Tanah Merah MRT station

Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

EW4 CG
Tanah Merah
丹那美拉
தானா மேரா

Preceding station	Mass Rapid Transit	Following station
Simei towards Pasir Ris		East–West Line		Bedok towards Tuas Link
Terminus		East–West Line Changi Airport Line		Expo towards Changi Airport

Preceding station

Mass Rapid Transit

Following station

Simei

towards Pasir Ris

East–West Line

Bedok

towards Tuas Link

Terminus

East–West Line

Changi Airport Line

Expo

towards Changi Airport

Location
Tanah Merah Tanah Merah MRT station in Singapore

Location

Tanah Merah

Tanah Merah MRT station in Singapore

History

The station was named Bedok in the early plans of the MRT network published in May 1982.^[1] The station was officially confirmed as "Changi" station when the Phase II stations were announced in October 1983.^[4]^[5] The contract for the construction of Changi station and associated viaducts was awarded to a joint venture between Wah Chang International Corporation and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co Ltd for S$68.76 million (US$93.8 million in 2022).^[6]

The station's name changed to Tanah Merah in March 1987.^[2] The station opened on 4 November 1989 as part of the MRT segment from Bugis to this station,^[7]^[8] with the official opening ceremony hosted at this station by deputy prime minister Goh Chok Tong.^[9]^[10]

Half-height platform screen doors were installed at this station between 2008 and 2012 as part of the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) programme to improve safety in MRT stations.^[11]^[12]^[13] Between 2012 and 2013, high-volume low-speed fans were installed at this station as part of a network-wide programme to improve ventilation at the platforms of elevated stations.^[14]

Changi Airport branch

While a branch to Changi Airport from this station was included in the early plans of the MRT network in May 1982,^[1] the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) concluded through a feasibility study in 1983 that there might not be sufficient passenger traffic to justify such a branch.^[15] The proposals for an MRT extension from this station to Changi Airport was revisited in August 1994 following a surge in airport usage.^[16]

Finalised plans for the 6.4-kilometre (4.0 mi) branch were announced by deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong on 15 November 1996.^[17] The branch, projected to be completed in 2001, would run from this station and have an intermediate stop at Somapah to serve the Changi Business Park and the exhibition centre.^[18]^[19] The branch opened on 10 January 2001,^[20] with shuttle services running from this station to Expo station.^[21]

Additional platform and future plans

In 2014, the LTA announced that Tanah Merah station would be expanded with a new platform to increase frequency for the Changi Airport branch. The new platform will be constructed next to the existing eastbound platform. When completed, the middle two tracks will be used to serve the Changi Airport branch. Additional tracks will also be constructed to connect the station to the East Coast Integrated Depot.^[22]^[23] This will be LTA's second project to construct new tracks and platforms for an existing station after Jurong East station.^[22]

The contract for the construction of the new platform and viaducts was awarded to Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte. Ltd. for S$325 million (US$242.54 million) in October 2016. Construction works were scheduled to begin at the end of that year with an expected completion date of 2024.^[24]^[25] On 25 May 2019, the LTA further announced that the Changi Airport branch will be converted to be part of the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) when TEL extends to Changi Airport from Sungei Bedok station via Terminal 5 in 2040.^[26]^[27] In November 2022, transport minister S Iswaran announced that, as part of efforts for sustainable transport infrastructure, studies are ongoing to convert an existing 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) viaduct set to be decommissioned to a green corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.^[28] On 29 April 2024, the LTA called a tender to modify the existing station, along with Expo and Changi Airport stations, in preparation for their conversion to being part of the TEL.^[29]

Construction progress of the new platform

Model view of the new platform at Tanah Merah station

The additional platform under construction in March 2019

The additional platform under construction in March 2023

Details

Platform D which serves the Changi Airport branch

Tanah Merah station serves the East–West line (EWL) and is between the Simei and Bedok stations. The station is also the terminus of the Changi Airport branch, with the next station being Expo. The official station code is EW4/CG.^[30]^[31] Being part of the EWL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains.^[32] Tanah Merah station is located along New Upper Changi Road and serves various private residential developments including Casa Merah, Optima @ Tanah Merah and The Glades.^[33] The station is also close to Simpang Bedok, and schools such as APSN (Katong School) and Bedok View Secondary School.^[34]

