Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT station
NS4 JS1 BP1
Choa Chu Kang 蔡厝港 சுவா சூ காங் | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) / Light Rail Transit (LRT) interchange and terminus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | 50A Choa Chu Kang Loop Singapore 689959 (NSL) 15 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 Singapore 689813 (BPLRT) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 1°23′06″N 103°44′40″E / 1.385092°N 103.744322°E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operated by | SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation) (North South and Bukit Panjang LRT lines) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 6 (2 island platforms, (2 Spanish solution platforms) + (2 island platforms) (U/C) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tracks | 4 (2 MRT, 2 LRT) + 2 (U/C) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connections | Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange, Taxi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Structure type | Elevated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platform levels | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parking | Yes (Lot One) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 10 March 1990Branch line) 10 February 1996 (Branch line merged with the North South line) 6 November 1999 (Bukit Panjang LRT line platforms 1 & 2) 27 December 2016 (Bukit Panjang LRT line platforms 3 & 4) | (|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opening | 2027 | (Jurong Region line)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrified | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Previous names | Bukit Panjang | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) interchange station in Choa Chu Kang, Singapore. It is an interchange between the North South line and Bukit Panjang LRT, serving as the western terminus of the latter. The station is located between Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange and Lot One in the Choa Chu Kang town centre.
Currently, the station's LRT platform is the only station on the Bukit Panjang LRT to use a Spanish solution,is the second rail station in Singapore to use such a configuration after VivoCity station on the Sentosa Express and also the first LRT system to be in Singapore Main Island.
Choa Chu Kang station is proposed to become an interchange with the Jurong Region line, which is slated for completion in 2027. It will be the northern terminus of the Main Branch of the Jurong Region line. Trains entering service at this station will terminate at Boon Lay via Bahar Junction.[1][2][3]
History
North South line
The station, initially named Bukit Panjang, was announced in October 1983 and would be built as part of Phase II of the initial MRT system.[4][5] Initially expected to be completed by 1992, the completion date of Phase II was pushed earlier to 1990.[6][7]
The contract for the construction of Bukit Panjang station was awarded to a joint venture between RSEA International and Hock Lian Seng for S$99.8 million (US$131 million in 2021[8][9]) in January 1986. The contract also included the construction of the Jurong, Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak stations, alongside 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) of viaducts.[10][11] In March 1987, the station was renamed to Choa Chu Kang station.[12]
The last viaduct beam between Bukit Gomback and Choa Chu Kang was laid on 9 January 1988.[13] Choa Chu Kang station opened on 10 March 1990 and was the terminus of the Branch line,[14] which was later incorporated into the North South line (NSL) with the Woodlands Extension on 10 February 1996.[15][16]
Bukit Panjang line
The station was planned to interchange with the Bukit Panjang LRT line, which was first announced by Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan in December 1994 as a government pilot project that could "extend the reach and accessibility of the MRT network".[17] In February 1996, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced that construction of the Bukit Panjang LRT would proceed, and was expected to be completed in three years at a cost of S$300 million.[15][18]
The contract for the design and construction of the 8-kilometre (5.0-mile) LRT line was awarded to a joint venture – Keppel Corporation, Gammon, and Adtranz – for S$285 million (US$202.12 million).[19][20][21] The LRT station opened along with the Bukit Panjang LRT line on 6 November 1999.[22][23][24]
Upgrades
On 31 October 2012, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that two additional side platforms would be built to ease crowding in the LRT station. The upgrades include widening the staircase connecting the MRT and LRT platforms, new fare gates and a covered linkway to the nearby Lot One shopping mall.[25][26][27] The two new LRT platforms at the LRT station began operations on 27 December 2016.[28][29]
In 2012, half-height platform screen doors were installed on the MRT platforms as part of LTA's programme to improve safety in MRT stations.[30][31][32] Between 2012 and 2013, high-volume low-speed fans were installed at this station to improve ventilation at the elevated station's platforms.[33]
