But advance notice will be given to give commuters ample time to make travel plans, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said on Sunday during a dialogue with residents from the Cheng San-Seletar ward.
Speaking to reporters later, he said both MRT lines are ageing but maintenance cannot be completed in the 1am to 4.30am window every day when trains are not running.
Many of the timber sleepers, which support the rail, are more than 20 years old and due for replacement.
While operator SMRT has started replacing them, it needs more time to complete the work.
Also, it will need time to put in place the new signalling system for the North-South Line from 2016 and the East-West Line, 2018.
The new systems will make it possible for trains to run at an improved frequency of 100 seconds during peak periods, down from 120 seconds now.
The planned shutdowns will be similar to the one in September 2010 when station platforms and an additional viaduct were added to the Jurong East MRT interchange, and two stations were closed each time over two weekends.
Free bus shuttle services took commuters between the affected stations.
Asked how many stations will be closed in the future planned shutdowns, Mr Lui said engineers will have to look at where trains need to be turned around.
No shutdown is planned immediately. A decision on closing segments of the MRT line to replace the sleepers is expected only at the end of the year, Mr Lui said.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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