Bukit Panjang LRT Line

For the LRT/MRT station, see Bukit Panjang LRT/MRT Station.

Bukit Panjang LRT Line
Overview
Type	Light rail/Automated guideway transit system
System	Light Rail Transit (Singapore)
Status	Operational
Termini	Choa Chu Kang Ten Mile Junction
Stations	14
Services	2
Operation
Opened	6 November 1999
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Operator(s)	SMRT Light Rail (SMRT Corporation)
Rolling stock	Bombardier Innovia APM 100
Technical
Line length	7.8 km (4.8 mi)
Electrification	Third rail
Route map Legend NS Line to Marina Bay Choa Chu Kang BP1 NS Line to Jurong East South View BP2 Keat Hong BP3 Teck Whye BP4 Phoenix BP5 Ten Mile Junction Depot Ten Mile Junction BP14 Choa Chu Kang Rd Upper Bukit Timah Rd Bukit Panjang BP6 BP7 Petir BP8 Pending Bukit Panjang Rd BP9 Bangkit Senja BP13 BP10 Fajar Jelapang BP12 Segar BP11

Senja LRT Station.

LRT platform at Choa Chu Kang station.

Bukit Panjang LRT Line is a 7.8 km light rail line opened on 6 November 1999 and part of Singapore's LRT system. It is fully automated, and the project was contracted to Adtranz, Keppel Corporation and Gammon Construction. The line uses the Innovia APM 100 rolling stock supplied by Bombardier, and is similar to the ones used in the Singapore Changi Airport's people mover service during the 90s. It is currently operated by SMRT Light Rail, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation. A complete loop journey on the line (excluding Ten Mile Junction Station) takes 28 minutes and all stations, except Choa Chu Kang and Ten Mile Junction Stations have two opposing side platforms, like Dover, Braddell, Bishan(North South Line section) and Fernvale Stations.

Stations

Station Number	Station Name	Interchange/Notes
BP1  NS4	Choa Chu Kang	North South Line
BP2	South View
BP3	Keat Hong
BP4	Teck Whye
BP5	Phoenix
BP6  DT1	Bukit Panjang	Service A & B bound for Choa Chu Kang Service C bound for Ten Mile Junction Downtown Line (under construction)
BP7	Petir
BP8	Pending
BP9	Bangkit
BP10	Fajar
BP11	Segar
BP12	Jelapang
BP13	Senja
BP14	Ten Mile Junction	Service C Terminus

Service

There are three services operating along the Bukit Panjang Line. Trains designated on Service A will ply the outer loop (clockwise) via Senja first whereas trains designated on Service B will ply the inner loop (anti-clockwise) via Petir first. Service C runs between Bukit Panjang and Ten Mile Junction and the service frequency is 20 minutes. Due to redevelopment of Ten Mile Junction on 10 December 2010, Service C is no longer available while Service A and B continue the train service. On 30 December 2011, Service C resumed its service after Junction 10 opened.

Issues

The operation of the Bukit Panjang LRT has been plagued by problems since its opening in 1999. On 6 November 1999, the trains were unable to move as planned and frequently halted in between stations. Software glitches during initial running resulted in frequent delays in service and incidents of varying severity.

It was reported on 10 January 2011 that the Bukit Panjang LRT had broken down 32 times between 2008 and 2010. In each incident, disruption to service exceeded 10 minutes. In the worst of these incidents in September 2009, commuters had to endure a four-hour disruption.

There have been two serious accidents since its opening:

• In 2000, two LRT trains crashed head-to-back at Phoenix Station causing minor injuries. The operator was fined S$10,000.
• In 2002, a dislodged train wheel caused the entire shutdown of the system for six days, as it crippled the power system and the rail at the incident was damaged and had to be repaired.

Other incidents include:

• Train service was disrupted on 24 April 2010 due to a power trip caused by lightning. As a result, two trains with a total of 100 passengers were stalled between Phoenix and Bukit Panjang LRT stations. About 5,000 passengers were affected by the disruption.
• 1,600 passengers being affected on 17 May 2011 by a one hour long disruption due to an electrical fault that occurred somewhere along the system at Keat Hong, South View and Choa Chu Kang stations. At one point, 20 passengers on a train that stalled before Choa Chu Kang station had to get off and walk on a 1.5-metre emergency walkway for about 10 metres.
• 1,420 passengers being affected on 7 June 2011 by a one hour long disruption caused by a signaling fault between Phoenix and Bukit Panjang stations.

In each case of disruption, SMRT activates bus bridging services to serve other LRT passengers. It allows passengers who were unable to complete their journey to any Passenger Service Centre over the next three days for a refund.

There have also been over a hundred disruptions in service which still continues today, the most recent being on 23 August 2011. The poor operation had no bearing on the operation of the Sengkang LRT Line and Punggol LRT Line being awarded to rival company SBS Transit and rival manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as those contracts were placed prior to Bukit Panjang LRT commencing operation. Most of the problems have been addressed and ironed out since.

The Bukit Panjang LRT was operating at a loss for the first five years. This has raised complaints from the public who argue that the system is a white elephant.

It was also reported that residents were unhappy with the withdrawal of feeder bus services operating in the area since the opening of the Bukit Panjang LRT, and were further aggravated by the unreliability of the service. After lobbying to Members of the Parliament, 2 feeder services, Services 920 and 922, were reinstated.

It has also been seen that all LRT trains had their white wheel covers removed.

Future plans

Plans by the Land Transport Authority have indicated a Mass Rapid Transit Station (Bukit Panjang MRT Station) near Bukit Panjang Station as part of the Downtown MRT Line, which is expected to open in 2015. It was revealed by the authorities in 2009 that the existing bus interchange could be moved closer to the upcoming MRT station. Previously, the LTA had explained that the MRT station could not be moved next to the LRT station owing to technical constraints. Residents had pointed out that transfers would be inconvenient as the MRT station will be sited about 120m from the existing Bukit Panjang LRT and bus interchange.

External links

• SMRT Homepage