The station operates daily between 4:55 am and 12:45 am.^[35] Mainline train frequencies range from 2 to 5 minutes.^[36] Since 22 July 2003, Tanah Merah station became the terminus for shuttle services to Changi Airport station,^[37] with frequencies for the service ranging from 7 to 13 minutes.^[23] The station has three tracks with two island platforms; this will be upgraded to three island platforms and four tracks in 2024.^[38] The existing middle track is used for shuttle services to Changi Airport station.^[22]^[23]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Proposed MRT stations". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 23 May 1982. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
^ ^a ^b Dhaliwal, Rav (27 March 1987). "Five MRT stations renamed to better reflect the locality". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 19 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "Name change for five MRT stations". Business Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 27 March 1987. p. 2 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "What Residents Say of the Sites". Singapore Monitor. 26 October 1983. p. 2. Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "From Kembangan to Pasir Ris". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 27 October 1983. p. 21. Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "MRTC awards two jobs on eastern line". Business Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 14 January 1986. p. 2. Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
^ Dhaliwal, Rav (4 November 1989). "East-enders get ticket to ride as MRT opens line". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 23. Retrieved 21 April 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "MRT goes east". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 4 November 1989. p. 23. Retrieved 21 April 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "Speech By Mr Goh Chok Tong, First Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Defence, At The Commencement Of Passenger Service Of The Sixth Section Of The Mrt System At Tanah Merah Station On Saturday, 4 November 1989 At 9.45 am" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. Ministry of Communications and Information. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^ "MRT trains to Pasir Ris from Dec 16 MRT trains to Pasir Ris from Dec 16". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 5 November 1989. p. 1. Retrieved 6 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "Platform screen doors for all above-ground MRT stations by 2012". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008.
^ "Speech by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport, at the Visit to Kim Chuan Depot, 25 January 2008, 9.00am". Ministry of Transport. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
^ "LTA completes installing elevated MRT station screen doors early". Channel NewsAsia. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
^ "Enhancing Connectivity and Comfort for Commuters". lta.gov.sg. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
^ "No line to the airport". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 17 November 1983. p. 18. Retrieved 20 February 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
^ Dhaliwal, Rav (2 August 1994). "MRT extension to airport reconsidered". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 1. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
^ "Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Employees' Union (SMRTEU)'s annual Dinner and Dance" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. 15 November 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
^ Tan, Hsueh Yan (16 November 1996). "MRT line to be extended to Changi Airport". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
^ "Changi Airport MRT line details". Business Times. 12 December 1996.
^ "Expo MRT station opens today". Business Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 10 January 2001.
^ "Speech by Mr Yeo Cheow Tong at the Opening of the Expo MRT Station on 10 January 2001". www.mot.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "New Platform at Tanah Merah MRT station for Faster Travel to Expo and Changi Airport". Land Transport Authority. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lee, Jian Xuan (25 August 2014). "New platform at Tanah Merah MRT station for trains to Expo, Changi Airport in 2024". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ "LTA Awards Civil Contract to Build A New Platform at Tanah Merah Station". Land Transport Authority. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ "New platform, viaducts to be built at Tanah Merah MRT station for S$325 million". Today. Mediacorp. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ "Land Transport Master Plan 2040: Bringing Singapore Together". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
^ Chong, Aaron (25 May 2019). "New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore's rail network". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
^ Kok, Yufeng (13 November 2022). "Tanah Merah MRT viaduct may be turned into elevated green corridor when decommissioned in 2026". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ Correspondent, Kok YufengTransport (1 May 2024). "Preparatory work to connect Thomson-East Coast Line with Changi Airport to begin in 2025". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
^ "MRT System Map" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^ "System Map". TransitLink. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
^ "Getting Around – Public Transport – Rail Network". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
^ "Tanah Merah – Map". SMRT Journeys. SMRT Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ "Tanah Merah – Exits". SMRT Journeys. SMRT Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ "Tanah Merah – First and last trains". SMRT Journeys. SMRT Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
^ "Transport Tools – MRT/LRT". Land Transport Authority. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
^ "Board MRT to airport from Tanah Merah". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 18 July 2003. p. 2.
^ "Annex A: Layout of New Platform at Tanah Merah Station (EW4)" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.