Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
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| Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 大众快速交通 (地铁) Sistem Pengangkutan Gerak Cepat சிங்கை துரிதக் கடவு ரயில் | |
 | |
| Info | |
| Owner | Land Transport Authority |
|---|---|
| Locale | Singapore |
| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 4 |
| Number of stations | 79 (1 not in operation) |
| Daily ridership | 1.952 million (2009) |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 7 November 1987 |
| Operator(s) | SMRT Corporation SBS Transit |
| System length | 129.7 km |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (Standerd Gauge) |
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a rapid transit system which forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, serving more than a quarter of Singapore's population of four million with a network spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh, was opened in 1987, establishing the MRT as the second oldest metro system in Southeast Asia after the system in Manila. The network has rapidly grown ever since, especially when the white paper titled "A World-Class Land Transport System", published by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) shortly after its formation in 1995, detailed how the authority intended to favour developing a comprehensive rail network and reduce dependency on road-based systems such as the bus network. The MRT also works in conjunction with the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system, which links the MRT stations with HDB estates.
The MRT system has both underground and above-ground stations, even on the same line. Underground stations are often built in densely built-up areas, such as stations in the Central Area - Singapore's central business district (CBD) (The primary reason for this is that the construction of an above-ground station in such built-up areas would be difficult. Although underground stations are more expensive to build and maintain, most of them also function as bomb shelters, and often have the secondary role of being a shopping centre in itself.
As it stands at present, however, the daily ridership on the MRT and LRT networks hovers at about 1.3 million per day in 2004, a figure which pales in comparison to the 2.8 million daily ridership on the bus network. The gap is narrowing, however, as the rail network expands, and bus services are often required to be withdrawn or amended to avoid a duplication of services.
The lines are constructed by the LTA with operating concessions given to SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit. These operators also run bus and taxi services, thus ensuring that there is a full integration of public transport services in Singapore.
Contents |
The Mass Rapid Transit network
 | Line (Operator) | First section operational | Stations | Length (km) | Terminals | Depot along line | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North South Line (SMRT Trains) | 7 November 1987 | 25 | 44 | Jurong East | Marina Bay | Bishan | |
| East West Line (SMRT Trains) | 12 December 1987 | 29 | 49.2 | Pasir Ris | Joo Koon | Ulu Pandan Changi | |
| 10 January 2001 | 3 | Tanah Merah | Changi Airport | ||||
| North East Line (SBS Transit) | 20 June 2003 | 16 (1 not in operation) | 20 | HarbourFront | Punggol | Sengkang | |
| Circle Line (SMRT Trains) | 28 May 2009 | 16 | 16.5 | Dhoby Ghaut | Marymount | Kim Chuan | |
Stations
Station Layout
MRT stations are generally either above-ground or underground, with Bishan MRT Station being the only exception at grade level. For above-ground sections where trains run on viaducts, the first level of an above-ground station is usually only used for as entrance from street level. The second level is the ticketing platform and containing the ticketing machines and the fare-gate between the paid and unpaid areas. Escalators and stairs providing access to the platform level one floor up is located only the paid area. An passenger overpass may sometimes link the unpaid area of this level to another prominent building nearby, such as a school or a polytechnic. The third level is the platform level, where passengers board and alight from the trains. Most of the time this consists of one actual platform island with two sets of tracks for opposite directions running on either side.
For underground sections, stations generally consist of two levels: the ticketing level described as above, usually containing the same services, and the train platform level. There will be at least two sets of escalators and stairs between the two levels, and a further set leading to several street accesses on top of the station area. There are exceptions on the number of levels however, when the station is an interchange and thus consists of more levels than two to accommodate the extra train platform(s) for the extra line(s) and linkway(s). Such stations are often deep enough to be shielded from conventional bomb attacks from the air and act as bomb shelters. This status is enhanced by the fact that underground MRT systems have prebuilt ventilation systems with air-conditioning to even facilitate a degree of comfort in the unlikely case a conventional air assault should occur.
Train Related Services
Ticketing counters, Add Value Machines, General Ticketing Machines (GTMs), and the passenger service centre, are avaliable in every MRT station. LED displays and plasma display screens showing train arrival time information, date/time and safety messages are prominently shown.
