Mass Rapid Transit :: SINGAPORE ::

History of the MRT

Planning

The history of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) can be traced back to 1967, where city planning studies predicted the need for a railway-based transport system by the year 1992. In response to this, the Singapore government commissioned a State and City Planning Study in 1967. The government studied the possibility of expanding the transport network via a rail transit system while supported by a bus network. The objective of the rail transit system was to provide public transport in the densely populated areas and this resulted in the conception of the East West Line and North South Line.

Moving on, a team of specialists from Harvard University was engaged to reinforce the recommendation for a rail system with the support of a bus network. However, a debate soon started due to the team recommending that an all-bus network was enough to meet the needs of Singapore in 1990, and that it would be cheaper to develop such a network as well. Therefore, in an attempt to further proof that a rail system was more feasible, a Comprehensive Traffic Study was conducted in 1981. Matters were soon resolved when the study confirmed that a rail system was indeed crucial and that an all-bus system would impose severe limitations on road users and the public. On 28 March 1982, the government declared that the MRT would be built as it would be beneficial for Singapore and its people.

Construction

The construction of the basic infrastructure of the MRT began on 22 October 1983, where majority of the work was expected to be completed in 1992. The basic infrastructure included a 67km track with 42 stations, in which 26 would be elevated, 1 at ground level and the remaining 15 underground. The North South Line was given priority due to it passing through Orchard Road as well as the Central Area of Singapore, both of which faced a high demand for public transport. An added consideration was that the line also passed through densely populated housing estates such as Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio. Thus it was decided that the North South Line was the first to be constructed.

Completion

The MRT system opened on 7 November 1987, when the first 6 kilometres of the North South Line from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh went into operation. Thousands flocked to the 5 stations just to try out the new mode of public transport available. From 1987 to 1990, more and more stations were built, where it temporarily ended with the opening of the last station on the East West Line, Boon Lay. This marked the completion of the MRT system two years ahead of schedule.

From then on, line extensions were constructed so as to cater to people living in far flung areas in Singapore. One of the subsequent line extensions was the North South Line, Woodlands extension. It was announced in February 1991 with the expected cost of the extension amounting to S$1.2 billion. With this extension, the North South Line had 6 more stations, forming a continuous line from Jurong East to Marina Bay.

However, the plan for the extension was not without objection. It was opposed by opposition members of the Parliament, particularly from Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang, both being representatives of Potong Pasir and Hougang respectively. The duo questioned the rationale of building the extension as the area was still developing during that time. In addition, there were far more residents living in the northeast than in the north.

Despite that, the extension was still constructed and it opened on 10 February 1996. The map below shows the MRT system map as of 10 February 1996.

Another line was added to serve the residents in the northeastern part of Singapore. Construction of the North East Line started in 1996, with the expected date of completion in December 2002. The North East Line is the first line operated by SBS Transit and also the first fully automated heavy rail line in the world.

However, due to system problems, the opening was delayed for six months until 20 June 2003. The line allowed previously isolated or distanced areas to be connected with the rest of Singapore by rail.

In recent years, a couple of stations have been added to the existing MRT lines to make it more accessible and convenient to people in those areas, for example Dover, Expo and Changi Airport stations. At present, the MRT has three lines in service: the East West Line (Green), the North South Line (Red) and the North East Line (Purple) with a total of 64 stations in operation (with the exception of Woodleigh station) and a combined route length of approximately 109km. The Circle Line (Orange) is under construction, and is expected to be opened in 2010.

next: Art in Transit