Upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line may link to all terminals at Changi Airport

VALERIE KOH Today Online 21 Jul 16;

SINGAPORE — The authorities are studying the possibility of extending the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) to all terminals at Changi Airport, including the upcoming Terminals 4 and 5, announced Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Thursday (July 21).

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the eastern stretch of the TEL, Mr Khaw said that the move would provide a direct connection from the airport to the city, benefitting travellers and airport workers. Currently, the TEL is on track to open in five phases, between 2019 and 2024.

At the same time, the authorities are considering extending the Cross Island Line (CRL) to Terminal 5 and the new industrial zone around the airport. This will allow a traveller from Kuala Lumpur to hop onto the upcoming High-Speed Rail to Jurong East, and transit to Changi Airport via the CRL, noted Mr Khaw.

He said: “Together, these options enable many commuters who use the MRT network to get from all parts of the island to the airport with no more than one transfer. More details will be announced after the completion of the engineering feasibility studies for the TEL and CRL.”

Current plans for the 43km-long TEL include eight transit stations and one interchange section, connected to the Downtown Line 3 extension (DTL3e) in Sungei Bedok.

The groundbreaking ceremony also marked the start of construction for the 2.2km-long DTL3e and the East Coast Integrated Depot.

The depot will feature state-of-the-art technology, possibly adapted from the London subway system, said Mr Khaw. During a recent study trip to London depots, the Land Transport Authority visited an automatic train inspection facility that used visual, impact and temperature sensors to observe train conditions.

“They have also installed electrical sensors on their track circuits, so that they can monitor both the tracks, as well as the trains that pass through,” said the minister. “The operators then analyse and act on the data collected, to pick up and follow up on symptoms of failure before the failure actually happens. These are useful innovations and we will see what we can adapt for Singapore.”

Giving an update of ridership figures, following the opening of the Downtown Line 2 last December, Mr Khaw said that ridership has tripled from 83,000 in October 2015 to 250,000 in May this year.

LTA exploring extending Thomson-East Coast Line to Changi Airport
Loh Chuan Junn, Channel NewsAsia 21 Jul 16;

SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is assessing the possibility of extending the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) from Sungei Bedok station to the future Changi Airport Terminal 5 and the existing Changi Airport station.

Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan revealed this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the East Coast stretch of the TEL on Thursday (Jul 20).

"It would provide a direct connection from the airport to the city,” said Mr Khaw. “This would benefit travellers and airport staff."

He added that the authority will also be assessing the feasibility of connecting the Cross Island Line (CRL) to Terminal 5 and the new industrial zone serving the airport. "Together, these options enable many commuters who use the MRT network to get from all parts of the the island to the airport with no more than one transfer," Mr Khaw said.

The TEL will be Singapore’s sixth MRT line and the third-longest MRT line in the country at 43 kilometres when completed. It will also feature a four-in-one East Coast Integrated depot - the first of its kind in the world.

The integrated depot will have depots of the existing East-West Line, Downtown Line and TEL stacked on top of each other, with a bus depot built next to it. The facility will be housed within a 36-hectare site, or an area of approximately 60 football fields, while the main train depot building will span over 1 km.

The entire East Coast stretch of the TEL, which is made up of 10 stations, will also be built on reclaimed land. It will be completed in two stages with the first seven stations - Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore - slated to be ready in 2023.

- CNA/xk


Thomson-East Coast Line could be extended to connect to Changi Airport
Adrian Lim, Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Jul 16;


SINGAPORE - The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), currently being constructed, could be extended to connect to the Changi Airport MRT station, as well as the airport's future Terminal 5.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Thursday (July 21) that the Government is assessing the feasibility of extending the 43km MRT line, which is expected to open in stages from 2019 to 2024.

"It would provide a direct connection from the airport to the city. This would benefit travellers and airport staff," said Mr Khaw during a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of works for the East Coast stretch of the TEL.

Mr Khaw also said the Government is studying the feasibility of bringing the proposed Cross-Island Line (CRL) to Terminal 5 and the new industrial zone serving the airport.

He said details will be announced after engineering feasibility studies are completed for the TEL and CRL.

"Together, these options (would) enable many commuters who use the MRT network to get from all parts of the island to the airport with no more than one transfer," he said.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also unveiled the finalised station names for the TEL following a public poll last October. It said that about 38,000 votes were received during the polling exercise.

The East Coast stretch of the TEL is planned to have nine stations along a 13km segment that will run through the eastern parts of the island, such as Tanjong Rhu, Siglap, Upper East Coast and Bedok South.

It connects to the Thomson stretch, a 22-station, 30km segment.

Thursday's groundbreaking, held at the Marine Parade project site, also marked the start of work for two other projects: the East Coast Integrated Depot and the Downtown Line 3 extension to Sungei Bedok.