The Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) announced that the construction of two mass rapid transit (MRT) stations on the Cross Island Line (CRL) will start in the second quarter of 2022. The two new stations – Serangoon North and Tavistock – will be designed and constructed by Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure and Sato Kogyo (S) respectively. Let’s check out the details of these two CRL stations.
1. Serangoon North Station –Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure has been awarded a civil contract worth S$454 million by LTA to design and construct Serangoon North Station. This station will run from Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and the Yio Chu Kang Road vehicular bridge. Once constructed and operational, this new station will enable commuters to travel from Serangoon North Station to Loyang Industrial Area in 25 minutes, which currently takes 75 minutes.
2. Tavistock Station and Tunnels– LTA awarded the contract to design and construct Tavistock to Sato Kogyo (S) for S$407 million. The station will be constructed along the roads of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. When this station becomes fully operational, commuters travelling from Tavistock Station to Aviation Park will reach their destination in 30 minutes.
About the Cross Island Line
CRL is Singapore’s eighth MRT line, which is slated to commence in 2030. This MRT line will connect eastern, north-eastern, and western corridors. It will connect Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District, and Changi region. In phase 1 of CRL construction, 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill will be built that will serve residential and industrial areas. The CRL1 will have half of its stations as interchanges with other rail lines including North-South, East-West, Thomson-East Coast, and other lines.
LTA, contractors, and public transport operators will closely monitor the impact of Serangoon and Tavistock construction on traffic diversions.
More than 100,000 households will benefit from CRL Phase 1. Many recreational spaces such as Changi Beach Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park will become accessible by public transport once it becomes fully operational by 2030.
LTA is working tirelessly in making Singapore’s transport system the most efficient, affordable, and safe transport network in the world. Public transport operators like SMRT Corporation have a strategic partnership with LTA and other industry stakeholders to build engineering and operational capabilities. SMRT Chairman, Seah Moon Ming, said: “We remain committed to working with the Ministry of Transport and LTA as part of the One Transport Family to serve commuters well and maintain our MRT as among the most reliable systems in the world.”
Commenting on how SMRT will serve commuters better, SMRT CEO, Neo Kian Hong, said: “We will leverage digitalisation and technology to be cost-efficient and effective, and will continually upskill our workforce through workplace learning. We are also looking forward to serving more commuters in Singapore, with the upcoming bids for Jurong Regional Line and Cross Island Line being our focus.”
Conclusion
The Cross Island Line will bring greater accessibility and better rail connectivity across the island. Commuters will find alternative travel routes to get to their destinations, faster. Travel time will reduce and they can access an MRT station within a 10-min walking distance from their homes. The construction of Serangoon North and Tavistock MRT stations will begin in the second quarter of 2022 and CRL Phase 1 might be completed by 2030. As LTA, contractors, and public transport operators including SMRT, SBS Transit, and others work together, Singaporeans can expect to enjoy a convenient, safe, and affordable commuting experience.
About the Author
Jiwon Lee
Jiwon works as lead engineer in a leading metro car manufacturing and rail transport solutions provider. He loves to share his views on anything related to the transportation industry. In his free time, he enjoys reading and gardening.
