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As the name implies, it will be an [[Orbital motion|orbital]] line linking all [[radial]] lines leading to the [[Downtown Core|city]], and also will cover many parts of the [[Central Area]]. Transfers to the [[North South MRT Line|North South Line]] will be provided at [[Bishan MRT Station|Bishan]], [[Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station|Dhoby Ghaut]] and [[Marina Bay MRT Station|Marina Bay]] stations, [[East West MRT Line|East West Line]] at [[Paya Lebar MRT Station|Paya Lebar]] and [[Buona Vista MRT Station|Buona Vista]] stations, and [[North East MRT Line|North East Line]] at [[Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station|Dhoby Ghaut]], [[Serangoon MRT Station|Serangoon]] and [[HarbourFront MRT Station|HarbourFront]] stations. The future [[Downtown MRT Line|Downtown Line]] will interchange with the Circle Line at [[Bayfront MRT Station|Bayfront]], [[Promenade MRT Station|Promenade]], [[Botanic Gardens MRT Station|Botanic Gardens]] and [[MacPherson MRT Station|MacPherson]] stations.
As the name implies, it will be an [[Orbital motion|orbital]] line linking all [[radial]] lines leading to the [[Downtown Core|city]], and also will cover many parts of the [[Central Area]]. Transfers to the [[North South MRT Line|North South Line]] will be provided at [[Bishan MRT Station|Bishan]], [[Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station|Dhoby Ghaut]] and [[Marina Bay MRT Station|Marina Bay]] stations, [[East West MRT Line|East West Line]] at [[Paya Lebar MRT Station|Paya Lebar]] and [[Buona Vista MRT Station|Buona Vista]] stations, and [[North East MRT Line|North East Line]] at [[Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station|Dhoby Ghaut]], [[Serangoon MRT Station|Serangoon]] and [[HarbourFront MRT Station|HarbourFront]] stations. The future [[Downtown MRT Line|Downtown Line]] will interchange with the Circle Line at [[Bayfront MRT Station|Bayfront]], [[Promenade MRT Station|Promenade]], [[Botanic Gardens MRT Station|Botanic Gardens]] and [[MacPherson MRT Station|MacPherson]] stations.


As a medium capacity line, each Circle Line train will only have three cars instead of the six-car configuration as seen on current MRT lines. The [[rolling stock]] will consist of forty [[Alstom]] [[Alstom Metropolis C830|Metropolis C830]] trains. Half a million people are expected to use the Circle Line each day.
The Circle Line will be the first medium capacity line in Singapore. As a medium capacity line, each Circle Line train will only have three cars instead of the six-car configuration as seen on current MRT lines. The [[rolling stock]] will consist of forty [[Alstom]] [[Alstom Metropolis C830|Metropolis C830]] trains. Half a million people are expected to use the Circle Line each day.


Despite the name, the Circle Line is not actually a full circle, as there will be no through service on the section between Harbourfront and Dhoby Ghaut. Passengers will need to transfer onto the North-East Line instead. A branch passing through the Marina District is being built, and a "Stage 6" that would complete the circle has been mooted but is not officially planned.
Despite the name, the Circle Line is not actually a full circle, as there will be no through service on the section between Harbourfront and Dhoby Ghaut. Passengers will need to transfer onto the North-East Line instead. A branch passing through the Marina District is being built, and a "Stage 6" that would complete the circle has been mooted but is not officially planned.

Revision as of 09:55, 31 December 2008

Template:Future public transportation

Circle MRT Line
[地铁环线] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language code: gb (help)
The Circle Line is coloured orange on system maps.
Overview
StatusUnder Construction
OwnerLand Transport Authority
Termini
Stations31
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemMass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Services2
Operator(s)SMRT Corporation
Rolling stockAlstom Metropolis C830
Technical
Line lengthTemplate:Km to mi
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Route map
Template:MRT route

The Circle Line (CCL) will be Singapore's fourth Mass Rapid Transit line. Under construction as of 2008, the fully underground line will be 33.3km long with 29 stations, and will be operated by SMRT Corporation. It will be the world's longest fully automated metro line.[1] The colour to be used for distinguishing the Circle Line from other lines is confirmed to be orange.

