MRT: Circle Line

[jpatokal]

Time for a 2Bangkok meetup in Singapore? I'm not sure where I'll be that weekend yet though, but based on my current schedule the odds of me being in Sing seem fairly high.

[mrtfreak]

lol. nah, i'm just joking jp... but yeah, the singapore network is expanding really quick. the sengkang west loop service will only be in one direction, however. from 5.20am to 3pm the west loop will run anti-clockwise, starting a thanggam station. from 3pm to 12-ish, it will run clockwise from renjong station.

similarly, the punggol loop will also run on a single lane during initial stages.

btw, which part of singapore are you from?

[jpatokal]

Originally posted by mrtfreak
btw, which part of singapore are you from?

Formerly Jurong. Now I spend so much time in Bangkok that I'm homeless

[mrtfreak]

Originally posted by jpatokal
Formerly Jurong. Now I spend so much time in Bangkok that I'm homeless

oh, i see. i stay in dover, which is near to jurong. so, you're staying in a hotel this time round?

[mrtfreak]

construction work has begun on stage 4 and stage 5 later this year to meet the target of a 2010 opening. large machines are in place at buona vista's new station site, adjacent to the exisisting east-west line station. the taxi stand and drop-off area have been relocated.

[mrtfreak]

possible station names:
jurong street 63 station -->pioneer station/ jurong west station
international road station --> joo koon terminal/ tuas terminal/ pasir laba terminal

[sabaisabai]

Here's the LTA's press release, including a link to a PDF with a map and station designs:
http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1138

[jpatokal]

The station alignment is mildly strange though: assuming that the line alignment diagram is correct, it looks like there's barely 500m between Boon Lay and Station 1, and three kilometers to Station 2. Presumably there are many HDB apartments around #1, while the stretch between is mostly comparatively sparse industrial land...

It would also be interesting to know how the planned Jurong LRT syncs with this extension.

[mrtfreak]

i went to the station 1 site recently. it is an open field and yes, there are lots of flats around it. however, i think they are going to demolish either the existing run-off tracks from boon lay or the carpark blocking the route. either way, it will be interesting to watch the construction.

some singaporeans are afriad that the BLE will become like the changi line with only a shuttle between BLN station and station 2.

[sabaisabai]

some singaporeans are afriad that the BLE will become like the changi line with only a shuttle between BLN station and station 2.

It will very likely be like that. I just can't see any demand for a service to International Road (or beyond to Tuas) outside a short peak hour in the morning and in the evening.

[mrtfreak]

i doubt so. there will stil be demand at station 1 as more people will not want to walk when they have the service so near to their houses now. if they operate it as a shuttle service, there will definitely be protests by the resdients there. station 2 however, will see the range of passengers very limited unless commuters use the station to get to the discovery station. otherwise, more or less it will be used by the factory workers.

i think the reason they are building station 1 is to relieve the very busy BNL station. it has only 1 descending escalator, and a lot of passengers use this station as it serves the entire jurong west section. by having station 1 a short distance away, it will reduce the number of alighting commuters at BNL.

[jpatokal]

i doubt so. there will stil be demand at station 1 as more people will not want to walk when they have the service so near to their houses now. if they operate it as a shuttle service, there will definitely be protests by the resdients there. station 2 however, will see the range of passengers very limited unless commuters use the station to get to the discovery station. otherwise, more or less it will be used by the factory workers.

I though the official plan was to build (yet another) large bus interchange at stn 2? Don't know why they don't just connect to the existing Tuas terminal though.

i think the reason they are building station 1 is to relieve the very busy BNL station. it has only 1 descending escalator, and a lot of passengers use this station as it serves the entire jurong west section. by having station 1 a short distance away, it will reduce the number of alighting commuters at BNL.

Now this makes sense, the crush at BLE during rush hour is ridiculous. The other station with the same problem is Bugis, although this was alleviated a bit by NEL and the Circle Line should help out even more.

[mrtfreak]

I though the official plan was to build (yet another) large bus interchange at stn 2? Don't know why they don't just connect to the existing Tuas terminal though.

i haven't heard of anything, but then again, people were talking about the BLE way before i had even heard of it. then it became official. anyway, its still the keyword, planning.

Now this makes sense, the crush at BLE during rush hour is ridiculous. The other station with the same problem is Bugis, although this was alleviated a bit by NEL and the Circle Line should help out even more.

bugis station is crazy. what draws the crowd there? i have no idea. i try to avoid exitting at that station when possible and i only use it like 1 time in 2 years at the most. people are actually speculating that bugis could become an interchange for the future bukit timah line (BTL). bugis as interchange = havoc.

take dhoby ghaut as an example. the station was okay efore it was upgraded to interchange status. but now, the north-south line station is teeming with people when one train arrives. there's going to be an accident on the escalator sometime i tell you (well, technically, it already did with a child getting their palm caught on the escalator edge)...

[sabaisabai]

I spotted these "carriages" from the bus near Golden Mile.. can anybody shed some light as to what they're for? (click on the link for the picture)

http://sabaisabai.org/temp/20050125-0001r.jpg

[mrtfreak]

those are flat bed cars. they may be used for tunneling work, or for work that requires construction material to be transported. there is a huge circle that goes right down to the lowest level (9 stories below or equivilent) and this was before the tunnels reached the kallang basin. through this hole, the TBM was delivered to dig the bored tunnel below the kallang basin and into "boulevard" station. its just my guess, but i'll try get it confirmed with my uncle. by the way, who took that photo/how did you find it?