MRT Circle Line - Connecting all lines

[babystan03]

17 July 2006

Circle Line on track to open by 2010
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : After delays caused by the Nicoll Highway accident, the Circle Line is finally on track for completion by 2010.

The first of its 40 trains has just been delivered with the rest expected progressively over the next two years.



It was a hands-on experience for new Transport Minister Raymond Lim as he went on his first official tour of the Circle Line.

The $6.8b system is a circular line comprising 29 stations - six are interchange stations that will intersect with existing lines.

It's not yet clear whether the line will open in phases or all at once.

But what is clear is that the new Circle Line will cut travelling time.

For example, while a journey from Paya Lebar to Bishan currently takes about 35 minutes, going on the Circle Line will take about 17 minutes.

This is because commuters do not have to go all the way into town to make a transfer.

But what about those who still prefer buses?

"When bus rationalisation is effected, it is to prevent excessive duplication of services. That's because if we don't do that, you'll have excess capacity and overall public transport fare will go up. And that higher fare will be passed on to commuters," said Transport Minister Raymond Lim.

But with the line only opening in four years time, will MRT fares on the Circle Line be higher?

"This is something that will have to be worked out closer to the date," replied Mr Lim.

The new look of the fully automated Circle Line train, costing $8.3 million each, was unveiled.

One key difference is there are only three cars instead of six cars. That is because this is a medium capacity line but safety features are similar to existing systems.

An improved security feature in the new trains is the CCTVs. It films what goes on in the trains continuously, with the tape over-riding itself only every 4-5 days.

The only other system that has this right now is the NorthEast Line but that is only for 1-2 days.

The system will be controlled by an Operations Control centre at Kim Chuan Depot, the world's largest underground depot.

Half a million passengers are expected to use the Circle Line daily.

- CNA /ls

Note: Part 1 of the Circle Line thread can be viewed here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=135568

[mrtfreak]

Thanks for the heads up. It was also featured on News On 5 tonight. They showed a few shots of the reporter from inside the train. Colour scheme is different from that of NEL. While NEL's emergency intercom's housing is peachy, CCL's is grey. Seats for the driving coaches are maroon in colour while the intermediate coach has blue. I didn't see if they had any line maps up in the trains yet. I doubt so though.

[babystan03]

I wonder if they could open some stations earlier, like in 2008 or something??

[^tamago^]

They could try opening Stage 2 & 3 first, even though cost/profitability might be an issue.

[kenmin]

On track?! by right, stage 2 should be completed in 2008 followed by stage 3. but now, they say stage 3 will be completed first (mentioned in the news). why the delay in stage 2?

Seems that the govt projects nowadays are always delayed. Not like in the past where everything was delievered ahead of schedule. like the first MRT project was completed 2 years ahead.

[hyacinthus]

Originally Posted by kenmin

On track?! by right, stage 2 should be completed in 2008 followed by stage 3. but now, they say stage 3 will be completed first (mentioned in the news). why the delay in stage 2?

Seems that the govt projects nowadays are always delayed. Not like in the past where everything was delievered ahead of schedule. like the first MRT project was completed 2 years ahead.

Circle Line is fully underground whereas first MRT project was above ground.

I felt ensuring safety in the construction is more important, isn't it?

[mrtfreak]

Admist so much going wrong in the world, the government probably wants Singaporeans to feel happy about something. I didn't get the impression that the stage 2 would be completed later than stage 3. Where was that?

In any case, I agree with Hya. Quality matters more. We don't want it to be like the big dig in Boston where ceiling parts are falling down (one fell and crushed a car) which resulted in certain sections being closed. Don't get me wrong, not the whole ceiling in the big dig is falling down.

Many people are already uncertain about the Circle Line. A check on the net through forums and blogs sometime back showed so. After the fusionpolis collapse, which was totally unrelated to CCL construction, people had the impression that the CCL was a bad thing. It takes just one thing to leave a sour taste in people's mouths (Nicoll Highway collapse).

