Expo MRT Station

This article is about the rapid-transit station in Singapore. For other uses of the name, see Expo Line (disambiguation).

CG1  DT35  Expo MRT Station 博览地铁站 எக்ஸ்போ Stesen MRT Expo Rapid transit
Unique structure of Expo MRT Station
Station statistics
Address	21 Changi South Avenue 1 Singapore 486065
Coordinates	1°20′7.69″N 103°57′42.36″E
Lines	East West Line   Downtown Line (under construction)
Connections	Bus, Taxi
Structure	Elevated (East West Line) Underground (Downtown Line)
Levels	2
Platforms	Island
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	10 January 2001 (East West Line)
Accessible
Code	CG1 / DT35
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station Tanah Merah Terminus East West Line Changi Airport Extension Changi Airport Terminus Upper Changi towards Bukit Panjang Downtown Line (under construction) Terminus
Location

A C751B Train at the platform

The Expo MRT Station (CG1/DT35) was opened on 10 January 2001, and is part of the Singapore MRT Changi Airport Extension to the existing East West Line. It sports a space age architecture designed by world renowned architect Sir Norman Foster. The roof is clad in titanium, steel, and glass, and its design enabled the platform to be columns-free and invoking a sense of spaciousness. This design is also functional in that it handles human traffic which deviates significantly on a daily basis due to its proximity to the Singapore Expo, where human traffic is dependent on the timing of events held. The large space is thus needed to facilitate smooth traffic flow. It is currently operated by SMRT Corporation on the East West Line and will be operated by SBS Transit on the Downtown Line.

The section of underground track between this station and Changi Airport MRT Station is the longest underground track between any two SMRT stations in Singapore.

The Land Transport Authority has announced that this station will be an interchange with the future Downtown MRT Line. When this station is ready, it would be the third station complex in Singapore that serves both an above ground line and an underground line after Paya Lebar and Buona Vista.

The initial numbering of this station was EW28, until 20 June 2003 when it was changed to CG1. The same numbering is now used for Pioneer Station.

Architecture

The station's shell-shaped roof is derived from the section of a torus, as the eventual shape of the roof resembles a cylindrical cut perpendicular to the torus, while the shell roof is supported by two pairs of "Y" shaped twin columns separated by a 70 metre span in between. These columns are unique in that they are built outside the station platform and behind the train tracks.

Another distinctive feature is the large disc situated at the top of the glass elevator shaft, as seen in the photo on the right. The disc overhangs and terminates one end of the toroidal curved roof form, and contains an elevator shaft for the usage of the handicapped or needy. Its unusual shape lead some people to comment that it looked like a spaceship or UFO. This unique disc is the first of its kind in Singapore, although it was also used for the New Supreme Court building in downtown Singapore, which was opened in 2006.

History

Train services to Expo station were initially operated as a 2-station shuttle service from Tanah Merah MRT Station when the station first opened. It was then converted to a through service from Boon Lay Station when the other station on the Changi Extension, Changi Airport, opened. However, to cut costs due to ridership falling below expectations, the service was reverted into shuttle mode on 22 July 2003.

At present, the station has a high passenger traffic whenever there are major events occurring in the Singapore Expo. The recent expansion of Singapore Expo helped increase the passenger traffic in the station. However, traffic is still rather low at certain times of the year when there are not many events held. However, this will change in the 4th quarter of 2011 when a new shopping mall called Changi City Point opens at the south of the station and linked to the station by an underpass, bringing more crowds to the station.

As with most of the above-ground stations built in the past along the East West Line, it was initially built without Platform Screen Doors that prevent commuters from falling onto the train tracks. Installation of the half-height screen doors started on 20 June 2011 as the last station of the East West Line. On 31 August 2011, all of the screen doors have been installed and began operating, marking the completion of the installation of all the Platform Screen Doors along the East West Line.

Station Layout

L2 Platforms	Platform A	East West Line towards  CG2  Changi Airport (→)
	Island platform
	Platform B	East West Line towards  EW4  Tanah Merah (←)
	Lift Landing	Lift to Concourse, Lift Exit/ Entrance, Faregates
L1	Concourse	Exit/ Entrance, Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control, Singapore Expo
	Lift Landing	Lift to Platforms
B1	Underpass	Underpass to cross Changi South Avenue 1 / Changi City Point