Confirmed: The New MRT Chimes Will Be Permanently Implemented in All Trains & Over 70 Stations

If your daily commute includes using the MRT, you might have noticed the new chimes.

If you always take out your phone only to realise it’s a new MRT chime, you’d need to get used to it now.

The MRT chimes is now confirmed to be implemented on all trains and more than 70 stations.

Why Chimes are Now Implemented in MRT Stations

The chimes were first introduced in October of 2023 as a pilot by SMRT. The rail operator partnered with a local arts company, The TENG Company, to trial the new chimes in selected stations, including Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut, Tanah Merah, Expo, Changi Airport, Bayfront, Promenade. Nicoll Highway and Stadium.

The main reason behind its implementation is to enhance the travelling experiences for commuters who are visually impaired by providing aural cues.

Dr Samuel Wong, creative director of The Teng Company, explained in a LinkedIn post that a lot of thought and research was put into the creation of the chimes.

He detailed that not only can this serve as aural cues for the visually impaired, it can also act as as a form of communication for people who do not read or are not fluent in Singapore’s national languages.

Furthermore, the chimes would encourage people to move quickly and allow commuters to distinguish between the different lines.

Three tunes, including Chinese Children’s ditty (The Trishaw), Malay Folk Song Chan Mali Chan and Singai Naadu, the Tamil national day work composed and arranged by Shabir Sulthan, were even chosen as inspiration of the station chimes, marking an emphasis on our multiracial society.

Furthermore, the chimes notably even have brighter sounds for trains going in one direction and mellower sounds for trains going in converse direction.

Here is an example of the chimes, as shared by Tik Tok user, @adiel_rusyaidi.

@adiel_rusyaidi

It’s been a long time since SMRT tried out new chimes for their announcements 🤩

♬ original sound – Adiel – Adiel

Where You can Catch the Melodic Chimes

The chimes will be implemented all stations under SMRT, including North-South Line, East-West Line and Circle Line, and in all trains.

These are the following stations.

North-South Line:

Marina South Pier, Marina Bay, Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset, Orchard, Newton, Novena, Toa Payoh, Braddell, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Yishun, Sembawang, Woodlands, Marsiling, Kranji, Yew Tee, Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak.

Easy-West Line:

Pasir Ris, Tampines, Simei, Changi Airport, Expo, Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, Kallang, Lavendar, Bugis, City Hall, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Outram Park, Tiong Bahru, Redhill, Queenstown, Commonwealth, Buona Vista, Dover, Chinese Garden, Boon Lay, Joo Koon, Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tues West Road and Tuas Link.

Circle Line:

HarbourFront, Telok Blangah, Labrador Park, Pasir Panjang, Haw Par Villa, Kent Ridge. One-north, Buona Vista, Holland Village, Farrer Road, Botanic Gardens, Caldecott, Marymount, Bishan, Lorong Chuan, Serangoon, Bartley, Tai Seng, MacPherson, Paya Laber, Dakota, Mountbatten, Stadium, Nicoll Highway, Promenade, Esplanade, Bras Basah and Bayfront.