light rail transit functioning as feeders to the main mrt network has been under study for some time, particularly since the existing urban configuration of self-containing new towns spread out in the suburbs meant it was feasible to consider having light rail systems connecting each town to the mrt station in the town centre, a role which has traditionally been provided by feeder buses. thus, the first smrt light rail (smrt corporation) operated lrt was opened in bukit panjang in 1999 to provide a connection to choa chu kang in neighbouring choa chu kang new town. although subsequently hit by over 50 incidents, some of which resulted in several days of system suspension, similar systems albeit from a different company were introduced in sengkang and punggol in 2003 and 2005 respectively, both operated by sbs transit.