Shops and other Services
All stations are equipped with restrooms. However, not all the stations have restrooms in the station. Some of them, such as Somerset, have the restrooms located outside the station, on street level. All stations have payphones, both in the unpaid concourse level, and on the platform itself.
Some stations along the MRT & LRT lines also have additional amenities and services, such as retail shops/kiosks, bookstores (Popular), supermarkets (NTUC FairPrice, Shop N Save), convenience stores (7-Eleven, Cheers), automatic teller machines, and self service automated kiosks for a myriad of services tend to be located within the unpaid area, although not all such services might be available at every station. They may act as a distrubution point for the free daily newspaper Today.
Passenger Information System
Singapore is one of the few cities in the world to utilise plasma displays in metro stations to display train service information. Metro systems worldwide usually use LED displays (or none at all) instead as they are cheaper to install. Critics have opposed the use of plasma displays as they are considerably more expensive to install and are susceptible to the problem of screen burns. However, the rail operators see this as a medium to earn advertising revenue from commercials shown on these displays. At the same time, they are able to display all the train service information, safety messages and time/date on these screens clearly. Using the flip dot system previously, only a limited amount of information could be displayed.
Barrier Free Facilities
Barrier free facilities such as
- lifts
- ramps
- tactile guidance system
- handicapped friendly toilets
These are installed in all MRT Stations which are constructed before 2001. Barrier free facilities will also be installed in all future lines & extensions.
Remarks
Rolling Stock
- Main articles: Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151, Siemens C651, Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B, Alstom Metropolis C751A, Alstom Metropolis C830, Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151A, Bombardier MOVIA C951
5 of 7 types of rolling stock are in use on the Mass Rapid Transit system. However, they are not interchangable on all lines.
| Trains | Lines | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North South Line | East West Line | North East Line | Circle Line | Downtown Line | |
| Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151 | Present | Present | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Siemens C651 | Present | Present | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B | Present | Present | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Alstom Metropolis C751A | Absent | Absent | Present | Absent | Absent |
| Alstom Metropolis C830 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Present | Absent |
| Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151A | Present | Present | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Bombardier MOVIA C951 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Present |
Three types of rolling stock are used on the North South Line and the East West Line. They are powered by 750-volt DC third rail, operate in sets of six cars, and use an automatic train operation system (ATO) that is similar to London Underground's Victoria Line.
The majority of the fleet comprises 66 six car Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151; these were the oldest trains in operation. They were built between 1986 and 1989 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in consortium with Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation and Kinki Sharyo for S$581.5 million. A S$142.7 million refurbishment of these trains' interior were completed in 2008. 19 more six car Siemens C651, manufactured by Siemens in Vienna, were purchased in 1994 when the Woodlands extension opened.
A further 21 six car Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B have been running on the East West Line and the North South Line since 2000. Kawasaki Heavy Industries manufactured 66 cars and Nippon Sharyo manufactured 60 cars. The cars have a sleeker design and come with an improved passenger information system, more grab poles, wider seats, more space near the doors and spaces for wheelchairs. As these trains were originally intended to operate on a direct service from Boon Lay to Changi Airport, luggage racks were installed for air travellers. However, in April 2002, faulty gearboxes forced all 21 train-sets to be off-service, and the service was temporarily suspended. The direct service was scrapped in July 2003, and the luggage racks were removed.
25 six car fully automatic and driverless Alstom Metropolis C751A have been running on the North East Line since 2003. These trains are running on 1500 volts direct current supplied via overhead lines and are the first MRT trains in Singapore to incorporate CCTV. Alstom Transportation of France was contracted by the Land Transport Authority in 1997 and 1998 to supply these cars. A further 40 three car fully automatic and driverless Alstom Metropolis C830 began operation on the Circle Line on 28 May 2009. Unlike their C751A counterparts, these trains are run on 750-volt DC supplied via third rail.
73 three car fully automatic and driverless Bombardier MOVIA C951 will run on the Downtown Line in 2013, with initial deliveries scheduled for the last quarter of 2012 and the final deliveries for 2016. These trains will run on 750-volt DC supplied by third rail. A further 22 six car trainsets by a consortium comprising of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock will be progressively delivered from 2011 to 2012 to bolster capacity for the North South Line and East West Line by a further 15 percent.
