MRT Downtown Line | Inching Closer To Reality

[ScaniaLuver]

Originally Posted by ddes

I guess part of the contributing problem is the way DTL2 is being built. Ideally, I would have liked that LTA used the project to kill 3 birds with one stone; realigning and reconstructing Rochor Canal, slotting the interchange directly underneath the new canal with the NSE running almost under all that (I'd imagine at this part, they'd have to stack the vehicular decks since space IS a constraint) but I guess it's quite a massive undertaking and possibly too complicating to do.

Not to mention, the way DTL2 is being aligned along Dunearn/Bukit Timah Road seems to show that they're conserving cash. Understandable, since the DTL isn't the only rail project they have in store; we've the TSL, ERL, and now, the unplanned SIN-JB MRT link, of which must be completed by 2018/2019 minus the ERL, which will complete around 2020/2021. LTA also has the MCE, and NSE, which are already some and probably of the most expensive roads being built in the world per km.

Corners will probably be cut, and safety isn't going to be one of them.


Not true, you can certainly take 2 buses but it won't be as cheap as a train-bus, bus-train transfer, if one leg of the journey involves a train, particularly the middle leg, it'll allow a transfer of 3 times. My 3rd leg only cost me 5 cents.

IMHO, the losers of distance-fares are direct journeys and anybody with concession; the savings made by a standard card are higher compared to the old system.

Hmm bro, i hope you don't mind me sharing a view on this.

The reason why they realligned the traffic is not only because it cut costs, but its simple to build cut and cover stations and tunnels. This technique went back to the 18th century, when engineers were building sewer tunnels to solve city sewage problems. Back then, they have large area of space, and this technique requires a large space of land. Bukit timah, Hillview, Bukit Panjang have enough space for this to carry the technique out.

This not only save the work load required for design and engineering part, but saves money too. Also, if im not wrong, they are one of the fastest construction techniques around for tunnels and stations, excluding TBM(Tunnel Boring Machines).

[Seloloving]

Originally Posted by deskoh91

tapping in and out at the same station will mean you pay the base fare of $0.71. did it before because I was planning to go somewhere else. it was only 5 seconds and its charged. you can claim a refund from customer service if you havent taken another train after that.

Not sure if it means anything, but there was once when I tapped in at Hougang Station, the train arrived at the same time. I exited at Kovan Station less than two minutes later and saw that the LCD Screen on those "doors" displaying "FREE EXIT" when I tapped out.

Or either I am using a Student Card, or maybe because it is SBS Transit?

Originally Posted by mdzulkar9

If they are not gonna make a Rochor interchange (which spoils the fun and record of having 5 interchange stations in a row within a line), at least make Sungei and Rochor connected via paid area. Sure, the names won't be the same, at least there is some leeway and flexibility within the LTA planners about this.

I know all of us get caught up with the excitment of new lines and trains and whatnot. But the fact remains that LTA is not building stations for "fun". It is meant to serve a purpose. If Rochor doesn't need a Interchange, it will not be built just for us train lovers.

But then again, I do hope they build an interchange to Rochor.

[sgmrtbuilder]

Originally Posted by ^tamago^

Source?

Source = LTA Prequalification documentation; all in the public domain so no secrets being shed here.

also - IMHO, there is physically no 'economically viable' way of connecting Rochor DTL2 and Sungei DTL3 stations together underground; either for a paid or unpaid connection. you have an enlarged canal & a 10m deep 'other' obstruction in the way.

[sgmrtbuilder]

for those who are not aware - MoT (& hence LTA) has to run new railways under roads wherever possible - it's a URA directive; this is to avoid sterilising state land for future sale sites & to also avoid problems running under private developments. Given the large amount of properties lining the DTL2 route, it's hardly surprising that it runs under Bukit Timah / Upper Bukit Timah all the way to Ten Mile Junction.

[ddes]

That is interesting. That means the likelihood that any future station is part of an integrated commercial development is very low since the lines will run under a road.

Pity, I liked how Compass Point, ION Orchard, The Central, and the future Jurong Gateway development above and around, et cetera are.

[mcarling]

I think Sengkang is a good example of an integrated development that complies with the requirement of following the roads.

[^tamago^]

Originally Posted by ddes

That is interesting. That means the likelihood that any future station is part of an integrated commercial development is very low since the lines will run under a road.

Pity, I liked how Compass Point, ION Orchard, The Central, and the future Jurong Gateway development above and around, et cetera are.

the land above the station itself is usually reserved for developments, unless the station is below a road or road junction

Compass Point was built together with the NEL station, same for The Central, so that made things easier for the developer.

[mdzulkar9]

Originally Posted by Seloloving

I know all of us get caught up with the excitment of new lines and trains and whatnot. But the fact remains that LTA is not building stations for "fun". It is meant to serve a purpose. If Rochor doesn't need a Interchange, it will not be built just for us train lovers.

