Changi Airport branch line takeover

With the release of the Land Transport Master Plan for 2040, the Land Transport Authority officially unveiled that the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will take over the existing Changi Airport branch line of the East West Line (EWL). As part of the take over, conversion works will need to be done to the existing Changi Airport, Expo & Tanah Merah stations to accommodate the TEL rolling stock's differing dimensions. The current rolling stock used on the EWL features 6-car trains with 4-doorways per side. However, the TEL stock features 4-cars with 5-doorways per side. As such, the platform screen doors and gates will require retrofitting in order for the doorways to align properly.

The works will take some time, with the line take over likely coinciding with the on-going works at Tanah Merah station and the Expo-junction with the existing Changi depot and upcoming East Coast integrated depot.

T309 - Siglap progress update

Contract T309 is for the construction of Siglap station only, without any associated tunnels. The station will have 4 exits and will be built as a civil defence shelter. The assigned contractor is a joint venture by John Holland and Zhen Hua. Previously, John Holland successfully delivered the Jalan Besar station on the Downtown Line through another join venture.

30 September 2016 - Ground breaking at contract T309 site
Source: John Holland

T308 - Marine Terrace progress update

Contract T308 is for the construction of Marine Terrace station and tunnels towards Siglap station. The contract was awarded to a joint venture between Ssangyong Engineering & Hyundai Engineering. Both contractors had previously completed stations along the Downtown Line, with Ssangyong completing Little India and Rochor stations while Hyundai delivered MacPherson station.

A 3D cross section of the station showing the exits, supporting infrastructure and functional levels within the 22m deep station.
Source: Realestate.daum.net

A map showing the civil infrastructure to be built under contract T308.
Source: Ssangyong E&C

T307 - Marine Parade progress update

Contract T307 is for the construction & completion of Marine Parade station and associated tunnels. The contract boundaries are located adjacent to contract T306 for Tanjong Katong station to the west and to contract T308 for Marine Terrace station to the east. 

A diagram showing the contract boundaries for contract T307.

The Marine Parade station and a portion of tunnel to the east will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method. The portion of cut-and-cover tunnel will house a cripple siding for the main line and an underground pedestrian network one level above. On either end of the continuous cut-and-cover stretch are 2 launch shafts from which tunneling works will be carried out by 3 tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

A render of exit D along the hoarding of contract T307 site.

URA Draft Master Plan 2019 - Extension to Changi Airport

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched the Draft Master Plan 2019 (DMP 2019) last month, providing a view of developments to come across the country. As part of the DMP 2019, improvements to various regions were planned and listed out on the URA website for public viewing. Among these regions is Changi, where the upcoming Terminal 5 of the airport is being developed. As part of the plans outlined, improved rapid transit network coverage is one of the key areas being looked into.

An excerpt from the URA website detailing plans for the Changi region.
Source: URA

Construction progress at T302

As the Land Transport Authority (LTA) recently announced the addition of Founders' Memorial station, it was mentioned that the construction of the new addition would begin in 2019. This statement was misleading as Founders' Memorial station was being partially constructed as an interim facility building as a future, unopened station on the line under contract T302. It was subsequently added that this would be done by converting a planned facility building into an operational station.

Details of contract T302.
Source: LTA

Project Information Centre for East Coast Line

As is common practice for all rail lines being constructed, a Project Information Centre (PIC) has been established for the East Coast section of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). The PIC also covers Xilin station's construction on the Downtown Line (DTL) extension and the Tanah Merah Modification on the East West Line.

A view of the PIC from Marine Parade Road.

Constructing Katong Park

Along with the formal announcement of Founders' Memorial station, the Land Transport Authority yesterday also provided an update on the construction of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). In particular, a more in-depth look at the construction of Katong Park station was provided.


We understand that the Katong Park station will be of a stacked configuration whereby the upper platform level is shared with the concourse, similar to Stevens station on the Downtown Line. However, unlike Stevens station, passengers will be able to switch between platform levels without the need for tapping out of the system.

A 3-dimensional model of the Katong Park station showing the upper platform & concourse level.
Faregates are visible at both ends of the station.

According to LTA, excavation of the station could not progress until the tunnels for the station had been bored through. Tunneling from contract T305 involves launching the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) from a launch shaft abutting contract T303 near the Singapore Swimming Club, in the vicinity of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway crossing. The TBMs will make their way from the launch shaft, through Katong Park station and emerge at Tanjong Katong (formerly named Amber) station where they will be dismantled.

Typically, when boring stacked tunnels, the lower tunnel is mined first followed by the upper tunnel. When approaching a station, the tunnel breaks through a portion of the retaining wall. If the station is at a sufficiently advanced stage of construction, the TBM can be pulled or pushed across the track bed at platform level to commence tunneling from the other end of the station.

Occasionally, station construction is not this advanced, particularly in tight sites where the top-down construction method is used. This would require the TBM to continue tunneling through the station box even after breaking through the retaining wall. The tunnel rings used during this portion of the drive may be concrete rings that are demolished subsequently or steel rings that are used to retain the shape of the tunnel. Such a technique was formerly used on the Circle Line during the construction of Buona Vista station, where the TBM tunneled through the station box and the temporary rings were later removed as station excavation progressed down.

The below video shows the launching of the TBM from the launch shaft along Tanjong Rhu Road in September 2017.

As both the upper TBM boring the Changi-bound tunnel and the lower TBM boring the Woodlands-bound tunnel have passed through the station box, they should be well on their way to Tanjong Katong station for their final breakthrough. As the distance for this portion of the drive is about twice a long, it can be expected that the duration of tunneling would take twice as long as well.

Below are some renders of the Katong Park station, showing the entrances and platform levels with natural sunlight filtering in.

A render of Entrance B of Katong Park station.
Source: LTA

A render of the upper platform & concourse level of Katong Park station.
Source:

A render of the upper platform & concourse level of Katong Park station.
Source:

A render of Entrance A of Katong Park station.
Source: DP Architects

A render of the lower platform level at Katong Park station.
Source: DP Architects

Gardens Bay East renamed to Founders' Memorial

We have previously touched on a station located between Tanjong Rhu and Gardens by the Bay stations on the East Coast stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), known as station E1 during the planning stages of the Eastern Region Line. The then working name of the station was Gardens Bay East, which has now been officially renamed as Founders' Memorial today, as announced by the Land Transport Authority.