However, the term "LRT" in Singaporean parlance refers to rubber-tired automated people mover (APM) trains that are more comparable to the Metromover in Miami, the Macau Light Rapid Transit and those found in airport people mover systems, including the Changi Airport Skytrain.

[3][4] In September 1991, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) unveiled the revised Concept Plan 1991, which proposed a new mode of feeder rail that could serve new towns such as Yishun and Tampines.

[5] In 1994, then Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan tasked the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) to study the use of an LRT in Singapore, particularly as an internal feeder service for new towns.

MRTC also commissioned British consultant, Oscar Faber TPA, to conduct a feasibility study for an LRT system in the Beach Road/Nicoll Highway corridor in anticipation of the increased demand for transport services in the area due to several major developments such as Suntec City, Marina Centre and Shenton Way.

On 3 December that year, Mah announced the government's intentions to pilot two LRT systems at Bukit Panjang and Buona Vista.

New LRT systems were also suggested for more mature towns such as Toa Payoh although further decisions were only to be made after the pilot programmes were conducted.

[5] Eventually, the proposed LRT around Buona Vista was cancelled due to insufficient demand for the rail line.

[5] In addition to using the LRT system as feeder service, the government also studied into the feasibility of using it to connect neighbouring towns with one another, such as Bedok-Tampines, Ang Mo Kio-Bishan-Toa Payoh, and the Jurong areas.

[10] The project was later revived with the release of the Land Transport Master Plan 2013, in the form of the Jurong Region MRT line.

On 1 January 2013, Cheng Lim LRT station opened for passenger service and the west loop now operated in both directions.

[17] Sam Kee, Punggol Point and Samudera opened on 29 February 2016, 29 December 2016 and 31 March 2017 respectively.

[21] Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan has also announced plans to shut the Bukit Panjang LRT down for a small number of years to pave the way for the system's overhaul.

[22] On 23 October 2017, SMRT announced that the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (BPLRT) system will begin operations at 7 am, instead of 5.30am, on all Sundays from 12 November 2017 until the end of the year, to allow more time for works to improve service reliability.

[23] On 23 March 2018, SMRT said that the Bukit Panjang LRT line will be closed on 11 Sundays from 15 April 2018 to 24 June 2018 as part of maintenance works aimed to improve the reliability of the beleaguered system.

[28] On 22 December 2015, the two-car trains entered service on the Sengkang LRT line, boosting capacity to 204 per trip as compared to 105 in a single car configuration.

[37][38] On 5 February 2021, the Land Transport Authority announced that it has purchased 17 two-car trains for the Sengkang and Punggol LRT systems.

[41] The Sengkang LRT (SKLRT) is a 10.7 km light rail line which partially opened on 18 January 2003.

[43] The trains on the LRT system are fitted with rubber tyres, rather than steel wheels, on specially-constructed guideways from which its power is also sourced.

The Ten Mile Junction Depot houses train cars for Bukit Panjang LRT, and the Sengkang Depot houses train cars for both the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) and the North East Line (NEL) of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).

By 2018, glass and steel platform barriers were installed at all 43 LRT stations to prevent people from falling onto the tracks.

Unlike the ones in overground MRT stations, the LRT structures will not have sliding doors but fixed openings.