In 2015, platform barriers were installed on the LRT platforms. Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang first prioritised on the BPLRT line to have them installed due to foreseen high commuter traffic from the DTL. These barriers were installed in an effort to mitigate people falling or trespassing onto the tracks.[34] However, unlike the MRT platform screen doors, these barriers have openings for train alignment rather than retractable doors.[35] New ceiling fans were installed over the LRT platforms in 2018.[36]
Jurong Region line interchange (2027)
On 9 May 2018, the LTA announced Choa Chu Kang station will interchange with the proposed 24-kilometre (15 mi) Jurong Region line (JRL).[37] The station will be constructed as part of Stage 1 (JRL West), consisting of 10 stations from this station to Bahar Junction and two branches to Gek Poh and Boon Lay. This stage was expected to be completed in 2026.[38][39][40] However, restrictions on construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays, with the completion date pushed to 2027.[41]
The platforms will be situated on the former site of the Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange as well as HDB multi-storey carpark at Block 303 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, located to the west of the current station complex. While the JRL platform will be of a typical Island platform design, an additional platform will be constructed to allow cross platform transfer between the Jurong Region line services and North South line southbound services.[42]
The contract for the design and construction of the JRL station and associated viaducts was awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. (Singapore) Pte Ltd for S$465.2 million (US$341 million). Construction will start in 2020, with completion in 2027. The contract also includes the design and construction of the Choa Chu Kang West and Tengah stations along with 34 kilometres (21 miles) of associated viaducts.[43][44][45] Demolition of an adjacent multi-storey car park started in December 2020 to make way for JRL construction works.[46][47]
Incidents
On 7 April 2008, a man was hit by a train at Choa Chu Kang station at 8 am, resulting in the disruption of northbound train services from Yew Tee to Bukit Gombak for about 50 minutes. He was subsequently pronounced dead by paramedics. A bus-bridging service was deployed between Yew Tee and Bukit Gombak stations as trains were made to turn around at Yew Tee, Bukit Gombak and Choa Chu Kang stations.[48]
Details
Choa Chu Kang station serves the North South line (NSL) and is the terminus of the Bukit Panjang LRT line (BPLRT), with an official station code is NS4/BP1. The station is between the Bukit Gombak and Yew Tee stations on the NSL, and the adjacent station on the BPLRT is South View.[49] The station was previously the terminus of the Bukit MRT line which was later incorporated into the NSL.[50]
The NSL station has a "pitched" roof design and brick walls that match the surrounding HDB blocks.[51]
References
- ^ "Jurong Region Line to serve NTU, Tengah estate, Jurong Industrial Estate - CNA". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "Residents and students welcome Jurong Region Line but find it confusing". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "Jurong Region Line". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "Phase 2 gets go-ahead to ensure continuity". The Straits Times. 26 October 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "The South and West lines". The Straits Times. 28 October 1983. p. 9. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Work on second phase of MRT system ahead of schedule". The Business Times. 13 November 1984. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ Dhaliwal, Rav (13 November 1984). "Earlier target date for Phase II MRT". The Straits Times. p. 48. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "M212931 - Consumer Price Index (CPI), 2019 As Base Year, Annual". Department of Statistics, Singapore. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average)". World Bank Open Data. World Bank. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Firm gets MRT job on seventh try". The Straits Times. 7 January 1986. p. 11 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Taiwanese-local venture wins $100m MRT contract". The Business Times. 7 January 1986. p. 2. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ Dhaliwal, Rav (27 March 1987). "Five MRT stations renamed to better reflect the locality". The Straits Times. p. 19. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Last viaduct beam for MRT phase 2B now in place". The Straits Times. 10 January 1988. p. 16. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "MRT to Bt Batok, Bt Gombak and Choa Chu Kang on Mar 10". The Straits Times. 14 February 1990. p. 3. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ a b "Speech by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the opening of Woodlands MRT line on Saturday, 10 February 1996 at 10.00 am" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. 10 February 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2019.
