A review of the TEL4

 

21 June 2024 - A view of our small exhibit at the Friends of Land Transport booth at Marine
Parade station during the TEL4 Preview event.

The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s fourth phase was off to a roaring start this Friday with 9 hours of free rides during the preview event. Visitors to the event got to experience riding the trains on the line for free, while exploring the 7 stations stretching from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore. Trains operated on an isolated loop along the stretch with trains terminating at Platform A at both termini. A separate shuttle train linked the TEL4's Tanjong Rhu station with TEL3's Garden by the Bay at both station's Platform B. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) really did go all out to make the event possible and accessible for everyone.

TEL4 - A walk down memory lane

9 May 2024

9 May 2024

27 May 2024

27 May 2024

27 May 2024

27 May 2024

27 May 2024

With the Thomson - East Coast Line (TEL)'s fourth phase about to open at the turn of the week, we thought it'd be a great time to take a walk down memory lane and look back at how far along the line has come. Join us as we take a stroll along the East Coast through time.

TEL4 - Retail units for lease

 

Floor plan for Tanjong Rhu station concourse level.
Source: Stellar Lifestyle

Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s operator SMRT has recently added 4 stations along TEL4 to their list of retail units available for lease. The units available are located at Tanjong Rhu, Marine Parade, Siglap & Bayshore stations. We understand that retail units may also be available at Tanjong Katong and Marine Terrace stations although these are not currently listed on the SMRT retail arm's website.

With the listing of the retail units, the various floor plans of the stations have also become available for viewing. The available date provided on the website indicates "Stage 4" currently (which is not a date, but okay), and may roughly indicate that the units will be available in conjunction with the section's opening after 23 June 2024.

TEL - A snapshot in May 2024

An overview of TEL4 & 5 stations as of May 2024.
Top (L - R) : TE23 - Tanjong Rhu, TE24 - Katong Park, TE25 - Tanjong Katong;
Middle (L - R) : TE26 - Marine Parade, TE27 - Marine Terrace, TE28 - Siglap;
Bottom (L - R) : TE29 - Bayshore, TE30 - Bedok South, TE31 - Sungei Bedok.

3 weeks from today, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 stations will open their doors to the public as part of the TEL4 preview. Two days later, trains will roll through the stations on actual revenue service. Ahead of the line's opening come June, we take a look back at how the stations are sprucing up ahead of the open house preview and subsequent revenue operations. Oh, and don't forget that you can participate in our TEL4 Render Vs Reality contest beginning on 21 June 2024 during the TEL4 Preview too.

TEL4 - Render Vs Reality contest

 

We're just under a month away from the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 preview which will be taking place at the 7 stations on 21 June 2024. In conjunction with this momentous event of the preview and subsequent opening of the line on 23 June, we're holding a contest where users re-create the renders by submitting photographs of re-creations of the renders.

T302 - Founders' Memorial update Q1 2024

 

9 March 2024 - Founders' Memorial station buildings seen in the evening. About 95% of the
Gardens by the Bay - Bay East has since been hoarded up for the development of the
Founders' Memorial.

Contract T302 for the construction of Founders' Memorial station has about wrapped up with the station buildings illuminated at night and very little work being carried out. The site has slowly seen machinery and other heavy equipment being vacated and the roadways and parking lots reinstated above the station. Unfortunately, the majority of the Gardens by the Bay - Bay East park has been hoarded off for the construction of the Founders' Memorial development, making it impossible to get close to the completed station buildings without trespassing.

T310 - Bayshore update Q1 2024

 

17 March 2024 - Exit 2 of the station in the evening with Bayshore's iconic condominiums towering
behind.

Bayshore station was built under contract T310 by a joint venture between Woh Hup and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co, both firms that were responsible for other stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4. This station was also the third station along this section of line to be designed by architectural firm SAA Architects, that were also responsible for other stations such as Lentor and Orchard on the TEL's other phases. One noticeable difference in the design of Bayshore station is the open, airy feel of the exits which rely mostly on a metal frame with bits of paneling and roof attached to it - there is barely any concrete used in the design of these exits.

T309 - Siglap update Q1 2024

 

17 March 2024 - A view of the Siglap station site.

Siglap station is pretty much complete with only some landscaping remaining to be done. Oh, and perhaps a few signs to install. But other than that, the station is completed. Designed by architectural firm SAA Architects, this is the second of the stations designed by the firm that feature exits using a concrete shell encased in cladding. It also happens to be the last of the stations designed by them along this stretch to use this method. With works completed, all that is left to do is to tidy up the site and await for opening day.