As the name implies, it will be an orbital line linking all radial lines leading to the city, and also will cover many parts of the Central Area. Transfers to the North South Line will be provided at Bishan, Dhoby Ghaut and Marina Bay stations, East West Line at Paya Lebar and Buona Vista stations, and North East Line at Dhoby Ghaut, Serangoon and HarbourFront stations. The future Downtown Line will interchange with the Circle Line at Bayfront, Promenade, Botanic Gardens and MacPherson stations.

The Circle Line will be the first medium capacity line in Singapore. As a medium capacity line, each Circle Line train will only have three cars instead of the six-car configuration as seen on current MRT lines. The rolling stock will consist of forty Alstom Metropolis C830 trains. Half a million people are expected to use the Circle Line each day.

Despite the name, the Circle Line is not actually a full circle, as there will be no through service on the section between Harbourfront and Dhoby Ghaut. Passengers will need to transfer onto the North-East Line instead. A branch passing through the Marina District is being built, and a "Stage 6" that would complete the circle has been mooted but is not officially planned.

Like the North East Line, the Circle Line will also feature the Art in Transit programme. It will consist of artwork that is integrated into station designs as well as Art Seats.

History

Plans for the Circle Line date back to the 1980s. Then Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yeo Ning Hong stated that such a system "would be feasible when the population reaches four million".

In the 1990s, the Circle Line was first known as the Marina Line. The Marina Line was initially planned as a 12-station underground line, starting from Chinatown and Dhoby Ghaut to the National Stadium. However, the Chinatown leg was later truncated and was reduced to 6 stations up to Stadium station. On the other hand, a further extension towards Upper Paya Lebar was added. Eventually, the Marina line ended up as an inner circular line. The Marina Line was originally slated for completion in 2006.

Circle Line stations that were a part of the original Marina Line plans include Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Promenade, Nicoll Highway and Stadium. Also, the part of the Marina Line from Chinatown Station to Promenade Station is now part of the Downtown Line.

It is widely expected to have a Stage 6 which completes the circle from HarbourFront to Promenade stations. On 27 April 2007, the LTA announced an extension of a branch line from Promenade to Bayfront station, which may be the first segment of the line's final stage.[2] On 25 January 2008, Minister for Transport, Mr Raymond Lim, announced an further extension of the line from Bayfront Station to Marina Bay Station, scheduled to open in 2012. He also revealed the decision to open both Thomson, and West Coast stations, initially planned as shell stations, together with the whole line, leaving only Bukit Brown Station remaining closed when the line opens.[3]

Nicoll Highway collapse

On April 20, 2004, a section of tunnel being built for the Circle Line collapsed, apparently when a retaining wall used in the tunnel's construction gave way. This occurred near what was to become the Nicoll Highway station on the Circle line, not far from the Merdeka Bridge. The accident left a collapse zone 150m wide, 100m long, and 30m deep. Four workers were killed, with three more injured.

A criminal inquiry found the main contractor Nishimatsu Construction Company and its officers, as well as key Land Transport Authority officers responsible for the collapse. Several other officers and subcontractors were reprimanded and issued warnings in connection with the accident.

As a result of this accident, the first phase of the Circle Line, previously scheduled to open in 2008, will be completed in 2010 instead. The affected station has been shifted about 100m away from the accident site and is now located at Republic Avenue.

Other incidents

On August 16, 2007, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) issued a stop-work order and revoked the contractor's tunnelling permit after a 7-metre stretch of two lanes sank about 20 cm, close to the junction of Telok Blangah Road and Alexandra Road in the evening, resulting in a halting of tunnelling works. [4]

A section of the road above a construction site near Holland Road caved in on the morning of May 24, 2008, creating a massive hole. The hole, directly in front of two private houses along Cornwall Gardens Road, measured 8 by 7 metres and was 3 metres deep. No one was injured, but the road was temporarily closed to traffic. [5]

Status

The completed line will reduce travelling time for commuters by allowing them to shorten trips between north to east or north to west and vice versa, bypassing busy interchanges like City Hall and Raffles Place.