Depots
The depot houses trains that have not been put into service or are undergoing maintainence works, as well as diesel powered rail maintainence trains.
SMRT Corporation has four train depots: The Bishan Depot is the central maintenance depot with train overhaul facilities, while the Changi Depot and Ulu Pandan Depot inspect and house trains overnight. The underground Kim Chuan Depot houses trains for the Circle Line. Ang Mo Kio Station, Jurong East Station and Tanah Merah Station were built with a third middle track for off-service trains to stop at before they return to their depots, but the last two are now used as terminals for the North South Line and the East West Line Changi Airport Extension respectively.
The Sengkang Depot houses trains for the North East Line, the Sengkang LRT and the Punggol LRT, all operated by SBS Transit. It is the first depot to have structural provisions for an industrial development located above the depot, to minimize the wastage of land in land-scarce Singapore.
| Depots | Lines | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North South Line | East West Line | North East Line | Circle Line | Downtown Line | |
| Bishan Depot | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Changi Depot | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ulu Pandan Depot | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Sengkang Depot | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Kim Chuan Depot | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Gali Batu Depot | No | No | No | No | Yes |
History of the Mass Rapid Transit
- Main articles: History of the Mass Rapid Transit
The Mass Rapid Transit's history can be traced back to 1967, when city planning studies forecasted the need for a rail-based urban transport system by the year 1992. Following the debate of whether a bus-only system would be more cost-effective, the parliament to the conclusion that an all-bus system would be inadequate, since it would have to compete for road space.
The construction of the Mass Rapid Transit network was Singapore's largest public works project at the time, commencing on 22 October 1983 at Shan Road. The network was constructed in stages, with the North South Line given priority, since it passed through the Central Area, which faced high demand for public transport. The MRT Corporation, presently the SMRT Corporation, was established on 14 October 1983. It took over the roles and responsibilities of the former provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority.
On 7 November 1987, the first section of the North South Line, consisting of five stations over six kilometres went into operation. 15 more stations were later opened, after which the MRT system was officially launched on 12 March 1988 by Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore. On 6 July 1990, after 21 other stations were added, the last station on the East West Line, the Boon Lay MRT Station, was opened, marking the completion of the plans for the system two years ahead of schedule.
The Mass Rapid Transit has had subsequent expansions in both new stations and infrastructure. These include the expansion of the North South Line into Woodlands, completing a continuous loop. The concept of having rail lines which would bring people almost directly to their doors marked the introduction of the Light Rapid Transit system into the existing Mass Rapid Transit network. On 6 November 1999, the first LRT trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT Line went into operation. In order accommodate tourism, the Changi Airport MRT Station and Expo MRT Station were built. The North East Line, the first line operated by SBS Transit, as one of the first fully-automated heavy rail lines in the world, opened on 20 June 2003.
Projects
Circle Line (2008)
- Main articles: Circle Line
The Circle Line (CCL) is a 35.7 kilometre line passing through 31 stations, with 5 stations currently operational and the remainder under various stages of construction and testing. The Circle Line connects all existing MRT lines radiating out of the city centre and allows commuters to bypass stations within the downtown area, thereby reducing congestion at the City Hall and Raffles Place interchange stations. The Circle Line will also connect to Marina South via a spur line branching off Promenade Station and ending at Marina Bay Station. 3-car trainsets will run on the Circle Line, in contrast to the 6-car trainsets running on the older lines. The Circle Line Stage 3, a section of the line from Marymount Station to Bartley Station commenced revenue service on 28 May 2009. Stages 1 and 2 will commence operations on 17 April 2010 while stages 4 and 5 are scheduled to commence operations in 2011. The spur line extending from Promenade Station to Marina Bay Station will commence passenger service by 2012.
