Changi Airport Skytrain
| Company type | Automated people mover system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Singapore , Singapore |
Area served | Changi Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3 |
| Products | Automated people mover services |
Changi Airport Skytrain
The Changi Airport Skytrain serves as an automated people mover system that links Terminals 1, 2, and 3 within Singapore Changi Airport. Introduced in 1990, it was the first driverless transit system of its kind in Southeast Asia. Operating daily from 05:00 until 02:30, the Skytrain provides complimentary travel between terminals, with typical trips lasting around four minutes.
Since 2006, the fleet has comprised Crystal Mover trains manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Each of the seven stations is equipped with air conditioning, platform screen doors, and plasma screens that display train arrival information.
The Skytrain connects seamlessly with the Changi Airport MRT station, which opened in 2002. This link connects Terminal 1 to the MRT access points at Terminals 2 and 3, significantly improving passenger transfer options.
History
The Skytrain commenced service in November 1990 alongside the inauguration of Terminal 2 at Changi Airport. Initially, it operated between Terminal 2 and Terminal 1 using the Adtranz C-100 vehicles, with journey times approximately one minute.
On 17 March 2006, the system underwent an upgrade to Mitsubishi Crystal Mover trains and extended operations to include the newly launched Terminal 3. The southern segment featuring five additional stations became operational in November 2007.
Service between Stations B and E (linking Terminals 2 and 3) was halted on 24 February 2015 to facilitate construction of Jewel Changi Airport. Transit passenger service resumed on 12 April 2019 with three-car trains, and full access was restored for all travelers by July 2019.
Following a decline in passenger numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services between Stations B and E (Terminals 2 to 3) as well as between Stations A and F were suspended in April 2020. All Skytrain operations ceased by 1 May 2020. Partial restoration occurred on 27 July 2020 for Stations B to C, with further reopening on 17 November 2022 for Stations B to E catering to public passengers.
System
The Skytrain network encompasses seven stations serving Terminals 1, 2, and 3: Station A-South and Station A alongside Station B for Terminal 3; Stations C and D for Terminal 1; and Stations E and F for Terminal 2. Station names correspond to adjacent boarding gates for ease of navigation.
Two separate automated people mover lines operate within the system: the airside-exclusive "PMS South," which links Terminal 2 (Station F) with Terminal 3’s main complex (Station A) including Terminal 3 South Pier (Station A South); and "PMS North," which serves Terminals 1, 2, and 3 across both landside and airside zones. A bypass shuttle runs between Terminals 2 (Station E) and Terminal 3 (Station B), while other routes utilize single-lane shuttles. Landside and airside lanes are segregated between Terminals 1 (Stations C and D) and Terminals 2 and 3.
The Main Operation Control Center is located near Station A-South, supported by a Standby Satellite Control Center within Terminal 3. Both facilities have full capability to oversee the entire Skytrain network.
Adtranz C-100
Initially, the Skytrain operated using Adtranz C-100 vehicles produced through a partnership between Westinghouse and Adtranz (later acquired by Bombardier). Although platforms were constructed to accommodate two-car trains, C-100 units ran individually, with platform screen doors aligned accordingly.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover
In 2002, a S$135 million Mitsubishi Crystal Mover system was introduced to accommodate the opening of Terminal 3 and the resulting surge in passenger traffic. Between December 2004 and March 2006, the original C-100 trains continued to run on one track while the other underwent upgrades. The fully upgraded system became operational in November 2007, coinciding with Terminal 3’s inauguration.
Overview
Mitsubishi supplied a total of 16 Crystal Mover vehicles for use at Singapore Changi Airport, with ten units allocated to PMS/North and six to PMS/South. Five distinct design options, each featuring innovative exterior styling inspired by the original Crystal Mover, were presented; the final design earned the Good Design Award in 2006.
The Crystal Mover offers versatile operational configurations, supporting everything from single-car to multiple-car sets depending on demand. This includes two-car formations for PMS/North landside and PMS/South routes, single-car operations on PMS/North airside, and three-car trains servicing the T2-T3 connection on PMS/North.
The vehicles are painted in a silver and grey color scheme that complements the airport terminal’s palette, while several units display vibrant promotional liveries. Inside, two color themes are used: blue for PMS/North trains and orange for those assigned to PMS/South.
Each Crystal Mover features four wide doors (two on each side). The interior layout includes longitudinal seating at both ends totaling eight seats and a spacious central area designed for standing passengers with luggage and trolleys. Equipment housings at each car’s ends provide flat surfaces that can be utilized for additional seating. The trains are equipped with two LED text panels displaying travel information and two media screens used for airport advertisements.
Train formation
Although each Crystal Mover operates individually during revenue service, they can be coupled into two- or three-car sets. This is facilitated by onboard traction motors and third rail current collectors.
Signalling and operations
The Changi Airport Skytrain employs a sophisticated signaling framework incorporating train detection based on check-in/check-out methods, automatic train control (ATC), and an overrun protection system (ORP) managed through onboard automatic train protection (ATP). Should a train surpass the ORP speed limits, emergency braking is automatically triggered to maintain safety.
The system supports coordinated bypass operations between Terminals 2 and 3, enabling simultaneous arrivals and departures. Station dwell times are dynamically adjusted according to stoppage conditions. Automatic train operation (ATO) controls speed by interpreting signals from wayside control devices to optimize crossing intervals and synchronize train arrivals.
Redevelopment works
In 2015, service between Stations B and E was temporarily halted due to construction work for Jewel Changi Airport. Passengers were directed to use the mezzanine bridge near Changi Airport MRT station, while airside Skytrain service continued between Stations A and F. Landside Skytrain operations between Stations A and F were restored in July 2019.
Expansion
To increase capacity, six additional train cars were introduced in 2019. The shuttle connecting Terminals 2 and 3 was upgraded to operate as a three-car system, while the shuttle serving Terminal 3 to 3 South transitioned to a two-car setup.
Terminal 4, which opened in 2017, is not currently served by the Skytrain network. However, plans for Terminal 5 include an underground automated people mover system.