The project will be implemented in stages at an estimated cost of S$6.7 billion. Originally scheduled to be opened from 2006 and fully opened in 2010, the Nicoll Highway collapse caused the construction of the line to be delayed. As a result, the Circle Line is now targeted to open from 2009, and expected to be fully operational by 2011, excluding the Marina Bay Extension.

The first section to open will be a 5km five-station stretching from Bartley Station to Marymount Station in June 2009.

Based on a report on progress of the construction on 14 September 2007, LTA revealed that the cost of the Circle Line will exceed its original budget of S$6.7 billion. The increase was due mainly to the increase in the prices of sand and granite and thus concrete.

Due to the re-alignment of the Nicoll Highway station to a new location, the station will be two third the size of the original plan before the collapse, and located 100 metres away from the highway collapse site.[6]

Stations

View of underground platform at Bishan Station of the Circle Line from ground level. (under construction) This station interchanges with Bishan station on the North South Line
Station Number Station Name Interchange
Stage 1
CC1 / NS24 / NE6 Dhoby Ghaut Interchange with North South Line and North East Line
CC2 Bras Basah  
CC3 Esplanade  
CC4 / DT? Promenade Interchange with Downtown Line and Marina Bay Extension
CC5 Nicoll Highway  
CC6 Stadium  
Stage 2
CC7 Mountbatten  
CC8 Dakota  
CC9 / EW8 Paya Lebar Interchange with East West Line
CC10 MacPherson Interchange with Downtown Line (future)
CC11 Tai Seng  
Stage 3
CC12 Bartley  
CC13 / NE12 Serangoon Interchange with North East Line
CC14 Lorong Chuan  
CC15 / NS17 Bishan Interchange with North South Line
CC16 Marymount  
Stage 4
CC17 Thomson  
CC18 Bukit Brown Will not operate when line opens 
CC19 Botanic Gardens Interchange with Downtown Line (future)
CC20 Farrer Road  
CC21 Holland Village  
CC22 / EW21 Buona Vista Interchange with East West Line
CC23 one-north  
CC24 Kent Ridge  
Stage 5
CC25 West Coast  
CC26 Pasir Panjang  
CC27 Labrador Park  
CC28 Telok Blangah  
CC29 / NE1 HarbourFront Interchange with North East Line and Sentosa Express

Circle Line Extension

Station Number Station Name Interchange
CC4 / DT? Promenade Interchange with Circle Line and Downtown Line (future)
CC? / DT? Bayfront Interchange with Downtown Line (future)
CC? / NS27 Marina Bay Interchange with North South Line

Rolling stock

The rolling stock consists of Alstom Metropolis C830 trains[7] running in three-car formation. They will be stabled at Kim Chuan depot, which will be the world's largest underground depot.[8]

References

  1. ^ "ALSTOM chosen for the world's longest fully automated metro line in Singapore". railway-technology.com. 2002-02-20.
  2. ^ "Govt approves S$12b MRT Downtown Line to be built by 2018" Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia, 27 April 2007
  3. ^ "SPEECH BY MR RAYMOND LIM,MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, AT THE VISIT TO KIM CHUAN DEPOT, 25 JANUARY 2008, 9.00 AM". Singapore Government Media Release. 2008-01-25.
  4. ^ "Stop-work order at Telok Blangah site is fourth this year on $6.7b MRT project" T. Rajan, The Straits Times, 22 Aug 2007
  5. ^ "Road above Circle Line construction site caves in" CNA Live, Channel NewsAsia, 24 May 2008
  6. ^ "Circle Line will exceed $6.7b budget" Christopher Tan, The Straits Times, 15 September 2007
  7. ^ AWARD OF ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS CONTRACT 830 FOR THE MARINA LINE
  8. ^ "Circle Line on track to open by 2010" Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia, 17 July 2006