Downtown Line
- Main articles: Downtown Line
Currently in various stages of planning and construction, the 40-kilometre fully underground Downtown Line (DTL) passing through 34 stations will connect the northwestern and eastern regions of Singapore to the new downtown at Marina Bay in the south and the Central Business District. Similar to the Circle Line, 3-car trainsets will run on the Downtown Line with line capacity for 500,000 commuters daily. It will be completed in three stages with stages 1, 2 and 3 opening by 2013, 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Thomson Line
- Main articles: Thomson Line
The forthcoming 27-kilometre Thomson Line (TSL) is tentatively planned to serve 18 stations. The TSL will start from the Marina Bay station and end in the northern part of Singapore. En-route, the line will traverse through the CDB, Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming, Kebun Baru, Thomson, Kim Seng and Woodlands in the north. It will relieve crowding on the North South Line and reduce travel times between Woodlands and the Central Business District. The underground line is expected to be completed by 2018.
Eastern Region Line
- Main articles: Eastern Region Line
The 21-kilometre Eastern Region Line (ERL) is tentatively planned to serve 12 stations. The ERL will start from the Marina Bay station and go east to Marina East, Tanjong Rhu, Siglap, Marine Parade and Bedok South before terminating further north at Changi. It will generally be parallel to and south of the EWL. The underground line is expected to be completed by 2020.
Bukit Timah Line
- Main articles: Bukit Timah Line
This line will start at Promenade station and run along the Bukit Timah-Dunearn Road corridor towards the Upper Bukit Timah Road corridor. It is assumed that the line will terminate at Bukit Panjang, currently an LRT station. There will be interchanges with the East-West Line at Bugis station, North-East Line at Little India station, North-South Line at Newton station, and Circle Line at Adam station. This line is likely to be fully underground.
North Shore Line
- Main articles: North Shore Line
This line, when constructed, will provide direct metro links between the northern, north-eastern, and eastern regions of Singapore. Many areas along this line are still undeveloped yet, and the line is expected to be constructed only after the areas around it has been developed. The line is expected to pass through Woodlands and/or Sembawang, Punggol, and Pasir Ris before terminating at Changi Airport, and is presumably in the planning stage.
It is interesting to note that this corridor is already a highly-used traffic corridor, with several bus services plying parts or all of it. It is an extremely competitive area, with services from both SBS Transit and SMRT Buses running near-parallel bus routes.
Punggol LRT Line
- Main articles: Punggol LRT Line
A northern spur is yet to be built, stemming out from Teck Lee (PW2) station. It will run parallel to the northern side of the Eastern loop. A date has yet to be set for the completion of the northern spur although the infrastructure for the extension is already in place. The code assigned for this extension is PN standing for Punggol North.
Extensions to existing lines
The East West Line Tuas West Extension is a fully elevated westward extension from Joo Koon Station. The 7.5 kilometre extension includes 4 new stations and a depot located near the Tuas Checkpoint. This extension will be completed in the 2nd quarter of 2015. The easternmost station along the Tuas West Extension (EW30) will have 2 island platforms and 4 tracks as it will serve as an interchange station for the future 6 kilometre Tuas South Extension which will have 2 new stations. The Tuas South Extension will be completed in the 2nd half of 2015.
The North South Line Marina South Extension is a fully underground southward extension from Marina Bay Station. The 1.6 kilometre extension includes 1 new station located near the upcoming International Cruise Centre at Marina South. This extension will commence passenger service by 2014, a year earlier than originally scheduled.
Other Future MRT Lines
Several proposed MRT lines have been shown on various concept and master plans created by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in Singapore. These include a Thomson Line, a Seletar Line, an Arts Centre Line, and various other MRT and LRT lines. Some of the plans for these lines have since been dropped, or have been either incoporated (either in part or whole) into other lines or built using a different route alignment. For example, the under-construction Circle Line's stage one is actually what was once called the Marina Line.
It is expected that many of these lines will not be built anytime in the near future. These lines currently serve undeveloped areas or even reclaimed land that have not been reclaimed yet. It is also expected that the final routes, alignments, and names for these lines, if built, will be different from what is currently proposed.
Fares and ticketing
- Main articles: Fares and ticketing on the Mass Rapid Transit
Stations are divided into two areas, paid and unpaid, which allow the rail operators to collect fares by restricting entry only through the fare gates, also known as access control gates. These gates, connected to a computer network, are capable of reading and updating electronic tickets capable of storing data, and can store information such as the initial and destination stations and the duration for each trip. General Ticketing Machines sell tickets for single trips or allow the customer to purchase additional value for stored-value tickets. Tickets for single trips, coloured in green, are valid only on the day of purchase, and have a time allowance of 30 minutes beyond the estimated travelling time. Tickets that can be used repeatedly until their expiry date require a minimum amount of stored credit.
