'Doing everything we can' on MRT congestion

Pointing out that the congestion on the North South Line will ease further when the Circle Line is fully completed next year, Mr Lee announced that from next year, SBS Transit will run an extra train on the NEL during the morning rush hour. Also, SBS Transit will increase its capacity by 50 per cent by buying new trains over the next five or six years, said Mr Lee.

Over the next decade, $60 billion will also be spent on doubling the rail network, including the addition of the Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line.

Urging Singaporeans to "be patient", he noted that trains in all cities "will always be packed during peak hours".

"We can't guarantee that every passenger can get onto the first train everytime, or even that he can get onto the second train everytime, but there will be trains every couple of minutes," he said. MORE