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Changi Airport MRT station

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 CG2 
Changi Airport
樟宜机场
சாங்கி விமானநிலையம்
Rapid transit
Changi Airport station platform level.
General information
Location70 Airport Boulevard
Singapore 819661
Coordinates1°21′26.54″N 103°59′19.81″E / 1.3573722°N 103.9888361°E / 1.3573722; 103.9888361
Operated bySMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)
  East–West Line
PlatformsIsland
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
ParkingYes (Changi Airport)
Bicycle facilitiesYes (Changi Airport)
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station code CG2 
History
Opened8 February 2002; 22 years ago (2002-02-08)
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station
Template:SMRT lines
Changi
Terminus

Changi Airport MRT station (CG2) is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West Line in Changi, Singapore. The station is located within the Singapore Changi Airport, hence its name.

This station is one of the three stations on the Changi Airport Branch Line of the East West Line; the other two being Tanah Merah MRT station and Expo MRT station. Changi Airport station is the eastern terminus of this branch line, and the easternmost station on the MRT network. It is also one of the few stations where faregates are on the same level as the platforms, with the one of the other stations being Stevens MRT station. This station is also the only MRT station to be located within the planning area of Changi.

History

File:CGA LINKWAY.JPG
Linkway between Changi Airport Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 above the station's platform level.
Changi Airport MRT station, featuring flight information box in addition to train route information.
Changi Airport is one of the few stations where faregates are on the same level as the platforms.

Before the MRT line, Changi Airport had been operating with no rail link and with full reliance on taxi and bus connections ever since the airport began operations in 1981. This has proven effective given the short 20 kilometre distance to the city via the East Coast Parkway and affordability of taxis and buses. Public buses instead link commuters to nearby MRT stations at Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris. Therefore, there were previously unsuccessful attempts to propose an extension to Changi Airport.[1][2]

The idea of extending the Mass Rapid Transit system to Changi Airport was reconsidered when Terminal 3 was being built.[3] The earlier plans had long been made for a new line branching off from the existing East West Line at Tanah Merah,[4] with some conceptual plans showing a tentative route alignment up to the airport along Airport Boulevard, continuing beyond the airport to Changi Point, before turning southwest back towards the city along the east coast of the island. When the extension to the airport was finally announced, however, the route alignment showed a deviation from previous plans.[5][6] The final plan involved building only the first two stations, namely Expo, and the Changi Airport station, the underground station built between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The alignment of the station at the airport has been switched perpendicularly to an east–west direction, such that the station leads to two of the terminals directly from either end of the station.

Since the station's opening, passenger traffic has been moderate, as most bus routes were maintained and continue to be a popular means of cheap, direct transport for local airport/airline employees, as well as travellers not living along the East West Line. Many air travellers also prefer to continue taking taxis or private transport as all of the MRT services do not have luggage racks. Peak hours on the Changi Airport Line are defined according to the flight schedules. Thus primary users of the station are usually confined to airport/airline employees, leisure visitors, well-wishers, and budget air travellers, in particular backpackers. This station receives a huge load of traffic during weekends due to the transfer point for commuters from Expo to the bus terminal.

On 24 July 2002, a glass panel of the atria wall shattered. The area was quickly closed off, but train services were not affected.[7]

The initial numbering of the station was EW29, but was changed on 20 June 2003 to CG2. The original code is now used for Joo Koon station.

The Tanah Merah-Expo route was initially operated as a shuttle service; through services from Boon Lay commenced after the opening of this station.[8] However, due to low ridership, the route reverted to being operated as a shuttle service from 22 July 2003.[9]

On 24 September 2003, a man died at the station, apparently having fallen five stories from the departure hall.[10]

Proposal of line extension

Plans were announced for a fifth terminal at the airport in the mid-2010s. Accordingly, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) might be extended from its current terminus at Sungei Bedok MRT station to serve this new terminal, in addition to becoming an interchange with this station, in the future.[11]

References

  1. ^ "MRT Link to Airport: Not in next 10 years". The Straits Times. 17 May 1991. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ "No MRT Line to Changi yet". The Straits Times. 20 March 1992. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ "MRT extension to airport reconsidered". The Straits Times. 2 August 1994. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "Next Stop:Changi Airport?". The New Paper. 2 August 1994. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ "MRT Line will not go beyond passenger terminals". The Straits Times. 12 December 1996. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. ^ "Chang! Airport MRT line details". The Business Times. 12 December 1996.
  7. ^ "Joint Press Release By Land Transport Authority And Singapore MRT Ltd Atria Wall In Changi Airport MRT Station". Ministry of Transport. 24 July 2002. Retrieved 16 January 2018. At 12.05pm, a piece of tempered glass at the atria wall in the Changi Airport MRT Station shattered into small fragments.
  8. ^ "Boon Lay to Expo: MRT now running". The Straits Times. 20 December 2001. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ "Board MRT to airport from Tanah Merah". The Straits Times. 18 July 2003. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ "Man Dies at Changi Airport". TODAY. 25 September 2003. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. ^ "The Rail Report: Higher Reliability and Expanded Network in 2017 | Press Room | Land Transport Authority". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
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