All 35 stations on the East-West Line will have shorter service hours over the weekends in March, announced rail operator SMRT on Friday (19^th January). All the stations will close earlier, at 11:00pm, on Fridays and Saturdays as well as open later at 8:00am on Saturdays and Sundays in March.

The shorter hours will allow more time for rail maintenance and renewal work - normally done outside service hours - as well as speed up the implementation of the new signalling system on the East-West Line, said SMRT.

The shorter operating hours on a 10-station stretch of the East-West MRT line, which started this month will continue into the first weekend of February, SMRT added.

At the eight stations between Paya Lebar and Pasir Ris, as well as Expo and Changi Airport stations, train service will stop about an hour earlier at 11:00pm on 2^nd and 3^rd February, and start at 8:00am on 3^rd and 4^th February, instead of 5:30am. Four shuttle bus services will ply between stations during the times trains are not available. Commuters will also have to wait longer for trains.

There will be longer intervals of 10 to 15 minutes between trains on the southern stretch of the North-South Line after 11:00pm on 2^nd and 3^rd February, and before 7:00am on 3^rd and 4^th February. The longer intervals will affect the stretch between Orchard and City Hall, and between Raffles Place and Marina South Pier, in both directions.

There will also be no North-South Line services between City Hall and Raffles Place after 11:00pm on 2^nd and 3^rd February, and before 7:00am on 3^rd and 4^th February. "Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance, and seek alternative transport via other MRT lines or bus services," said SMRT, adding that updates would be provided on its website as well as social media accounts.