As the fare system has been integrated by TransitLink, commuters need to pay only one fare and pass through two fare gates (once on entry, once on exit) for an entire journey, even when transferring between lines operated by different companies. Commuters can choose to extend a trip mid-journey, and pay the difference as they exit their destination station.
Fares
Because the rail operators are government-assisted, profit-based corporations, fares on the MRT system are pitched to at least break-even level. The operators collect these fares by selling electronic data-storing tickets, the prices of which are calculated based on the distance between the start and destination stations. These prices increase in fixed stages for standard non-discounted travel. Fares are calculated in increments based on approximate distances between stations, in contrast to the use of fare zones in other subway systems, such as the London Underground.
Although operated by private companies, the system's fare structure is regulated by the Public Transport Council (PTC), to which the operators submit requests for changes in fares. Fares are kept affordable by pegging them approximately to distance-related bus fares, thus encouraging commuters to use the network and reduce its heavy reliance on the bus system. Fare increases over the past few years have caused public concern, the latest one taken effect from 1 October 2008. There were similar expressions of disapproval over the slightly higher fares charged on SBS Transit's North East Line, a disparity that SBS Transit justified by citing higher costs of operation and maintenance on a completely underground line, as well as lower patronage.
Ticketing
The ticketing system uses the EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay contactless smart cards based upon the Symphony for e-Payment (SeP) system for public transit built on the Singapore Standard for Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS) system. This system allows for up to 4 card issuers in the market. The EZ-Link card was introduced on 13 April 2002 as a replacement to the original TransitLink farecard while its competitor the NETS FlashPay card entered the smart card market on 9 October 2009.
An adult EZ-Link card may be purchased for S$15 (inclusive of a S$5 non-refundable card cost and a S$10 credit) for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore. The card may be purchased at any TransitLink Ticket Office or Passenger Service Centre. The card may also be used for payment of goods and services at merchants displaying the "EZ-Link" logo, Electronic Road Pricing tolls and Electronic Parking System carparks. Additional credit may be purchased at any General Ticketing Machine (GTM), Add Value Machine (AVM), TransitLink Ticket Office, Passenger Service Centre, AXS Station, DBS/POSB Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), online via a card reader purchased separately or selected merchants (eg. 7 Eleven). Additional credit of a predetermined value may also be automatically purchased whenever the card value is low via an automatic recharge service provided by Interbank GIRO through a manual application at the TransitLink Ticket Office or credit card online.
An EZ-Link Season Pass for unlimited travel on buses and trains (capped at 4 train rides a day for the cheaper season passes) is also available for frequent users who may benefit from lower travel costs or the convenience of not having to purchase additional credit for their EZ-Link cards. The pass is available at S$45 to S$50 for a weekly pass and S$170 to S$190 for a monthly pass. The pass may be purchased at TransitLink Ticket Offices or AVMs. However, an application for a new personalised EZ-Link card at the TransitLink Ticket Office is necessary before purchase of any season pass. The personalised EZ-Link card may be purchased at S$11 (inclusive of a S$5 non-refundable card cost, S$3 initial top up value and S$3 personalisation cost).
A Standard Ticket contactless smart card for single trips may also be purchased between S$2 and S$4 (inclusive of a S$1 refundable card deposit)for the payment of MRT and LRT fares. The card may be only purchased at the GTM. The deposit may also be retrieved by returning the card to the GTM within 30 days from the date of issue or donated to charity by depositing it in a collection box at any station. This card cannot be recharged with additional credit.
Alternatively for tourists, a Singapore Tourist Pass contactless smart card may be purchased from S$18 (inclusive of a S$10 refundable card deposit and a 1 day pass) for the payment of public transportation fares. The card may be purchased at selected TransitLink Ticket Offices and Singapore Visitors Centres. The deposit may be retrieved by returning the card to selected TransitLink Ticket Offices and Singapore Visitors Centres within 5 days from the date of issue.
