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.

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.

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.

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.

TEL 4 & 5 - A snapshot in October 2023

 

An overview of TEL4 & 5 stations TE23 to TE31 in October 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

In addition to our quarterly updates of the various stations along this section of the line, we have a condensed update based on the months called the Snapshot feature. Drawing inspiration from last year's TEL3@Night, here's the October snapshot for the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phase 4 & 5 stations.

TEL 4 & 5 - A snapshot in September 2023

 

An overview of TEL stations TE22A to TE25 in September 2023.
Top (L - R): TE22A - Founders' Memorial, TE23 - Tanjong Rhu
Bottom (L - R): TE24 - Katong Park, TE25 - Tanjong Katong

An overview of TEL stations TE26 to TE29 in September 2023.
Top (L - R): TE26 - Marine Parade, TE27 - Marine Terrace
Bottom (L - R): TE28 - Siglap, TE29 - Bayshore

An overview of TEL stations TE30 & TE31 in September 2023.
Top: TE30 - Bedok South
Bottom: TE31 - Sungei Bedok

Here's a brief update of the status of the 10 stations being built under the East Coast section of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) under phases 4 and 5 of the line.

T310 - Bayshore August 2023 update

 

6 August 2023 - Bayshore station, Exit 1 we presume

It has been a hot minute since we visited Bayshore station. Let's be real - the site is not one that has good vantage points and there was limited scope in capturing much that was photo-worthy. We're sorry, but just didn't have many leads for accessing vantage points where it was worth capturing shots. But nonetheless, we were informed by some followers that a new road had opened up recently and thus we went down to see what we could capture.

TEL4 Update by LTA & Minister of Transport

 

Marine Parade station. A TEL train can be seen at the platform.
Source: LTA

Yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Minister of Transport, S Iswaran, teased several images of the 7 stations under phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) - Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, Siglap & Bayshore. These stations are due to open in 2024, with an indicative completion of works date by the end of Q1 of 2024. The line may open shortly after the completion of works. An eighth station that is part of Phase 4 - Founders' Memorial - will open at a later date, closer to the completion of the memorial. The images released by LTA & Minister of Transport are available on our Instagram & Facebook stories as well.

T310 - 2022 Year end update

 

3 December 2022 - A view of the future road through Bayshore estate. Exits 4 and 5 flank the road.

3 December 2022 - Exit 2 of Bayshore station.

Bayshore is the last station on the phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and will be the terminus for roughly a year before phase 5 becomes operational. Built with a future residential estate in mind, the station will feature 5 exits sporting a signature wooden-inspired wrap-around design unique to the station. Several of the exits have the metal frame already up with roofing works underway whilst others are in the early stages of having the framing set in place. Exit 3 remains the sole exit that does not have any framing being installed yet.

T310 - Bayshore progress

19 August 2022 - An overview of the Bayshore station construction site.

Hey everyone, we're back! Due to time constraints during our National Day Virtual Tour of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phases 4 & 5, we had to skip both Bayshore & Sungei Bedok stations. But soon after, we made another trip down to cover these remaining 2 stations. Do check out the progress of Bayshore station which will have 5 exits. Early last month, Minister Heng Swee Kiat also visited the station and posted a few photos on his Facebook page, showing the station's interior.

T310 - Bayshore

Last week the Land Transport Authority awarded the construction of Bayshore station to a joint venture between Woh Hup and Shanghai Tunneling Engineering Co. The contract involves construction of the station structure and two pairs of tunnels to Siglap and Bedok South stations. Tunnels between Bayshore and Siglap stations will go into a stacked formation to clear the narrow corridor along Bayshore Road and Bayshore Park condominium.

A schematic diagram of construction works under contract T310.
Self-produced graphic.

Contract Awards - T301, T309, T310

The Land Transport Authority has awarded 3 Thomson-East Coast Line civil contracts today and 1 contract for the Downtown Line stage 3 extension.

An aerial view of the East Coast Depot which will house trains from three lines over three levels and have space for buses.
Source - Land Transport Authority