DTL 1 on track to open by end-2013 as first train arrives

The first phase of the Downtown Line (DTL) is on track to open by the end of next year, with the first train delivered to Singapore today.

The three-car train arrived by ship at about 8am at Jurong Port, after a 13-day journey from Changchun, China. 

The first of the three cars was lifted out of the ship about five hours later. 

All the three cars will be transferred to Kim Chuan Depot at midnight and will be parked there for tests. 

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is expecting another 10 trains for DTL 1, with the second scheduled to reach Singapore at the end of this month.

LTA says it does not expect any delay in the delivery of trains. 

All 11 driverless trains will be handed over to the operator, SBS Transit, by the third quarter of next year.

The first phase of DTL 1 will have six stations from Bugis to Chinatown. 

LTA said the stations are about 90 per cent complete. 

When completed, the 42-kilometre DTL will be the world's longest driverless underground MRT line.