An adult NETS FlashPay card may be purchased for at least S$12 (inclusive of a S$5 non-refundable card cost and at least S$7 in credit for card purchases not made at iNETS Kiosks) for the payment of public transportation fares in Singapore. During the launch promotion till December 2009, the credit value in the card will be S$12 instead of S$7. The card may be purchased at any TransitLink Ticket Office, iNETS Kiosks, convenience stores (SPH Buzz, 7-11, Cheers and Fairprice Xpress) and progressively at more locations. Additional credit may be purchased at TransitLink Ticket Offices, iNETS Kiosk and progressively at ATMs and other locations as well. The card has near identical uses to the EZ-Link card and may be used at merchants displaying the "NETS FlashPay" logo. UOB has launched the integrated ATM card with FlashPay function in Nov 2009.
Art In Transit
One of the distinctive features on the North-East MRT line is the Art In Transit programme. Every station on the line features various artworks by various Singaporean artists, intergrated into the station architecture itself.
A few of the older stations (such as Woodlands and Orchard) also features artworks, but it should be noted that they are not part of the Art In Transit programme.
NE1 HarbourFront - Design: Station features sea-like decor, with the concourse roof forming ship-like formation
NE3 Outram Park - Design: Plain decor with clay figurines jutting out from the walls, also seen along transfer linkway
NE4 Chinatown - Design: Plaine decor with Chinese caligraphy on platform floor and mural on concourse level.
NE5 Clarke Quay - Design: Plain decor with sketches of the Singapore River at concourse
NE6 Dhoby Ghaut - Design: Plain decor with mosaic wall and mosiac floor(level B3 at transfer hall)
NE7 Little India - Design: Plain decor with Indian leafs in grills at entrances
NE8 Farrer Park - Design: brush drawings showing the horse racing activity that used to go on in the Farrer Road Area.
NE12 Serangoon - Design: Plain decor with pictures adorning pillars along platform reflecting multi-cultural aspect
NE13 Kovan - Design: Granite inlays on station floor showing two maps of the Kovan area depicting Kovan's progress.
NE14 Hougang - Design: Plain decor with clay castings of palms of residents in Hougang area on walls
NE16 Sengkang - Design: Plain decor with stained glass depicting fishing village era of the town
Safety
- Main article: Safety on the Mass Rapid Transit
Assurance has been given by both operators and authorities, that numerous measures have been taken in an effort to ensure the safety of passengers, with SBS Transit having to make greater efforts in actively publicising its safety considerations on the driver-less North East Line before and after its opening. Safety campaign posters are highly visible in trains and stations, and the operators frequently broadcast safety announcements to passengers and to commuters waiting for trains. Fire safety standards are consistent with the strict guidelines of the US National Fire Protection Association. Platform screen doors are installed at all underground stations, with half-height platform screen doors being built at all aboveground stations. These doors prevent suicides, enable climate control in stations and prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas. Above-ground stations have open platforms, with a wide yellow line drawn 70 cm from each platform edge requiring passengers to stand at a safe distance from arriving trains (or face a fine). Bylaws deter uncivil, disruptive and dangerous acts, such as smoking, the consumption of food and drink, the frivolous use of safety features, and trespassing on the railway tracks. Penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment are imposed for these offences.
Safety concerns were raised among the public after several accidents on the system during the 1980s and 1990s, but most problems have been rectified. On 5 August 1993, two trains collided at Clementi station because of an oil spillage on the track, which resulted in 132 injuries. There were calls for platform screen doors to be installed at above-ground stations after several incidents in which passengers were killed by oncoming trains when they fell onto the railway tracks at above-ground stations. The authorities initially rejected the proposal by casting doubts over functionality and concerns about the high installation costs, but made an about-turn when the government announced plans to install half-height automatic platform gates in a speech on 25 January 2008, citing lower costs due to it becoming a more common feature worldwide. The gates will be installed first at the Jurong East, Pasir Ris and Yishun stations in 2009, before they are introduced at all other stations by 2012.