But then again, I do hope they build an interchange to Rochor.

what is this i dont even...

its the excitement and the convenience of having Rochor as an interchange. not literal fun. you guys have to stop reading word-for-word on things lmao like everything on this forum is a contract.

[sgmrtbuilder]

Given the very close proximity of the proposed Bencoolen Station on DTL3 & Bras Basah Station on CCL, it would not surprise me if they connected the 2 together - that is far more practical than trying to sew the Rochor & Sungei stations together.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by sgmrtbuilder

Given the very close proximity of the proposed Bencoolen Station on DTL3 & Bras Basah Station on CCL, it would not surprise me if they connected the 2 together - that is far more practical than trying to sew the Rochor & Sungei stations together.

Yes, Bencoolen Station should tie into the passages under SMU.

[hybridace101]

How far are they? Like Central and Hong Kong station in HK's MTR?

[ddes]

Originally Posted by sgmrtbuilder

Given the very close proximity of the proposed Bencoolen Station on DTL3 & Bras Basah Station on CCL, it would not surprise me if they connected the 2 together

What for?

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by ddes

What for?

Have you been to Bras Basah station? One can go rather far from the station underground (mostly under SMU). It makes sense to me for Bencoolen station to connect to the same underground network.

I don't see any great need for a paid-area connection between Bras Basah and Bencoolen stations.

[ddes]

Originally Posted by mcarling

I don't see any great need for a paid-area connection between Bras Basah and Bencoolen stations.

Bencoolen and Bras Basah are pretty close but I can't think of any good reason to link their respective stations together.

Personally, I wish LTA took a more pro-active approach in providing more extensive underground links radiating from the city MRT stations, ala Tsim Sha Tsui/TST East, Hong Kong-Central, Admiralty and Causeway Bay stations in Hong Kong. They have sooo many exits, some as far as 300 metres away from the station.

City Hall for example, has great potential, stretching from SMU just outside the Fort Canning Tunnel to Funan to Bras Basah/Middle Road. Only Raffles Place comes close.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by ddes

I wish LTA took a more pro-active approach in providing more extensive underground links radiating from the city MRT stations....

Agreed. So ... why not connect Bencoolen station into the underground network under SMU?

[mrtfreak]

That way a NAFA student could come out at Bras Basah and walk to school relatively rain-free without having to make a detour to get onto the DTL. Would definitely open new connections just as how the new Raffles City link to Esplanade has done.

[nemu]

Originally Posted by sandstorm6299

Given all the ridiculous constraints imposed on the site, I'm not surprised that we can't have a totally integrated station. Even so, we're lucky enough that there (at least) would hopefully be some kind of connection outside of the paid areas, similar to City Hall-Esplanade.

Hmm, why not have connection by Paid Areas only instead? There's no stipulation that only unpaid areas had to be connected.

Would it cost anything if you tap in and out of the same station? In this way, the paid area can work as a unpaid area as well.

I don't see any issues with tapping in and out between stations so long as passengers are not double charged for what is effectively a transfer.

[deskoh91]

Originally Posted by nemu

I don't see any issues with tapping in and out between stations so long as passengers are not double charged for what is effectively a transfer.

unfortunately they are. it is a sore point that LTA must fix as the rail network expands.

a link should be built between Bencoolen and Bras Basah simply because public transport is supposed to bring people to places. if it opens more doors for commuters and is technically feasible, there should be no questions about it, especially when there is a readily-available structure to do so.

as to the underground links, I hope the underpasses in areas like the orchard shopping belt will eventually link up as developers tear them down and redevelop them. city hall-esplanade has new doors open with the new raffles city link and marina link, though it wasnt as fast as I thought it would be.

I hope for the day when it is actually possible to walk from Dhoby Ghaut to Orchard without coming onto the surface.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by deskoh91

I hope the underpasses in areas like the orchard shopping belt will eventually link up as developers tear them down and redevelop them.

For all new developments and major redevelopments, URA should mandate a publicly accessible underground level with provisions for linking to adjacent properties on all sides.

Originally Posted by deskoh91

I hope for the day when it is actually possible to walk from Dhoby Ghaut to Orchard without coming onto the surface.

I hope to be able to walk underground from Orchard Road to Marina Bay with several choices of paths to take.

[nemu]

Originally Posted by sgmrtbuilder

Guys,

some more info - since Chinatown is DT19, DT20 will be River Valley (at the junction of Clemenceau & River Valley), DT21 will be Bencoolen (near Bras Basah Rd), DT22 will be Sungei (it's located behind Sim Lim Tower on Jalan Besar - don't know why they chose Sungei as a working name; thats where my RCR DTL2 station is) & DT23 will be Jalan Besar (located by Lavender St.) All names are LTA working names for now.

Therefore, as i noted to you all earlier, there is no interchange at Rochor because DT21 & DT22 are too far away from it.

Cheers,

Double disappointment if the above information is true. Firstly, no interchange at Rocher and secondly the line goes through the Little India area as if it didn't exist.