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.

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.

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.

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.

T303 - Tanjong Rhu update Q3 2023

 

23 September 2023 - A view of the station buildings with condominiums in the background.

The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phase 4 stations are inching closer to completion. It has been a long 7 years since construction of the section broke ground at Marine Parade in 2016. Relief is in sight for the residents of Tanjong Rhu as the station nears completion with the line's opening looming ahead in 2024. Owing to the tight site constraints, work has had to be done in phases in order to squeeze the station and tunnels into the neighbourhood. The station's surface level structures consist of 4 buildings - 2 exits and 2 ancillary buildings. Exit 1 is located to the south, while Exit 2 is at the northern end of the station. Here's a look at the station's progress over the last quarter.

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.

T303 - Tanjong Rhu update Q2 2023

 

10 May 2023 - A view of the Exit 2 during the day time.

28 May 2023 - A view of Exit 2 at night.

With the first section of the East Coast sector of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) consisting of 7 stations due to open next year, we did a few check ins to view the progress of the stations both during the day and evening. Starting off with the first new station on phase 4 of the TEL, Tanjong Rhu, we'll be working our way further east.

T303 - Tanjong Rhu Q1 2023 update

 

23 February 2023 - The 66kV substation under construction.

23 February 2023 - A close up view of the substation.

We are back for your regular dose of Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Thursdays. Hope your week has been good just as the progress has been steady on stage 4 of the line. This time, we're over at Tanjong Rhu to check things out as of Q1 2023. Did you know that contract T303 also includes the construction of the 66kV substation? This provides power supply for the line and enables the trains to receive power so that they can move from station to station. Typically such substations are located within depot sites but occasionally, additional support is required along the line.

T303 - 2022 Year end update

 

21 November 2022 - A view of the southern exit of the station.

21 November 2022 - A close up of the station's southern exit.

Tanjong Rhu station is the first of several civil defence shelters located along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phase 4. The station will have 2 exits located in the heart of the Tanjong Rhu enclave. An interesting fact about the station is that the 2 side platforms do not exactly align with each other, hence there is a portion that protrudes out on either side so to speak. Construction works are coming along with cladding for the station exits and ventilation shaft yet to be begin.

T303 - Tanjong Rhu update

A view of both of the station's exits.

On National Day, we conducted a virtual tour on the SG MRT Construction (SgMC) Instagram channel. During the tour, we covered several stations along the Thomson-East Coast Line and we'll be featuring some additional shots that we hadn't showcased on the Instagram channel during the tour.

TEL East-Coast section newsletter

 

Newsletter for Thomson-East Coast Line. This covers this sector
from Founders' Memorial up to Siglap.
Source: LTA

Over National Day, we held a virtual tour where we visited several station sites along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stages 4 and 5. Along the way, we saw some newsletters being displayed at nearby residential enclaves that updated on some of the construction progress. Do check out the images of the newsletter that we managed to obtain.

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.

Station renders

Render of Gardens Bay East station
Source: DP Architects

The consultant in charge of the Electrical & Architectural design for a stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line from Gardens Bay East up to Marine Parade has recently released the first render of the station. Featuring entrance A which is situated in the park, DP Architects describes the design as "been developed with the concept of integrating into Garden’s Masterplan including the station entrances, cooling tower and vent shafts". Numerous water features can be seen in the render allowing the station entrance to blend into the lush green of the park. It is learned that the station may eventually open together with the rest of the stations along the East Coast stretch of the line. For renders of the other stations, do continue beyond the jump.

Construction Progress

In May, we did a short drive around to get some videos of the construction progress along the East Coast Line. Do check out the video we have created below.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months as construction ramps up at the various station sites.

Contract Awards - Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park & Marine Parade

Compilation of the contracts that have been tendered and awarded to date.

Earlier today the Land Transport Authority announced the award of contracts for 3 stations along the East Coast sector of the Thomson - East Coast Line (TEL). Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park and Marine Terrace stations were awarded to their respective contractors with construction expected to begin by the end of this quarter.

Civil Defense shelters

Is this logo familiar to you? You may have seen them at some MRT stations on existing lines indicating that these are Civil Defense (CD) shelters.

Source: Singapore Civil Defence Force

T308 - Marine Terrace & T303 - Tanjong Rhu

Last Friday the Land Transport Authority (LTA) released the tender for Marine Terrace station - T308. This tender calls for the construction of Marine Terrace station, associated entrance structures and twin bored tunnels to Siglap station. Part of the station will feature a cut-and-cover subway to two entrances as well as the main line tunnels below.

LTA render of Marine Terrace station

Pre-construction: Tanjong Rhu

The first announced station along the East Coast sector of the Thomson - East Coast Line (TEL) is Tanjong Rhu. Smack in the middle of the residential developments, this cosy neighbourhood will soon be temporarily torn up for a future convenient travel option. The station will be 16 metres deep as the tunnels need to rise to cross the Kallang - Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) tunnels as it travels further eastwards. A long section of cut-and-cover tunnels will be built stretching over the KPE tunnels. What is now a shady grove of trees will give way to station entrances in future.

Location map for Tanjong Rhu station with entrances numerically labelled.

Entrance perspective looking southwards. This entrance is the North entrance (#1), facing the Singapore Sports Hub.