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.

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.

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.

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

T309 - Siglap update Q2 2023

 

8 June 2023 - Exit B of Siglap station, illuminated for night works.

As we press on further east, our updates bring us to contract T309 for the construction of Siglap station. Brought to you by a joint venture between John Holland & Zhen Hua (Singapore) Engineering Pte Ltd. Previously, John Holland had completed Springleaf station and the Tagore box under contract T208 for the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) phase 2. Work at Siglap station is progressing well, with some illumination from the station permanent lighting noted. Covered linkways are beginning to go up as well and the road infrastructure & pedestrian paths are slowly being reinstated. We'll delve into these a bit more in our post.

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.

T309 - Siglap Q1 2023 update

 

11 February 2023 - Substantial cladding work is now visible at the station exits.

We're back along the east coast to check up on progress at the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stations along the eastern stretches after the massive 2022 year-end update previously. Work at contract T309, for the construction of Siglap station without any tunneling work, has ramped up with some major changes at Exits B and D. Cladding is now visible at both exits with substantial parts of the structure now covered in the off-white aluminium cladding.

T309 - 2022 Year end update

 

21 November 2022 - A view westwards along Marine Parade Road.

Contract T309 involved the construction of Siglap station underneath the eastern end of Marine Parade Road and did not include the construction of any tunnel segment. Due to site constraints, there was no space to locate launch or retrieval shafts for tunnel boring machines here hence excavation for the station was restricted to the station box structure only. Furthermore, as the top-down method of construction was used, once the roof slab was constructed there was little further disturbance to the area. As a result, the road here has more or less been realigned into its final configuration - far ahead of most other stations along the sector.

T309 - Siglap reinstated

9 August 2022 - A reinstated portion of Marine Parade Road above Siglap 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 of Siglap station 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.

T309 - Siglap progress update

Contract T309 is for the construction of Siglap station only, without any associated tunnels. The station will have 4 exits and will be built as a civil defence shelter. The assigned contractor is a joint venture by John Holland and Zhen Hua. Previously, John Holland successfully delivered the Jalan Besar station on the Downtown Line through another join venture.

30 September 2016 - Ground breaking at contract T309 site
Source: John Holland

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.

T309 - Siglap

Contract T309 was awarded last week to a joint venture of John Holland and Zhen Hua Engineering. The contact is for the construction of Siglap station structure only. For contract T309, there will be no tunnel works involved - similar to Bencoolen, Geylang Bahru and Kaki Bukit stations along the Downtown Line stage 3.

Schematic map showing the construction methodology of Contract T309 for Siglap station.
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

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