MRT: Circle Line

[GWR]

MCOT article with TV News Video:
http://enews.mcot.net/clip.php?nid=5857

IMHO Nonthaburi is 15 Kms. NORTH of Bangkok's central area, not "15 kilometres south of Bangkok":

Traditional tricycles find their own space on modern roads

Whoever comes across this city market of Nonthaburi province, just 15 kilometres south of Bangkok, might be very surprised to see traditional tricycles standing out in roads crowded with modern cars.

Thavee Peungjab , a rider of atraditional tricycle for more than 20 years, said the tricycle was his life companion. Each day he earned around 800 baht, which was enough to feed all members of his family.

“If I’m getting too old to ride, I will stop. But now I am still strong, I will keep riding the tricycle. Many lives in my family lean on me.”, said Thavee

The fare starts from 15 baht but there is no fixed rate like with a taxi meter. Riders and passengers deal on the price to their satisfaction. However, if the distance is more than 10 kilometres, an extra cost will be charged as it means the rider can’t make as many rounds as usual.

Most tricycle passengers are elderly people and vendors, impressed with the good service of the riders. They also feel safer sitting in a slow-but-sure tricycle than a speedy zigzag taxi or tuk tuk. Tricycles also do not pollute the air.

“I take a tricycle because I want to help preserve the career of tricycle riding. Also, tricycles consume very little oil and don’t emit pollution. There are already too many cars on the streets and the air is polluted.”, said a tricycle passenger.

With day-to-day rising oil prices, the tricycle is an alternative transport for those seeking to reduce their cost of living.

However, for some others, the tricycle means so much more than that. It gives a feeling of long lost traditional Thai lifestyle in the 21st century.

Last Update : 2008-02-08, 2008-02-08 (GMT+7:00)

[pong]

well, yes, just by coincidence I was passing by in bus nr 32 last sat and saw them also: its just the normal anywhere upcountry samlor. These are banned in chiangwat BKK proper, but just across from the provincial border can be seen., also in Samut Prakarn.
Non-buri/market (at the end of the Chao Praya river express boats) also had another feature: a batch of very old tiny FIAT cars were rebuilt as open-air transport for the vegetables etc on the market. Were there till late 20th centruy, but now seem ot have died out. Was a remarkable sight.

[GWR]

This comes up every few years, and it would make a lot of sense... but I think it's politically impossible. After all, there's already a perfectly usable rail link between the two countries, which both countries have conspired to cripple

I also seem to remember reading recently that such a link might involve running conventional heavy-rail commuter trains on the existing (freight) track from Senoi Airport into Singapore. Apparently, it would only be necessary to build a fairly short branch into the airport. ???

Thursday February 14, 2008

MRT service to IDR being studied

COMMUTERS might be able to take the MRT to Johor one day.

Singapore and Malaysia have formed a working group to look at ways of improving transport links between the two countries.

One option being considered is to run Singapore’s MRT network into Johor, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport revealed on Tuesday.

If that gets the green light, The Straits Times understands the cross-border MRT service could start at the Woodlands station here and end at the Iskandar Development Region (IDR).

The area is a special economic zone spanning 2,200 sq km in south-west Johor – where a monorail system is proposed.

Both Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agreed last May to set up the working group to find ways to create a hassle-free commute between the two countries.

But observers said several issues had to be addressed before this can happen.

One of the first challenges facing the working group is seeing whether a smart card can be used to allow citizens of the two countries to clear Immigration without having to wait for their passports to be stamped.

This is not the first time proposals have been made involving a northern expansion of the republic’s MRT system.

Back in 1997, then-prime minister Goh Chok Tong said a proposed electric train service from Malaysia could have terminals in Scotts Road, Suntec City or Marina South – locations with existing or planned MRT stations.

Former Malaysian premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, preferred the service “to terminate at Tanjong Pagar.”

While an MRT service to Johor Baru is still a vague proposition, relief may well be at hand for those who are caught regularly in the Causeway crush. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...20606&sec=asia

[mrtfreak]

The story has also appeared in the Straits Times twice. Its about time for the MRT to go to the JB CIQ. Been too many years without it. Or at least to the Woodlands CIQ first.

Having the MRT go to JB would also result in the termination of KTM services to Singapore I assume. This might be better in the long run to resolve the dispute between the two countries. And if the high speed rail link were to terminate at JB, it would also resolve issues with regards to Singapore's dislike for overhead power. Its a worthy investment, at least to me it is.

[Yappofloyd]

Note, Bukit Timah Line and Thomson Line are two different lines altogether. The Bukit Timah Line (BTL) was amalgamated with the upper portion of the original Eastern Region Line (originally a 40-km orbital line of the current ERL and the eastern portion of the new line) and the Downtown Extension to become the Downtown Line.

The Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line are new lines announced.

Stage 3 of the CCL will open first as it is the most structurally complete with all station entrances already taking shape. Stage 2 was delayed as the contractor for 3 out of the 5 stations was the same joint-venture as that for Nicoll Highway and more checks were needed as such. Also, a building was declared unsafe for use next to the Paya Lebar station site which further delayed the already complicated Paya Lebar interchange construction hence only 1 station on Stage 2 is ready. It is not known if this station (Tai Seng) will commence operation along with the rest of Stage 3.

