From 7am to 8.30pm on weekdays, commuters at 68 SMRT train stations can now tune in to English-language audio news updates from The Straits Times. The three to four minute bulletins, broadcast at the top of each hour, mark a fresh partnership between SPH Media and SMRT Corp announced on 7 October 2026.
- Which stations get ST audio news bulletins?
- What time do the news bulletins broadcast?
- Why is this news service important for commuters?
- What other media services are rolling out at SMRT stations?
- How does this affect your commute?
- Which commuters benefit most?
- What was the partnership between SPH Media and SMRT?
- When will bulletins reach more stations?
- How to experience ST audio news at your station
- Before you tap in
- FAQ
The partnership builds on an agreement between SPH Media and SMRT inked in January 2026 to help passengers stay informed during their commutes. This audio initiative adds trusted journalism to the station environment as part of the SPH Media and SMRT partnership.
Which stations get ST audio news bulletins?
ST audio news bulletins play at 68 stations operated by SMRT across four lines. The bulletins air on the North South Line, East West Line, Circle Line, and Bukit Panjang LRT. However, coverage is not uniform across all stations.
On the East West Line, six stations do not currently broadcast the bulletins: Bedok (EW5), Tanah Merah (EW4), Gul Circle (EW30), Tuas Crescent (EW31), Tuas West Road (EW32), and Tuas Link (EW33). On the North South Line, Braddell (NS18) is also excluded.
The Circle Line, which completed Stage 6 on 12 July 2026, currently has the narrowest rollout. ST audio news bulletins play only at three stations: Keppel (CC30), Cantonment (CC31), and Prince Edward Road (CC32). These three stations opened as part of the final stage linking the southern arc to Marina Bay. SMRT has signalled it is working to bring the bulletins to more Circle Line stations.
The Bukit Panjang LRT, which links to the North South Line at Choa Chu Kang (NS4/BP1), operates on a different broadcast schedule. Bulletins air from 7am to 10am, 11.30am to 2.30pm, and 5pm to 8pm on weekdays only.
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What time do the news bulletins broadcast?
ST audio news bulletins broadcast at the top of each hour, giving commuters a consistent time to expect the latest updates. On most SMRT lines, bulletins run from 7am to 8.30pm, Monday to Saturday, with no broadcasts on Sundays or public holidays.
The Bukit Panjang LRT follows a compressed three-window schedule instead. Commuters on that line can hear the bulletins during morning (7am to 10am), midday (11.30am to 2.30pm), and evening (5pm to 8pm) windows. This reflects the typically lower daytime ridership on the LRT compared to the main lines.
The bulletins do not run in the late evening hours when the network operates at lower capacity. For commuters catching early morning trains or using late-night services (the MRT does not run 24 hours, with the last full-length trains departing terminals between around 11.18pm and 11.56pm depending on the line), this announcement service is not available.
Why is this news service important for commuters?
Commuters juggle work, study, and personal commitments. Many spend 45 minutes to over an hour on the MRT daily, particularly those travelling from the heartlands to the CBD. ST audio news bulletins turn that transit time into an opportunity to stay informed about current events without scrolling through a phone or reading a printed paper.
The partnership acknowledges that commuters value both convenience and credibility. Unlike social media feeds or chat app forwards, The Straits Times offers vetted, professionally reported news. For riders wanting to catch up on Singapore and world events during a brief journey or while waiting for a connection, audio bulletins deliver trusted content in an accessible format.
The rollout signals SMRT’s commitment to enhancing the station environment. Digital displays already show news on station concourses and platforms; audio bulletins now add another layer of engagement. Digital displays already show news on station concourses and platforms; audio bulletins now add another layer of information availability.
For business commuters, the bulletins provide a quick way to catch up on financial, political and business news before arriving at the office. For students and general commuters, staying informed becomes effortless during a journey they already make.
What other media services are rolling out at SMRT stations?
ST audio news bulletins form one part of a larger partnership between SPH Media and SMRT. On 7 October 2026, the companies announced that news from The Straits Times and Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao would appear on digital screens at SMRT station concourses, platforms, and selected bus stations. This expands the reach of SPH Media content far beyond audio.
Notably, newspaper vending machines stocking four SPH Media publications will arrive at SMRT-operated train stations. The machines will carry The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian, and Tamil Murasu. The rollout begins on 15 October 2026 at Choa Chu Kang station (NS4/BP1), with broader deployment expected to follow.
These initiatives form part of a partnership announced in January 2026. SPH Media and SMRT stated that more projects were in the pipeline, suggesting this October rollout is the first phase of a wider content strategy.
How does this affect your commute?
