Cross Island Line Opening Date: Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Punggol Extension Timeline
When does the Cross Island Line open? LTA’s target dates for CRL Phase 1 (2030), Phase 2 and the Punggol Extension (2032) and Phase 3 (late 2030s), with station lists and what they mean for Hougang.
The Cross Island Line (CRL) is Singapore’s next big MRT project and, according to LTA, will be the country’s longest fully underground line. It is being built in stages, which is why searches for the “Cross Island Line opening” date turn up several different years. This page puts all of them in one place: what opens when, which stations are in each phase and how firm each date is.
We also explain what the timeline means for Hougang, which becomes a CRL interchange in the first phase, and for LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences), the condo planned directly above Hougang MRT.
Cross Island Line opening dates at a glance
| Section | Route | Length | Stations | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (CRL1) | Aviation Park – Bright Hill | 29 km | 12 | 2030 |
| Phase 2 (CRL2) | Turf City – Jurong Lake District | ~15 km | 6 | 2032 |
| Punggol Extension (CPE) | Pasir Ris – Punggol | 7.3 km | 4 | 2032 |
| Phase 3 (CRL3) | Jurong Lake District – Gul Circle | ~10 km | 4 | Late 2030s |
Source: LTA project page and news releases (July 2025, March 2026). Station counts follow LTA’s descriptions of each phase.
Cross Island Line Phase 1: 2030
Phase 1 is the section that matters most for the north-east. It runs 29 km with 12 stations from Aviation Park near Changi to Bright Hill in Bishan:
- CR2Aviation ParkEastern end, serving the Changi aviation cluster.
- CR3–4Loyang, Pasir Ris EastNew stations in the east.
- CR5Pasir RisInterchange with the East-West Line.
- CR6–7Tampines North, DefuNew stations; Tampines North serves Parktown Residence.
- CR8HougangInterchange with the North-East Line (NE14).
- CR9–10Serangoon North, TavistockNew stations west of Hougang.
- CR11Ang Mo KioInterchange with the North-South Line.
- CR12–13Teck Ghee, Bright HillBright Hill connects with the Thomson-East Coast Line.
In its March 2026 rail update, LTA said Phase 1 had made significant progress, with several stretches of tunnelling completed, and that it remains targeted to open in 2030. Our Phase 1 stations guide describes each stop in more detail, and our guide to the new Defu, Serangoon North and Tavistock stations looks at the stops either side of Hougang.
Has Phase 1 been delayed?
Once. Phase 1 was originally expected around 2029, and the target was pushed back to 2030, with COVID-19 restrictions on construction reported as the reason. Since then, LTA’s published target has stayed at 2030. That is encouraging, but it is still a target for a very large tunnelling project, so it is sensible to allow some buffer in any plans that depend on it.
Cross Island Line Phase 2: 2032
Construction of Phase 2 began in 2025. It extends the line about 15 km westwards with six underground stations:
- CR14 Turf City
- CR15 King Albert Park (interchange with the Downtown Line; LTA says it will be Singapore’s deepest station, at about 50 m)
- CR16 Maju
- CR17 Clementi (interchange with the East-West Line)
- CR18 West Coast
- CR19 Jurong Lake District
LTA’s March 2026 update described early-stage tunnelling works as ongoing, with completion slated for 2032. Once open, the CRL will link the north-east directly to the west, which is where much of its long-term value lies: fewer trips will need to pass through the city centre.
CRL–Punggol Extension: 2032
The Punggol Extension is a 7.3 km branch with four stations running north from Pasir Ris towards Punggol:
- CR5 Pasir Ris (interchange with the East-West Line)
- CP2 Elias
- CP3 Riviera (connection to the Punggol LRT)
- CP4 Punggol (interchange with the North-East Line)
LTA says design and construction of the stations is underway, with completion slated for 2032. For Punggol residents, including the growing Punggol Digital District, it adds a direct route to Pasir Ris and the east.
Cross Island Line Phase 3: late 2030s
Phase 3 is the final westward stretch, about 10 km with four underground stations from the Jurong Lake District station to Gul Circle (CR23). Two will be interchanges: one with the Jurong Region Line (at JS12) and one with the East-West Line at Gul Circle. LTA completed engineering studies and, in March 2026, said it planned to start construction the following year. Completion is slated for the late 2030s. Individual station names for this phase are still largely placeholders.
Cross Island Line completion date for the full line
Put together, the CRL is scheduled to open section by section across roughly a decade, starting in 2030 and finishing in the late 2030s. LTA describes it as more than 50 km long when complete, and it will create multiple new interchanges with existing lines.
Why the CRL is being built in phases
Building a line this long entirely underground takes years of tunnelling beneath homes, roads and existing rail lines. Splitting it into phases lets LTA open the most complete sections first, so residents start benefiting earlier instead of waiting for the entire line. It also spreads construction and cost over time. The downside for buyers is that you will see several different dates quoted for “the CRL”. When reading a property advertisement, check which phase and which station it refers to: a project near a Phase 1 station (2030) is in a very different position from one near a Phase 3 station (late 2030s).
What the timeline means for Hougang
Hougang is in the first phase, which is the most advanced. From 2030, Hougang MRT becomes an interchange between the North-East Line and the CRL. Residents will be able to ride east to Pasir Ris in three stops or west to Ang Mo Kio in three stops, without going into town. Pasir Ris is also a CRL interchange with its own integrated condo, which we compare in Pasir Ris 8 vs LinkTown Residences. From 2032, the same line continues west to Clementi and Jurong Lake District.
See our CRL and Hougang interchange guide for the property angle, and the commute guide for today’s NEL routes.
For LinkTown Residences, the dates line up closely: the development is expected to complete in 2030/2031, around the same time as the CRL Phase 1 target. Residents would move in above an existing NEL station that is, or soon becomes, an interchange. Our location page maps the surroundings.
How to use these dates when buying
- Treat them as targets. LTA updates timelines in news releases and parliamentary replies. Check before you commit.
- Value what works today. A home near an existing station carries less timeline risk than one relying only on a future station. Our guide to buying a condo near MRT sets out what to check.
- Check entrance locations. Distance to the actual station entrance matters more than distance to the line.
If you want updates on LinkTown Residences as the launch approaches, register your interest and we will send details when they are released.
Timelines and station details are from LTA publications as at Sep 2026 and are subject to change. Station names for later phases may be revised. Check lta.gov.sg for the latest.