Announcements
There are other announcements played in MRT stations to ensure that the rail transport system is a safe and clean place for commuters to travel. Announcements include no consumption of food and drinks in stations and trains: "Your attention please, eating or drinking is not allowed in stations and trains. Thank you for keeping the stations and trains clean for the comfort of all passengers"
There are also announcements providing tips for commuters, mostly tourists, such as "Dear Passengers, if you are using a standard ticket for a single trip, you may obtain your one dollar deposit, from the ticketing machine, at your destination station. Thank You". This announcement is most often played on the North South Line and East West Line from Newton to Raffles Place and Lavender to Outram Park respectively.
The most common announcements are train service related annoucements. an example will be: "The train at Platform A will terminate at Yishun. The train at Platform A will terminate at Yishun. Thank you." Announcements are played whenever the train reaches an Interchange station, to inform commuters to which lines they can transfer to. For example, the announcement on the North South Line when the train reaches Jurong East would be "Jurong East Interchange. This Train is terminating at Jurong East Interchange. Passengers going towards City Hall, and Pasir Ris, please alight on the Left, and transfer to another train. Passengers going towards Chinese Garden, Lakeside, or Boon Lay, Please alight on the Right, and transfer to another train. Thank You for travelling with SMRT. Jurong East Interchange." At terminus station, an additional message "Thank you for travelling with SMRT" (on the North South and East West Line) or "Thank you for travelling with SBS Transit" (North East Line) will be played.
Fire Safety
After the Daegu subway fire incident in South Korea, fire prevention became the most important consideration of the Mass Rapid Transit system of Singapore. The MRT uses the guidelines of the American National Fire Prevention Authorities (NFPA), which were established for enhancing fire safety within metro systems. The guidelines contain criteria concerning the availability of emergency exits (within 600m), evacuation time (max. 6 min.), escalators, and other design features. All the MRT stations and trains have more than one fire-extinguisher and smoke detection systems are installed in all North-East Line trains.
Safety Announcements & The Yellow Line
A wide yellow line is drawn along the platform's edge to remind passengers not to stand too near to the edge.
Under the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Regulations 11 and 29, commuters who ignore the instruction not to cross yellow line until the train has stopped at the station may be fined up to $500. For those who are caught trespassing onto the tracks, they may be fined up to $5,000.
Safety announcements reminding passengers to stand behind the yellow line are played in all 4 official languages (English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil) on the platforms whenever a train is approaching, especially during peak hours: "Your attention please, for your own safety, please stand behind the yellow line." (English) "Dajia qing zhuyi. Weile nin ziji de anquan, qing zhan zai huang xian houmian." (Chinese) "Sila ambil perhatian. Demi keselamatan anda, harap berdiri di belakang garisan kuning." (Malay) "��ͪ� �°ͨͤ� ������� �����͕��� ��͕���� ������� ��ͩ��͟� ���� �˟͟�͕� ���ͩ��� ������." (Tamil)
There are also safety announcements on the train. For example, before a North South Line train switches over to the middle track when it arrives at Jurong East there would be an announcement saying "This train would be crossing over to the middle track soon. For your own safety, please hold on to the grap poles and handgrips." This announcement was created, as some time ago, many coummuters kept losing their balance whenever the train diverts its track.
Platform Screen Doors
Platform screen doors are installed at all underground Mass Rapid Transit stations in Singapore. The Singapore Mass Rapid Transit was the first Heavy Rail system in the world to incorporate platform screen doors in its stations in 1987 (as according to Westinghouse Platform Screen Doors). These doors serve to
- prevent suicides
- enable climate control within the station (better ventilation & air conditioning)
- better security control as access to the tunnels & tracks is restricted
- passenger safety considerations
These are manufactured by Westinghouse Platform Screen Doors, A Member Of The Knorr-Bremse Group. There are 2 series of the platform screen doors in use. The first series, installed at the underground stations along the North South Line & the East West Line (except Changi Airport station), have been in use since 1987. The latest series of platform screen doors, sporting a sleeker design & incorporating more glass, are installed at the Changi Airport station & all stations (all underground) along the North East Line in 2002 & 2003 respectively.
NS17 Bishan station is being retrofitted with platform screen door on both platforms.