T308 - Marine Terrace update Q1 2024

 

10 February 2024 - An aerial view of Exits 1 and 4 of Marine Terrace station during the day.

17 March 2024 - An evening view of Marine Terrace's Exits 1 and 4.

As the opening of the section along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 draws nearer, we check in at the progress of works at Marine Terrace station. The station was designed by local architecture firm SAA Architects, now part of the Surbana Jurong group. Featuring 6 entrances along the station's length, construction was completed by a joint venture between Korea's Ssangyong & Hyundai Engineering & Construction. Works at the station are largely completed, save for some portions of road reinstatement, installation of commuter facilities and landscaping around the work site.

TEL 4 & 5 - A snapshot in March 2024

A compilation of images of TE23 to TE31 stations in March 2024.
Top (L - R): TE23 - Tanjong Rhu, TE24 - Katong Park, TE25 - Tanjong Katong
Middle (L - R): TE26 - Marine Parade, TE27 - Marine Terrace, TE28 - Siglap
Bottom (L - R): TE29 - Bayshore, TE30 - Bedok South, TE31 - Sungei Bedok

It's exactly 3 months to go till the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 section opens. This section of the line will bring rail service to an area that has long been in need of a rail connection but had to rely on bus services only, despite the relatively short distance to the Central Business District and Marina Bay areas. Nonetheless, the section of the line is about to open and we check in on the progress of the stations in the lead up to their official opening for revenue service - including the 2 stations along phase 5 whose opening has been pushed back a year to 2026 instead.

T307 - Marine Parade update Q1 2024

 

10 February 2024 - A view of Exit 2 during the day.

10 March 2024 - A view of Exit 2 in the evening.

With the stations along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 months away from opening, we check in at Marine Parade to view the progress made at the station. Of all the stations, this one appears to be the straggler of the bunch. While Founders' Memorial station has its station name signs installed, none of the exits at Marine Parade have these yet. Come take a closer look with us as we recap the station's progress over Q1 of the year.

T306 - Tanjong Katong update Q1 2024

 

10 February 2024 - A view of Exit 3 during the day, with station signage installed.

10 March 2024 - A view of Exit 3 in the evening, signage partly lit.

Minister Chee Hong Tat announced during the Ministry of Transport's 2024 Committee of Supply debates in parliament that phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will open to the public on 23 June 2024. With most of the stations ready for opening day, we take a closer look at Tanjong Katong station, one of the tightest places to squeeze a station in. Located underneath Amber Road, the station sits at the foot of the Tanjong Katong South flyover, which leads Tanjong Katong Road South into the East Coast Parkway.

Consisting of 3 exits, the station is poised to serve commuters in the vicinity and those arriving from further north along Tanjong Katong Road South. Like neighbouring station Katong Park, a hallmark of Tanjong Katong station is its stacked platform configuration and numerous skylights. Two of these will open up directly to the station's concourse, while the remainder allow natural light to filter into the station's exits.

T305 - Katong Park update February 2024

 

11 February 2024 - Station signage on display outside Exit 1.

11 February 2024 - Station signage above the barrier-free access ramp at Exit 2.

Katong Park station, constructed under contract T305, is a stacked station with 3 basement levels. The upper platform level is combined with the station concourse and features 3 skylights that let natural sunlight shine into the station, all the way to the lower platform level. Above the concourse cum upper platform level is a mezzanine subway level that connects Exit 2 with the station. The station was the first to receive its station signage along phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), ahead of any of the neighbouring stations. Construction under the contract also called for the construction of bored tunnels starting at the launch shaft adjacent to the contract T303 worksite near the Singapore Swimming Club and ended at Tanjong Katong station. These tunnels were bored right through Katong Park's station box before being dismantled as excavation proceeded further downwards.

T303 - Tanjong Rhu update February 2024

 

11 February 2024 - A view of the installed station signage on display.

As previously mentioned, we're starting our Q1 coverage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phase 4's stations a little earlier than normal so that we can cover the stations ahead of their opening by the first half of 2024. Tanjong Rhu station has seen the station site tidied up and is about ready for opening day with station signage installed.

