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.

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.

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.

T307 - Marine Parade update Q3 2023

 

23 September 2023 - A view of workers at Exit A with Parkway Parade's office tower in the
background.

Of all the stations along phase 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stretch due to open next year, Marine Parade is the largest. With a future total of 7 exits, it also has the most number of entry points into the station along the sector as well. Of the 7, 3 connect directly to the main station box and 4 to the adjoining commercial subway that sits atop the cripple siding tunnels. Progress of the 3 exits that connect to the main station box is more advanced than those connecting to the commercial subway.

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.

T307 - Marine Parade update Q2 2023

 

2 June 2023 - A view of Exit A seen in the evening, along Marine Parade Road.

Diagram showing the various exits at the station. For ease of reference, we will be using the
lettering as above when referencing to the various exits.
Source: Grand Mercure Roxy

Contract T307 is for the construction of Marine Parade station and associated tunnels is one of the highly anticipated stations along the East Coast stretch of the line Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). The station will open up connections for the area which includes several hotels, Parkway Parade & I12 Katong malls, the surrounding neighbourhoods & Marine Parade town centre, where the hawker centre can be found. Adjoining the station will be a cut & cover tunnel which houses a cripple siding at track level and a pedestrian retail linkway at concourse level. The cut & cover tunnel will be connected to 4 exits (D - F & Marine Parade CC exit).

T307 - Marine Parade Q1 2023 update

 

23 March 2023 - A view of Exits B and A along Marine Parade Road.

Marine Parade station under contract T307, appears to be the slowest moving among all the 7 stations under the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phase 4 that will be operational next year. That said, the station is definitely not on the level of completion that Great World station along TEL3 was in the months and weeks leading up to that section's opening.

T307 - 2022 Year end update

 

21 November 2022 - Exit A along Marine Parade Road, opposite Parkway
Parade shopping mall just outside Roxy Square.

25 November 2022 - Exit C next to Parkway Centre.

3 December 2022 - Exit B located at the junction of Marine Parade &
Joo Chiat Roads.

Marine Parade station is located right at the heart of the busy neighbourhood and right next to Parkway Parade mall. Directly abutting the station is a cripple siding which will also serve as an underground commercial linkway. Shops are envisioned to be leased out here offering benefits to users as they commute from the station to their destinations. In addition to the commercial linkway, we also understand that as the Marine Parade Community Club (CC) undergoes refurbishment, a new exit via the basement will be constructed to allow for visitors to connect directly to the MRT station. This exit will likely open in the future once the CC is reopened after reconstruction.

T307 - MRT at Marine Parade

 

An aerial view along Marine Parade Road, showing 2 of the 6 exits for the station.

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 may not have 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.

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.

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 - Marine Parade

A render of the platform level of Marine Parade station.
Source: Straits Times.

On Friday, the Land Transport Authority announced the first award for contracts to build stations along the East Coast stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line. Contract T307 was awarded to Samsung C&T and will be completed by 2023 as the first section of the East Coast section goes live.

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

T307 - Marine Parade

Today the Land Transport Authority opened the tender for Marine Parade station - Contract T307. The contract is for the construction of Marine Parade station, cut & cover linkway and tunnels towards Marine Terrace station and bored tunnels on both ends of the station. As of now, the tender closes 22nd June.