Emergency Equipment
The safety facilities in MRT are listed below:
- Emergency Stop Plunger (ESP) - SMRT/Emergency Train Stop (ETS) - NEL
- Emergency Telephone - SMRT/NEL
- Passenger intercom at General Ticketing Machine - NEL
- Fire-Extinguishers - SMRT/NEL
- Emergency Stop Button on escalator/travelator - SMRT/NEL
- Emergency Detrainment Ramp - SMRT/NEL
- Emergency Communication Button - SMRT/NEL
- Door Unlock Handle - NEL
- Emergency Door Handle of platform screen doors - SMRT/NEL
Security
- REDIRECT
It was noted that overall security concerns related to crime and terrorism are not high on the agenda of the system's planners since its inception. [1] For instance, there was no physical police presence in the rail system, and nor were private security guards deployed. CCTV systems were not widely used, and there were no passenger service booths on the platform level, the only manned booth being the one at the station control room. These measures were not necessary, however, as incidents of crime rarely occurred on the rail system.
Police MRT Unit & Transit Security
In the wake of heightened security concerns as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and also particularly the 11 March 2004 Madrid attacks in which the commuter rail system was targeted, however, the Singapore government initiated several measures aimed at securing the rail system from a similar attack. In the months immediately after the Madrid attacks, the two rail operators, SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit, started employing private unarmed guards who patrol the station platforms, and are empowered to check the belongings of commuters. The Singapore Police Force announced that regular police officers may commence patrolling duties within stations and trains, although this was not visibly apparent except in the immediate period after announcements were made.
In reaction to a second major terrorist attack on a public transport system in the 7 July 2005 London bombings, the police deployed armed Police Tactical Unit officers to patrol within stations the day after the bombings occurred, while pre-existing security measures were placed on higher alert.[2] [3]
On 14 April 2005, the Singapore Police Force made a public announcement on its plans to step-up rail security [4] by establishing a new specialised Police MRT Unit. These armed officers began visible patrols on the MRT and LRT systems [5] on 15 August 2005, conducting random patrols in pairs in and around rail stations and within trains. Dressed in tactical uniforms similar to members from the Police Tactical Unit, they are however differentiated by blue-coloured berets, and are armed with less firepower with each officer carrying a T85 revolver and T-baton similar to officers from Neighbourhood Police Centres. Selected with their height and physique in mind to project a tougher presense [6], these officers are trained and authorised to utilise their firearms based on the officers' discretion, including "shoot to kill" if deemed necessary.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Plans were also announced in fixing CCTVs within trains operated by SMRT Corporation, in line with existing fixtures in SBS Transit trains. These measures were deemed neccesary in light of the timing of the attacks which took place while the 117th IOC Session was still in progress in the city, and that the meeting venue at Raffles City was located beside City Hall MRT Station, a major interchange station with very high passenger traffic.
Announcements & Notices
"Attention all passengers, please do not leave your belongings unattended. If you see any suspicious article, please inform our staff or call 999."
- Recorded audio announcements such as the above played in stations & trains, notices on plasma display screens on station platforms and in train carriages, as well as posters and notices in stations remind commuters to report instances of unattended packages and other suspicious activities to the authorities.
Trash Bins & Mail Boxes
Trash bins and mail boxes were relocated from the station platform & concourse levels to the station entrances.
This precautionary measure has been taken to safeguard Singapore MRT stations.
References
Academic publications
- Sock, Y.P. and Walder, Jay H. (1999) Singapore’s Public Transport
Corporate and governmental sources
- Land Transport Authority, Singapore (1996) A World Class Land Transport System. White Paper presented to Parliament, 2 January. ISBN 9971884887
- Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, Singapore (1993) Stored Value - A Decade of the MRTC. ISBN 9810050348
- Singapore MRT Limited (1987) MRT Guide Book. ISBN 9810001509
See also
- History of the Mass Rapid Transit
- Light Rapid Transit
- Transport in Singapore
- SMRT Corporation
- SBS Transit
- List of Singapore MRT stations
- List of Circle MRT Line station names
Links
- SMRT Corporation Official Site
- SBS Transit Official Site
- Official system map, Land Transport Authority
- UrbanRail Singapore
- Singapore's Rail Transit System
de:MRT (Singapur) fr:Métro de Singapour id:MRT nl:Mass Rapid Transit Singapore ja:シンガポールの鉄道 zh:新加坡地鐵