In Summary:
BTL + DTE + upper ERL = DTL
TSL = New line
ERL = old lower ERL

CCL Stage 3 to open by 2009
Pilot scheme for screen doors at Pasir Ris, Yishun, Jurong East by 2009
BLE to open by 2009

CCL Stage 1, 2 to open by 2010

CCL Stage 4, 5 to open by 2011

New trains for EWL, NSL by 2012
All elevated stations to have screen doors by 2012
CCL Marina Bay extension (Bayfront, Marina Bay stations) by 2012

DTL Stage 1 (Originally DTE) by 2013

DTL Stage 2 (Originally BTL) by 2015
Tuas Extension (5 new stations after Joo Koon) by 2015
NSL Marina South Extension (1 new station after Marina Bay) by 2015

DTL Stage 3 (Originally old upper ERL) by 2016

TSL by 2018

ERL by 2020

The lines have been announced and are guaranteed to be built now. The exception is the Jurong Region Line (JRL) which has run into problems.

Thank you very much mrtfreak for the comprehensive overview and clarification of which stage, and line, is opening when.

So CCL stage 3 will be the first to open providing a connection between NSL & NEL but when in 2009 will it open, the last quarter?

[mrtfreak]

The Ministry was rather vague, they said something about mid-2009. It may be well after mid-2009 like the last quarter.

[GWR]

Singapore favours subway rail link to Johor

SINGAPORE: Singapore said yesterday it welcomed a suggestion by Malaysia to connect the city-state’s subway system to Johor.

“The link should not be a difficult one and it will bring immediate advantages to both sides,” Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told local reporters, according to transcripts released by his ministry.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Rais Yatim had earlier asked Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to consider connecting the city-state’s urban rail network to the Iskandar Malaysia special economic zone.

To be developed over 20 years, Malaysia hopes the 2,200 sq km (850 sq mile) zone in Johor would be able to generate jobs and investments in projects catering to companies and individuals in wealthy but land-scarce Singapore.

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...03315/Article/

[jpatokal]

Some nice pics of the first stations to open, plus a tentative schedule:

http://sgforums.com/forums/2080/topics/322790

For 2009, July Stage 3, starts

1) Bartley (Above Bartley is Tai Seng)
2) Serangoon
3) Lorong Chuan
4) Bishan Street
5) Marymount (below Marymount is Thomson)

Maybe end of year 2009 or 2010 Stage 2 opens

1) Tai Seng (Above Tai Seng is Bartley)
2) Macpherson
3) Upper Paya Lebar (below Upper Paya Lebar is Dakota)

Mid 2011 or 2012 Stage 4 & 5 opens

1) Harbourfront
2) Telok Blangah
3) Labrador Park
4) Pasir Panjang
5) West Coast
6) Kent Ridge
7) One-north
8) Bouna Vista
9) Holland Village
10) Farrer Road
11) Botanic Gardens
12) Bukit Brown
13) Thomson (below thomson is Marymount)

In 2012 or 2013 Stage 1 opens

1) Dakota (Above Dakota is Upper Paya Lebar)
2) Mountbatten
3) Stadium
4) Nicoll Highway
5) Promenade
6) Esplanade
7) Bras Basah
8) Dhoby Ghaut

TOTAL 29 STATION TO DATE

So one more year to go until the first section -- but 4 or even 5 until the useful bits open.

[mrtfreak]

The LTA announced on Tuesday the stations under the Downtown Line stage 2.

Petir (serving Bukit Panjang, not indicated as an interchange station in speeches and located between Bukit Panjang and Ten Mile Junction LRT stations at the junction of Upper Bukit Timah and Petir Roads)*
Cashew (located at a junction with Cashew Road)*
Hillview (located at a junction with Hillview Avenue)*
Beauty World (located outside Beauty World shopping centre)*
Blackmore (located at a junction with Blackmore Road)*
Sixth Avenue (located near Sixth Avenue)*
Duchess (located near a junction with Duchess Avenue)*
Botanic Gardens (interchange to the Circle Line)
Stevens (located at a junction with Stevens Road)*
Newton (interchange with the North South Line)
Little India (interchange with the North East Line)
Rochor (located outside Tekka Mall)*

* Names are working names and not permanent. At the end of the month, the LTA will be holding a public feedback exercise to engaged the public in choosing suitable names for the stations online.

[jpatokal]

A project that's passed almost under the radar: SMRT's going to spend oodles of money (they ain't saying how much) to build an extra track at Jurong East. Why?

2. Currently, trains travelling to and from the Jurong East and Bukit Batok stations have to take turns arriving and departing from the shared middle platform at Jurong East station. This slows down the trains running through the Jurong East interchange station. JEMP, which entails adding a new track alignment [2.5 km] and platform at the Jurong East interchange station for the North-South MRT Lines, will overcome this infrastructural constraint. As a result, trains can be put through Jurong East station at shorter intervals.