- ^ "Crowds came from as far as Hougang and Jurong". The Straits Times. 11 February 1996. p. 19. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Leong, Chan Teik (4 December 1994). "Green light for Light Rail system". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Leong, Chan Teik (11 February 1996). "Bukit Panjang to get S'pore's first light rail train". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for Communications, at the Signing Ceremony for the Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Project at the Raffles City Central Atrium on Friday, 12 April 1996 at 9.00 am" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. 12 April 1996. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Leong, Chan Teik (13 April 1996). "$285 m contract for LRT system signed". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Tan, Christopher (13 April 1996). "Keppel-led group wins LRT contract". The Business Times. p. 3. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ Kaur, Karamjit (26 July 1999). "Bukit Panjang LRT to begin operating on Nov 6". The Straits Times. p. 3.
- ^ Yeo, Geraldine (7 November 1999). "LRT a hit on very first day". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Speech By Dr Tony Tan, Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Defence, At The Official Launch Of The Bukit Panjang LRT System, Sat 6 Nov 99, 10am". National Archives of Singapore. 6 November 1999. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Two-car train system for Sengkang & Punggol LRT". Channel NewsAsia. 3 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "Annex: Additional platforms at Choa Chu Kang LRT station" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "2-car System for Sengkang Punggol LRT by 2016; Improvements to Choa Chu Kang LRT Station". Land Transport Authority. 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Lim, Adrian (23 December 2016). "New platforms at Choa Chu Kang LRT station to ease congestion". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Two New Platforms at Choa Chu Kang LRT Station Completed". Land Transport Authority. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Platform screen doors for all above-ground MRT stations by 2012". The Straits Times. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008.
- ^ "Speech by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport, at the Visit to Kim Chuan Depot, 25 January 2008, 9.00am". Ministry of Transport (Press release). 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "LTA completes installing elevated MRT station screen doors early". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ "Enhancing Connectivity and Comfort for Commuters". Land Transport Authority. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ Tan, Christopher (21 October 2015). "Platform barriers at all LRT stations by 2018 to prevent falls". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Lim, Adrian (3 October 2017). "Parliament: Safety barriers installed on Bukit Panjang LRT; to be completed on Sengkang-Punggol LRT next year". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Lim, Adrian (9 December 2015). "LTA taps auto fare gates as way to go". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Lim, Adrian (9 May 2018). "New Jurong Region Line to boost access for NTU students". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "News Room – News Releases – Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & SLA – Jurong Region Line: Enhancing Connectivity in the West". Land Transport Authority. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Jurong Region Line to serve NTU, Tengah estate, Jurong Industrial Estate". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 9 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Lim, Adrian (9 May 2018). "Jurong Region Line, Singapore's 7th MRT line, to open in three phases from 2026". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Prioritising Early Completion of Jurong Region MRT Line". Ministry of Transport. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Jurong Region Line". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "LTA Awards Civil Contracts to Construct Five Stations for the Jurong Region Line". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "Tender information | Land Transport Authority". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Yong, Clement (10 September 2019). "Construction for first 5 stations on Jurong Region Line slated to start in 2020, end in 2026". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Seng, Sabrina (9 December 2020). "Choa Chu Kang Block Demolished For New MRT Line, Residents Bid Farewell To Duck Rice & Old-School Stores". Must Share News. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Koh, Esther (23 May 2018). "With the new Jurong Region MRT Line, a tight-knit community makes way for change". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Northbound train services disrupted due to rail incident". Channel NewsAsia. 7 April 2008. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "MRT System Map" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Residents get special 'shuttle service' with Bukit MRT line". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 11 March 1990. p. 15. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Scenic ride on Bukit Gombak line". The Straits Times. 3 March 1990. p. 21. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
External links
- Official website
- Media related to Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT Station at Wikimedia Commons