Commuters travelling in SMRT trains can look forward to a more informed journey starting in the second half of 2026.
SPH Media and Stellar Lifestyle, the business arm of SMRT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Jan 28 to deliver news updates and provide commuters with easy access to print publications.
The first-of-its-kind collaboration aims to transform travel time into a shared public-service experience by integrating news into the daily commute through digital displays, audio bulletins, and newspaper vending machines.
Under this new MOU, SMRT-operated stations will feature digital screens that show relevant news highlights from The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao. Located at both concourse and platform levels, these will keep commuters informed throughout their journeys within the train stations.
Commuters will also hear English news headlines from The Straits Times.
For those who prefer the physical copies of newspaper, new vending machines at SMRT stations will stock SPH Media’s full suite of publications, including Tamil Murasu, The Straits Times, Berita Harian, and Lianhe Zaobao.
These features will be rolled out in SMRT-managed stations: the North-South, East-West, Circle, and Thomson-East Coast lines, as well as the Bukit Panjang LRT.
This ensures that millions of daily commuters across Singapore have access to verified information as they move between home and work.
MOU Signing ceremony
The MOU was Signed by Mr Chan Yeng Kit, CEO of SPH Media, and Mr Ngien Hoon Ping, Group CEO of SMRT Corporation. The signing ceremony took place at the SPH Media auditorium on Jan 28.
“This collaboration brings together two national companies that serve Singaporeans in deeply practical and meaningful ways,” said Mr Chan.
He emphasised that in an era where false information can spread rapidly, the partnership serves a critical social function. “In a fast-moving world rife with misinformation and disinformation, timely and accurate information helps people make sense of events and navigate choices,” he added.
“That is why we strive to provide relevant and credible information to audiences where they are, and in the formats they prefer.”
Mr Ngien echoed these sentiments, stating that, while media and transport may seem like odd bedfellows, both share a core mission of commitment to public service.
He highlighted that the collaboration effectively bridges “ridership and readership”. He also mentioned that the SMRT’s ecosystem provides a powerful platform to ensure trustworthy news reaches people efficiently.
Also introduced during the ceremony was In Perspective, a new year-long research programme that will focus on gathering commuter insights and understanding their expectations of public transport.
