he Government has announced a slew of new rail transit projects which will be completed by 2030. By then, Singapore's metro network will increase to 360km, from 178km today. The latest new rail projects were announced by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew during a visit to the Downtown Line 1's Chinatown station Thursday morning confirmed speculation.
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Full press statement from the Land Transport Authority (LTA):
Rail network to double to 360 km; 8 in 10 households to be within 10-minute walk of a rail station by 2030
The Government has announced ambitious plans to expand the rail network by 2030, doubling it from the current 178 km to about 360 km. The improvements in rail infrastructure will support Singapore's long-term development and ensure that the rail network will have more than the capacity needed to meet the expected increase in public transport ridership in the next two decades.
As part of the Land Transport Masterplan 2013 theme of providing commuters with more connections to the places where they live, work and play, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be constructing two new rail lines, and extending three existing lines to improve the connectivity, accessibility and coverage of Singapore's rail network. With a more extensive rail network, commuters will have more choices for travel via public transport.
New lines to improve connectivity and accessibility
LTA will build a major MRT line, the 50-km Cross Island Line (CRL), which will run across the span of Singapore. Starting from Changi, it will pass through Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, before reaching Sin Ming. Continuing westwards, it will serve areas such as Bukit Timah, Clementi, West Coast, and terminate at Jurong Industrial Estate. Targeted to be completed by 2030, it will also provide commuters with another alternative for East-West travel to the current East-West Line. In addition, it will connect to all the other major lines to serve as a key transfer line, complementing the role currently fulfilled by the orbital Circle Line. Therefore, the CRL will relieve the load on several of our existing lines, bringing greater comfort to all commuters and significantly shorten journey times.
Another 20-km Jurong Region Line (JRL) will serve residents of Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and the future developments in the Tengah area. It will serve a diverse range of commuters by connecting these areas to main activity nodes in Jurong West including NTU, the Jurong Industrial estate including Jurong Island, and the future Jurong Gateway. Expected to be completed by 2025, JRL will enhance the intra-connectivity of the Jurong region and connect the region to the existing rail network for faster travel to the rest of the island. Commuters in the north will be also able to enter the Jurong region directly via the JRL, without having to interchange at the heavily-used Jurong East interchange.
Extension to areas not served by rail network
Three existing lines will also be extended to enhance commuters' connectivity and provide them with greater accessibility.
a) To improve the direct east-west connectivity between the central east and central west areas, the Circle Line Stage 6 (CCL6) will 'close the circle' by connecting HarbourFront station to Marina Bay station. Come 2025, commuters will enjoy a direct route between key employment areas in the Central Business District, as well as upcoming developments in the Marina Bay area and retail and office centres in the HarbourFront area via CCL6.
b) The North East Line will be extended northwards by one station to serve Punggol North including the new Punggol Downtown. It will be built in tandem with the developments there, by around 2030, so that future residents in Punggol North will have train access to the city centre as well as other parts of Singapore.
c) The Downtown Line, which now ends at Expo station, will be extended to the Eastern Region Line by 2025. This will enhance the accessibility between the two rail lines and allow commuters to conveniently make transfers.
In tandem with developments in northern Singapore, the LTA is studying the addition of a new station on the North-South Line between Yishun and Sembawang stations.
8 in 10 households within walking distance of a rail station
When completed, the new lines and extensions will significantly expand the coverage of Singapore's rail network, doubling it from 178 km today to about 360 km in 2030, which will bring 8 in 10 households within a 10-minute walk of a rail station.
Since the Land Transport Masterplan 2008, the Circle Line has fully opened and the Downtown Line 1 is on track to opening later this year. Works on the rest of the Downtown Line and Tuas West Extension are progressing well, while works on the Thomson Line will start later this year.
The Government will continue to augment the capacity of the existing rail lines and plan new lines to support the growth in population, as well as the changing travel needs of commuters.
