Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT station

Coordinates: 1°23′06″N 103°44′40″E / 1.385092°N 103.744322°E / 1.385092; 103.744322
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Not to be confused with Choa Chu Kang West MRT station.

 NS4  JS1  BP1 
Choa Chu Kang
蔡厝港
சுவா சூ காங்
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) / Light Rail Transit (LRT) interchange and terminus
Exterior of Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT station beside the JRL construction site in October 2021
General information
Location50A Choa Chu Kang Loop
Singapore 689959 (NSL)
15 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4
Singapore 689813 (BPLRT)
Coordinates1°23′06″N 103°44′40″E / 1.385092°N 103.744322°E / 1.385092; 103.744322
Operated bySMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation) (North South and Bukit Panjang LRT lines)
Line(s)
  North–South Line
  Jurong Region Line
  Bukit Panjang LRT
Platforms6 (2 island platforms, (2 Spanish solution platforms) + (2 island platforms) (U/C)
Tracks4 (2 MRT, 2 LRT) + 2 (U/C)
ConnectionsChoa Chu Kang Bus Interchange, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Platform levels2
ParkingYes (Lot One)
AccessibleYes
History
Opened10 March 1990; 34 years ago (1990-03-10) (Branch line)
10 February 1996; 28 years ago (1996-02-10) (Branch line merged with the North South line)
6 November 1999; 24 years ago (1999-11-06) (Bukit Panjang LRT line platforms 1 & 2)
27 December 2016; 7 years ago (2016-12-27) (Bukit Panjang LRT line platforms 3 & 4)
Opening2027; 3 years' time (2027) (Jurong Region line)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesBukit Panjang
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station
Bukit Gombak
towards Jurong East
 North–South Line Yew Tee
towards Marina South Pier
Brickland
towards Jurong East
 North–South Line
Future service
Terminus Jurong Region Line
Future service
 Choa Chu Kang West
towards Boon Lay
Preceding station Light Rail Transit Following station
Terminus Bukit Panjang LRT
Service A
 South View
towards Choa Chu Kang via Senja
Bukit Panjang LRT
Service B
 South View
towards Choa Chu Kang via Petir
Location
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Choa Chu Kang
Choa Chu Kang station in Singapore

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[edit]

Choa Chu Kang MRT island platform.

The contract for the construction of Choa Chu Kang station was awarded to a Taiwanese-Singapore joint venture (RSEA International-Hock Lian Seng) at a contract sum of S$99.8 million in January 1986. The contract also includes the construction of the Jurong, Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak stations and the 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) viaducts.[4] Construction began on 15 February 1986.[citation needed]

The MRT station was opened on 10 March 1990 and was the terminus of the Branch line.[5] With the opening of the North South line Woodlands Extension on 10 February 1996, the branch line was incorporated into the North South line. The LRT station opened on 6 November 1999, alongside the rest of the Bukit Panjang LRT line.[6][7] The station was third one to have an Xchange after those in the underground Dhoby Ghaut and Raffles Place, making the station the first to have an Xchange above-ground and in a residential neighbourhood.

Upgrades[edit]

The LRT island platform with a side platform for alighting commuters seen on the right

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.[8][9][10] The two new LRT platforms at the LRT station began operations on 27 December 2016.[11][12]

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.[13][14][15] Between 2012 and 2013, high-volume low-speed fans were installed at this station to improve ventilation at the elevated station's platforms.[16]

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.[17] However, unlike the MRT platform screen doors, these barriers have openings for train alignment rather than retractable doors.[18] New ceiling fans were installed over the LRT platforms in 2018.[19]

Jurong Region line interchange (2027)[edit]

Beginning of the JRL station construction

On 9 May 2018, the LTA announced Choa Chu Kang station will interchange with the proposed 24-kilometre (15 mi) Jurong Region line (JRL).[20] 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.[21][22][23] However, restrictions on construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays, with the completion date pushed to 2027.[24]

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.[25]

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 mi) of associated viaducts.[26][27][28] Demolition of an adjacent multi-storey car park started in December 2020 to make way for JRL construction works.[29][30]

Incidents[edit]

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.[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Jurong Region Line". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Firm gets MRT job on seventh try". The Straits Times. 7 January 1986.
  5. ^ "MRT to Bt Batok, Bt Gombak and Choa Chu Kang on Mar 10". The Straits Times. 14 February 1990. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Bukit Panjang LRT to begin operating on Nov 6". The Straits Times. 26 July 1999. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Bukit Panjang LRT right on track". The Straits Times. 5 June 1999. p. 48.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Lim, Adrian (23 December 2016). "New platforms at Choa Chu Kang LRT station to ease congestion". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "LTA completes installing elevated MRT station screen doors early". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Enhancing Connectivity and Comfort for Commuters". Land Transport Authority. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ Lim, Adrian (9 December 2015). "LTA taps auto fare gates as way to go". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "Jurong Region Line". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Tender information | Land Transport Authority". 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "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.

External links[edit]

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