See Wikipedia article for a track diagram to make sense of that. Basically, the NS line has only one track into the station, and they're going to add another one. This also raises the interesting question of whether this would allow future expansion of the NS line south of Jurong East towards Jurong Island itself?

And a parallel to Bangkok: BTS will eventually need a small-scale version of this to get around the one-platform bottleneck at Saphan Taksin.

[mrtfreak]

Technically, it is LTA that is constructing the extra track and platform, not SMRT. SMRT always goes for the cheaper option. LTA is also the one that added an extra platform at the existing Bishan station in preparation of it becoming an interchange with the Circle Line. Details are still sketchy for the Jurong East plan though.

[mrtfreak]

Yesterday the new air-conditioned platform at Bishan station for southbound trains (towards Marina Bay) opened for operation. The existing platform will be air-conditioned and upgraded in time for the opening of the Circle Line next year and will serve only northbound trains (towards Jurong East). Its quite a drastic upgrade when you think about it. Apparently, the capacity of the station has been boosted with the opening of the new platform.

[mrtfreak]

Downtown Line 2 Station Names Shortlisted for Public Polling

1. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is pleased to announce that names of the nine Downtown Line 2 (DTL2) stations have been shortlisted and available for public polling.

2. These names were shortlisted from more than 3,000 suggestions received from the public who were invited to send their suggestions for the official names of these nine DTL2 stations in July 2008. The closing date for submission was 26 August 2008.

3. The names for the MRT stations should:

Identify the location readily so that all commuters can easily remember the names and identify the area of the station
Illustrate the history and heritage of the station surroundings if relevant
Reflect the multi-racial, multi-cultural character of Singapore if possible. Also, stations should not be named after public structures, or commercial and residential developments.
Online polling

4. With immediate effect, the public can poll for their preferred station names via our portal at http://talk2lta.lta.gov.sg. The closing date for polling is Friday, 31 October 2008.

5. The three interchange stations at Little India, Newton and Botanic Gardens are not included in the polling exercise as these are official station names.

6. The public can poll for their preferred stations name from the shortlisted names below (three for each station) which have been approved by the Street and Building Names Board (SBNB):

1 Rochor
Rochor
Tekka
Ophir

2 Stevens
Stevens
Whitley
Wayang Satu

3 Duchess
Duchess
Watten
Kah Kee

4 Sixth Avenue
Sixth Avenue
Eng Neo
Bukit Timah

5 Blackmore
Blackmore
Dunearn
King Albert Park

6 Beauty World
Beauty World
Anak Bukit
Seventh Mile

7 Hillview
Hillview
Dairy Farm
Upper Bukit Timah

8 Cashew
Cashew
Chestnut
Hazel Park

9 Petir
Bukit Panjang
Tenth Mile
Zhenghua

7. Results of the polling will be collated. The proposed list of finalised names will be sent to SBNB for their final approval and the results will be announced in December 2008.

About Downtown Line 2

8. Located along the Bukit Timah corridor, DTL2 comprises one depot and 12 stations, including three interchange stations at Little India, Newton and Botanic Gardens. The 16.6km underground rail system will connect commuters to the North East Line, North South Line and the Circle Line respectively. Construction work on DTL2 will commence in stages from mid-2009 onwards and targeted for completion by 2015.

[jpatokal]

LTA has awarded six major contracts for the Downtown Line, including S$570m to Bombardier for 73 3-car C951 Movia trains:

http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=2040

Artist's impression (nothing too exciting...):

http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/DTL_tra...e&interior.pdf

This is Bombardier's second project in the Singapore, after the ill-starred Bukit Panjang LRT, which was so bug-ridden and problematic that all subsequent LRT contracts went to Mitsubishi. This also marks the second-to-last awarding for DTL stage 1, with the complicated Bugis interchange to be announced by the end of the year as well.

At 40 km with 33 stations, DTL is the longest underground rail project to date and will run through high-traffic and built-up corridors. It will be fully underground and will be built in three stages. It is targeted to be completed by 2016.

Note that it's LTA, the state-owned builder, who gets to choose the trains, even those the line itself will be contracted out to another operator. This means that Singapore's MRT will have at least four presumably entirely incompatible suppliers: Kawasaki, Siemens, Alstom and Bombardier...

[Wisarut]

LTA has awarded six major contracts for the Downtown Line, including S$570m to Bombardier for 73 3-car C951 Movia trains:

http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=2040

Artist's impression (nothing too exciting...):

http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/DTL_tra...e&interior.pdf

This is Bombardier's second project in the Singapore, after the ill-starred Bukit Panjang LRT, which was so bug-ridden and problematic that all subsequent LRT contracts went to Mitsubishi. This also marks the second-to-last awarding for DTL stage 1, with the complicated Bugis interchange to be announced by the end of the year as well.



Note that it's LTA, the state-owned builder, who gets to choose the trains, even those the line itself will be contracted out to another operator. This means that Singapore's MRT will have at least four presumably entirely incompatible suppliers: Kawasaki, Siemens, Alstom and Bombardier...

I'm gonna try riding Singapore MRT alogn with the feeders line in this December ...