Also, the news is probably not reporting the "real" thing. It was like a month or so ago I received the train pictures and they're saying that the first train "recently arrived". They're probably being cautiously optimistic. As for the line maps in the trains, none are up yet.

"Patience is a virtue"

[JediAlf]

Originally Posted by kenmin

On track?! by right, stage 2 should be completed in 2008 followed by stage 3. but now, they say stage 3 will be completed first (mentioned in the news). why the delay in stage 2?

Seems that the govt projects nowadays are always delayed. Not like in the past where everything was delievered ahead of schedule. like the first MRT project was completed 2 years ahead.

Several stations in Stage 2 are being built by the same contractor that was directly responsible for Nicoll Highway collapse. So this explains the delays.

But I think they can finish civil construction in stage 2 by end of 2006 or early 2007. Stage 1 should be in phase of laying rail tracks and putting finish touches.

HarbourFront station should be first to be completed - thanks to construction of VivoCity that forces the speedy construction of CCL HarbourFront Station. Winks.

[^tamago^]

Originally Posted by JediAlf

Several stations in Stage 2 are being built by the same contractor that was directly responsible for Nicoll Highway collapse. So this explains the delays.

But I think they can finish civil construction in stage 2 by end of 2006 or early 2007. Stage 1 should be in phase of laying rail tracks and putting finish touches.

HarbourFront station should be first to be completed - thanks to construction of VivoCity that forces the speedy construction of CCL HarbourFront Station. Winks.

the station was ready in 2002 (together with end of construction of NEL) before Vivocity continued with its construction on top of it. i think now they're doing the linkway between Vivocity and Circle Line as seen by the hoardings, so that they do not have to do it when the place has become crowded.

Museum station is also kind of ready, they're doing the exits now. Very beautiful.

Esplanade, they're fitting back the lampposts and redoing the surface - could the IMF meeting explain that? :P

Promenade is still in a mess though.

[^tamago^]

this picture lor.

[RafflesCity]

Cant wait for the stations to open!

Really looking forward to taking some pics of the more unique ones like Bras Basah Station....

in future...getting from City Hall to Stadium area will be so much easier....and Millenia Walk will not seem so far too

[babystan03]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

Cant wait for the stations to open!

Really looking forward to taking some pics of the more unique ones like Bras Basah Station....

in future...getting from City Hall to Stadium area will be so much easier....and Millenia Walk will not seem so far too

Yeah I think I'll go to the stadium area more often....

[RafflesCity]

oh yes...that area is a little inaccessible now....desperately needs to be linked up...same for some other stations on Circle Line

[kenexcel4]

Did anyone catch the documentary series on discovery channel "megastructures" thurs nite....the featured the circle line in its last episode...lol...they even included the nicoll highway saga...

[blizzardtweaker]

Originally Posted by kenexcel4

Did anyone catch the documentary series on discovery channel "megastructures" thurs nite....the featured the circle line in its last episode...lol...they even included the nicoll highway saga...

really? any new info? whats the episode no. i wanna find the repeat...

[^tamago^]

One entrance.






Another entrance.

[^tamago^]

Reinstatement of Nicoll Highway landscaping for the IMF meeting in Sept.




Old SAF Club entrance.


Reinstatement works along Bras Basah Rd

[^tamago^]

The temporary steel bridge.


Passing by Riding For The Disabled Assn.


After that is cleared grounds.




Due to some kind of water stagnantation of the drains in the area, these trucks come often to pump water out of the drains. Mediacorp is in the background.


Quite far in from the main road already.


A mosque just before the entrance of the construction site.


Entrance.


The site.








Some pictures were taken from a higher ground along the riding trail. Pretty dangerous if a horse does comes galloping!

[^tamago^]

Entrance of Toa Payoh Rise.


Lions Home For the Elders.


A side gate leads to 43 Toa Payoh Rise.


Steel vehicular passageway across the station exacavation.


Northern end.




Southern end.

[^tamago^]