TEL 4 & 5 - A snapshot in February 2024

 

An overview of TEL4 & 5 stations TE23 to TE31 in early-February 2024.
Top (L - R): TE23 - Tanjong Rhu, TE24 - Katong Park, TE25 - Tanjong Katong
Middle (L - R): TE26 - Marine Parade, TE27 - Marine Terrace, TE28 - Siglap
Bottom (L - R): TE29 - Bayshore, TE30 - Bedok South, TE31 - Sungei Bedok

Last month was pretty busy with getting the year started. As such, we weren't able to do up a Snapshot for January 2024 and that's why we're doing the February one slightly earlier. Without further ado, here's the first consolidated update of the line section since our 2023-year end update!

TEL4 handover to SMRT

 

A photo taken with LTA & SMRT senior management at Katong Park station today. Also in view
is the updated platform screen door signage with TEL4 & 5 stations.
Source: LTA

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) handed over the 7 new stations along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 to operator Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) earlier today. This is a significant step to rail transit reaching the east coast & Marine Parade, which have long had to live with road-based transport options. The arrival of the MRT line to these neighbourhoods this year may also usher in a period of revitalisation of the town centre and surrounding residential areas.

Phase 4 of the TEL will see service extended from the current southern terminus at Gardens By the Bay to 7 new stations in the east. The new terminus of the line will be Bayshore station for approximately a year, until the line is further extended to Phase 5's Sungei Bedok station. We provide you a run down of the 7 new stations and some analysis of the timeline where the line may open, based on historical records for the line's first few phases' openings.

TEL4 & 5 year-end update 2023

The 10 stations along the East Coast section of the Thomson-East Coast Line as at end-2023.

 2023 has been an eventful year that has seen the completion of most stations along Phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and the continued work on the stations along Phase 5. With Phase 4 due to come online next year, testing has been underway for some time before the section is handed over to operator SMRT to conduct staff familiarisation and training sessions. While most of the Phase 4 stations are on target with construction, some have sections that still require more work to be done before they can be completed and ready for the temporary occupancy permit (TOP) inspection. We take a look back at 2023 in this final post for TEL of the year.

TEL 4 & 5 - A snapshot in November 2023

 

An overview of TEL4 & 5 stations TE23 to TE31 in November 2023.
Top (L - R): TE23 - Tanjong Rhu, TE24 - Katong Park, TE25 - Tanjong Katong
Middle (L - R): TE26 - Marine Parade, TE27 - Marine Terrace, TE28 - Siglap
Bottom (L - R): TE29 - Bayshore, TE30 - Bedok South, TE31 - Sungei Bedok

We hope you've been enjoying our quarterly updates on the construction progress of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) east coast section stations. In order to be more current, this is the snapshot feature that provides you with a simpler update of the progress in the current month. As we look into 2024 coming around soon, everyone is anticipating the opening of 7 stations under phase 4. We'll eventually be winding down coverage of the progress of these stations seeing how works are somewhat ramping down and changes here will not be as drastic. Coverage of the phase 5 stations will continue and the freed up time will allow us to cover other rail projects in greater detail. Nonetheless, do enjoy the November snapshot for TEL!

T310 - Bayshore update Q3 2023

 

23 September 2023 - An aerial view of the station's exits along Bayshore Drive at the end of Q3.

23 September 2023 - A close up view of Exit 2 of the station with the LED train arrival board
visibly lit to inform passers by that the station is not open for service.

Bayshore station was built on a greenfield site that provided the contractor, Woh-Hup - Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co some convenience in being able to construct the station without having to be wary of utility lines that must be handled with care. While there were other challenges to consider, such as the location of an old sea wall that might have impacted tunneling and excavation, the location of the station brought about other benefits when it came to construction methods. The station is one of the few, if not the only station, along phase 4 that could be built using the bottom-up method. This method of construction without having to worry about constrained worksites, likely contributed to the station's quick construction. We take a closer look at the progress made over the past quarter in this post.

T309 - Siglap update Q3 2023

 

23 September 2023 - A view of the finishings at Exit C of Siglap station.

Over the past quarter, the finishing touches have been added to Siglap station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL)'s phase 4 section. Early in the quarter, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & Minister of Transport then, S Iswaran, released a few images of the TEL4 stations. Two of these images showed the interior of Siglap station which features a grey and blue colour scheme. There are also accents of sky blue which likely reflects the area's heritage as a seaside estate.

Interior of Siglap station.
Source: S Iswaran

Interior of Siglap station.
Source: LTA