ST Forum : Opening of new MRT stations still depends on nearby developments‏

Nov 5, 2009

Opening of new MRT stations still depends on nearby developments

I WOULD like to add some context to Monday's report, 'No mothballing of MRT stations in future', which we had earlier provided the writer, Mr Christopher Tan.

Readers of the report may have the impression that financial viability considerations will no longer be applied in future when deciding which stations will be opened for service.

This is not so. What we will do is open stations when there are sufficient developments around a station. As rail lines and their stations are built to cater to both near- and long-term needs, there will be areas along the rail line where development plans are to be realised only in the long term.

We will make provisions for this by building shell stations and fitting them out for operations in the future only when there are sufficient developments in the surrounding areas. However, we will ensure that, going forward, all completed stations in new lines that are ready are opened for revenue service.

This is why when the Circle Line is fully opened in 2011, Bukit Brown station will remain a shell station, as it is located at an unoccupied plot of land with no developments nearby. This is also why the two Circle Line stations, Caldecott and Haw Par Villa, which were initially planned as shell stations, will now be fitted out and opened with the rest of the Circle Line stations in 2011, because the surrounding developments have since picked up.

Phua Hooi Boon
Director (Land Transport Division)
Ministry of Transport