For most commuters, ST audio news bulletins provide an optional enhancement to their journey. Listening is optional; platforms and trains remain fully functional without the broadcasts. However, commuters who value staying informed gain effortless access to credible news during their commute.
Commuters at stations without bulletin coverage (such as Bedok, Tanah Merah, and other excluded stations on the East West Line) are unaffected. The service does not displace standard MRT announcements about safety, delays, or service information, which continue as normal.
Riders on the Circle Line should note the narrow initial rollout to just three stations (Keppel CC30, Cantonment CC31, Prince Edward Road CC32). If you use other stations on the line, the service is not yet available, though SMRT has committed to expanding coverage.
For fares, payment methods (SimplyGo EZ-Link card or contactless mobile wallets), and operating hours, nothing changes. The news bulletins are an addition to the existing commute, not a modification of it.
Which commuters benefit most?
Commuters on the North South Line and East West Line benefit most from broad availability of ST audio news bulletins. These are Singapore’s busiest lines (the East West Line is the longest at approximately 57 kilometres, spanning from Pasir Ris EW1 to Tuas Link EW33), carrying hundreds of thousands of riders daily on longer journeys where a news update fits naturally.
Regular users of Bukit Panjang LRT gain access to the service on its compressed schedule, though the shorter three-window timing reflects lower baseline ridership on that line. Commuters changing at interchange stations such as Dhoby Ghaut (NS24/NE6/CC1) can catch bulletins on any line they use.
Riders in the western CBD and Marina Bay area near the newly completed Circle Line Stage 6 stations (Keppel, Cantonment, Prince Edward Road) have immediate access, aligning with high-traffic locations that draw business commuters.
Commuters at excluded stations on the East West Line (particularly users of Bedok EW5, a major interchange, and the western terminals at Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road, and Tuas Link) do not benefit from this initial rollout. Similarly, riders using Braddell on the North South Line miss out for now.
What was the partnership between SPH Media and SMRT?
According to The Straits Times (the news source for this development), SPH Media and SMRT Corp inked a partnership in January 2026 to help commuters stay informed during their journeys. The October 2026 audio news bulletin launch is the first deliverable from that agreement, with additional projects promised.
SPH Media managing director Kuek Yu Chuang described the initiative as a step toward integrating journalism into the station experience, enabling commuters to access timely, credible information whilst on the move. SMRT Corp group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping highlighted the shared public service ethos between the two organisations, positioning the partnership as a way to combine SMRT’s transport network with SPH Media’s editorial expertise.
This collaboration reflects a growing trend of public transport systems worldwide incorporating media, retail, and information services into station environments. Singapore’s MRT is operated by SMRT and SBS Transit across six MRT lines and three LRT systems.
When will bulletins reach more stations?
SMRT has publicly stated it is working to expand ST audio news bulletins to more Circle Line stations beyond the initial three (Keppel, Cantonment, Prince Edward Road). No specific timeline or target date has been announced for that rollout.
No public commitment exists to add the excluded East West Line stations (Bedok, Tanah Merah, Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road, Tuas Link) or Braddell on the North South Line. These gaps may reflect technical constraints, platform layouts, or ongoing assessment of demand at those locations.
Commuters at stations awaiting access to the bulletins should monitor SMRT’s official communications for expansion announcements. The initial October 2026 launch suggests this is a longer-term programme, not a complete network rollout in a single phase.
How to experience ST audio news at your station
If your regular commute includes one of the 68 covered stations, no action is required. The audio bulletins broadcast automatically at the top of each hour during scheduled times. Simply listen when waiting on the platform or during your journey through the station.
On most SMRT lines, bulletins air 7am to 8.30pm, Monday to Saturday. On Bukit Panjang LRT, they air 7am to 10am, 11.30am to 2.30pm, and 5pm to 8pm on weekdays. Timing your platform visit around these windows lets you catch a full update if desired.
If you prefer not to listen, you can always pick up a printed copy once the newspaper vending machines are fully deployed at your station. Starting 15 October 2026, The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian, and Tamil Murasu will be available for purchase at vending machines in SMRT stations, beginning with Choa Chu Kang.
Before you tap in
The rollout of ST audio news bulletins at 68 SMRT stations marks a shift in how Singapore’s public transport network serves its users. The partnership between SPH Media and SMRT reflects both companies’ commitment to keeping commuters informed and engaged during their journeys. Whether you tune in regularly or pass by without listening, the bulletins are now part of the station soundscape on the North South, East West, and Circle lines, plus Bukit Panjang LRT. For the latest updates on coverage expansion and other SPH Media initiatives at stations, keep an eye on official SMRT announcements.