September.

While the new platform and communication strategy aim to improve transparency and planning, some online commentators have raised concerns. Critics argue that limiting public advisories for minor delays risks undermining transparency and may cause overcrowding on platforms if commuters are unaware of upstream faults.

LTA said it will continue to review commuter feedback and update communication measures accordingly.

“We will continue to improve our approach to communicating information on the status of our rail network,” it stated.