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 - 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.

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.

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.

T308 - Marine Terrace update Q3 2023

 

3 September 2023

The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Phase 4 is slowly inching towards completion and so is Marine Terrace station. Over Q3, the site has slowly been tidying up as works shift towards getting the station completed and readied for handover to the client - the Land Transport Authority (LTA). LTA will subsequently handover the station to the eventual line operator before the station is ultimately opened.

2 June 2023 - A recap on the layout of the station's exits. The numbering starts with the main
exit located in the heart of Marine Terrace estate and makes a clockwise rotation.

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.

T308 - Marine Terrace update Q2 2023

 

2 June 2023 - A view of Exit 6, the cooling tower & reinstated open air car park in the evening.

Quite a lot has gone on in the past quarter at contract T308 for the construction of Marine Terrace station. The temporary car park has been closed, the former open air car park has been reinstated, the temporary pedestrian overhead bridge (POB) has been closed & decommissioned and station architectural works are progressing. All within the last quarter alone. Let's unpack how the work has gone & what has been done.

2 July 2023 - A similar view during the day.

T308 - Marine Terrace Q1 2023 update

 

Marine Terrace station will have 6 exits - all of which are at various stages of construction. Exit A and B are located right in the centre of the station, with Exit A being located along the westbound Marine Parade Road and Exit B directly opposite, along the eastbound Marine Parade Road. Exits C and D are likewise situated across from each other at the eastern end. This brings us to Exits E and F, similarly located opposite each other but on the western end of the station.

T308 - 2022 Year end update

 

25 November 2022 - Exit B along Marine Parade Road.

25 November 2022 - Exit A which will be the station's main exit.

All the exits at Marine Terrace station have now had their concrete structures cast. Work has progressed onto the installation of the metal frames for the roof portions. Escalators also appear to have been installed at most of the exits at the station.

T308 - Marine Terrace progress check

A map of the construction site to orient one's self.

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.

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

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: Marine Terrace

Marine Terrace station is located roughly 1km away from Marine Parade station. It serves several HDB blocks and schools in the area as well. This station will see 6 entrances as well, with entrances 1 and 6 on the map below being connected by a pedestrian subway to the main station building.

Indicative map of the station entrance locations

An artist's impression of one of the entrances - probably entrance 3 outside St. Patrick's School