The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro system in Southeast Asia, after Manila's LRT System. The network has since grown rapidly as a result of Singapore's aim of developing a comprehensive rail network as the main backbone of the public transport system in Singapore with an average daily ridership of 1.81 million in FY08/09, about 59% of the bus network's 3.08 million in the same period.
The MRT has 70 stations (1 of which is not in operation) with 118.9 kilometres of lines and operates on standard gauge. The rail lines have been constructed by the Land Transport Authority, a statutory board of the Government of Singapore, which allocates operating concessions to the profit-based corporations SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit. These operators also run bus and taxi services, thus ensuring that there is a full integration of public transport services. The MRT is complemented by the regional Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems that link MRT stations with HDB public housing estates. Services operate from about 5:30 am and usually end before 1 a.m. daily with frequencies of approximately three to eight minutes, and services extended during festive periods.
So far, all built stations are in operation except Woodleigh Station Since 1987, the Land Transport Authority has been expanding the system in order to connect every neighbourhood/region in Singapore. The North South Line, East West Line, North East Line and part of the Circle Line are operational while the Downtown Line and the remainder of the Circle Line are still under construction. Construction schedules for the Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line have been announced.
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