Bukit Panjang MRT/LRT station explained

Type:Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) / Light Rail Transit (LRT) interchange and terminus
Address:950 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 678213 (DTL)[1]
11 Petir Road
Singapore 678268 (BPLRT)[2]
Other:Bus, taxi
Structure:Elevated (Bukit Panjang LRT line)
Underground (Downtown line)
Platform:4 (1 island platform, 2 side platforms)
Levels:2
Tracks:4 (2 MRT, 2 LRT)
Parking:Yes (Hillion Mall)
Passengers:36,263 per day[3]
Pass Year:June 2024
Opened: (Bukit Panjang LRT line)
(Downtown line)
Electrified:Yes
Accessible:Yes
Operator:SBS Transit Rail Pte Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation) (Downtown line)
SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation) (Bukit Panjang LRT line)
Former:Petir, Tenth Mile, Zhenghua[4] [5] [6]
Map Type:Singapore Rail
Map Dot Label:Bukit Panjang
Map Alt:Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Map Label Position:bottom
Map Size:300px

Bukit Panjang MRT/LRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) interchange station on the Downtown line (DTL) and the Bukit Panjang LRT line (BPLRT) in Singapore. Located in the namesake estate of Bukit Panjang, the station is at the junction of Upper Bukit Timah Road and Petir Road. The station serves the commercial buildings of Bukit Panjang Plaza, Hillion Mall, and Junction 10. It forms a part of the Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub (BPITH), which also contains a bus interchange.

The LRT station opened on 6 November 1999 along with the other stations on the BPLRT. It later became an interchange station and the terminus of the DTL after the opening of DTL Stage 2 on 27 December 2015. Primarily serving the estate and other developments in the vicinity, the DTL station is not directly linked to the BPLRT station, with an unpaid link connecting the two stations. Nevertheless, it is recognised as a paid transfer within a 15-minute grace period.

History

Bukit Panjang LRT

The Bukit Panjang LRT line was first announced by Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan in December 1994 as a government pilot project that could "extend the reach and accessibility of the MRT network".[7] In February 1996, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced that construction of the Bukit Panjang LRT would proceed, and was expected to be completed in three years at a cost of S$300 million.[8]

The contract for the design and construction of the 8km (05miles) LRT line was awarded to a joint venture – Keppel Corporation, Gammon, and Adtranz – for S$285 million (US$ million).[9] [10] [11] The LRT station opened along with the Bukit Panjang LRT line on 6 November 1999.[12] [13] [14]

An LRT train had hit a switch beam at the Bukit Panjang station at about 5:40pm on 29 August 2001, resulting in the power failure. As a result, 10,000 peak-hour commuters were stranded at the station the next morning for repair works to the LRT service. Service resumed at 10:15am later on that day.[15]

In 2015, platform barriers were installed on the LRT platforms. The Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang stations were given priority for their installation due to projected high commuter traffic from the Downtown MRT line. These barriers were installed to prevent people from falling or trespassing on the tracks.[16] However, unlike the MRT platform screen doors, these barriers have openings for train alignment rather than retractable doors.[17] New ceiling fans were installed over the LRT platforms in 2018.[18]

Downtown Line

On 15 July 2008, when the station locations were revealed for Downtown line Stage 2 (DTL2), the DTL station for the Bukit Panjang area was initially called Petir as a working name.[19] When questioned by the public if the station could be directly linked to Bukit Panjang LRT station instead, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) replied that there were technical constraints for the line to sharply turn towards the LRT station and back to Woodlands Road. Nevertheless, plans were made for connections between Petir DTL station and the Bukit Panjang LRT station.[20] In the end, the station was located along Upper Bukit Timah Road and was not directly connected to the BPLRT.[21] The DTL station name was eventually finalised as Bukit Panjang on 16 June 2009.[4]

Contract 912 for the design and construction of Petir station and its associated tunnels was awarded to Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte Ltd at approximately in June 2009. Construction was scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2009 and targeted to complete by 2015.[22] [23]

Excavation works for DTL2 caused a sinkhole on Woodlands Road on 16 March 2013.[24] The sinkhole, which was reported to be as wide as one lane, was patched up soon after.[25] Investigations revealed that the construction works destabilised the soil, rupturing an underground water pipe. The soil movement and the rupture of the pipe caused the sinkhole to open up. No motorists or pedestrians were injured in the incident.[26] [27] On 9 April 2014, a fire broke out at a construction site for the Downtown line in the early morning. No injuries were reported and the fire was put out in 30 minutes.[28] Originally expected to open in 2016, the station opened on 27 December 2015 along with the other DTL Stage 2 stations, a few months ahead of schedule.[29] [30]

Exit C began construction in 2014, significantly later than the rest of the station as only two entrances to the station were initially planned. A successful campaign by residents living in the Senja area to their local Members of Parliament (MPs) led to the approval of an additional exit by LTA.[31] Originally slated to open in December 2016, it opened later on 9 February 2018, connecting the station to Bukit Panjang Road. The construction of the entrance faced challenges such as the presence of high rock levels during excavation and multiple utilities crossing over the construction shaft of the new entrance. More time was needed for manual mining works for the entrance, to prevent damage to vital utilities which cannot be diverted.[31] [32]

Extension to Sungei Kadut

An additional extension of the DTL to Sungei Kadut station from Bukit Panjang station was announced on 25 May 2019 by the LTA. The extension is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s.[33]

Station details

Services

The station is an interchange between the DTL and BPLRT. The station code is BP6/DT1, as reflected on official maps. On the BPLRT, the LRT station is after Phoenix station. Services on the BPLRT then loop around the Bukit Panjang estate, via Petir station (Service B) or Senja station (Service A) after this station.[34] There were services to Ten Mile Junction station until it closed on 13 January 2019 via Service C which operated with reduced frequency due to low ridership.[35] Train frequencies on the BPLRT range between 2.5 and 5 minutes.

On the DTL, the station is currently the line's terminus.[34] The DTL station is not directly connected to the BPLRT station and hence commuters have to exit either of the stations to transfer to another line via a link bridge at the LRT station's mezzanine level.[36] The transfer is considered a "valid transfer" of a "journey" as long as it does not exceed 15 minutes.[37] [38] Train frequencies on the DTL range between 2 and 5 minutes.[39]

Station design

The LRT station has the conventional barrel-roof design seen on other BPLRT stations. The design was chosen by the Bukit Panjang residents during the construction of the BPLRT.[40] [41]

The DTL station, designed by local architectural firm SAA Architects, has three levels.[23] Like all stations on the DTL, the station has barrier-free access for the disabled, with features such as lifts, wheelchair-accessible toilets, wider faregates and tactile flooring for the visually-impaired.[42] [43] The station entrances are shaped like pavilions along a park connector. The entrances' design is intended to mimic passenger flow with vertical screens interspersed with streaks of blue, giving the appearance of rippling waves. Such patterns are also adopted for the vent shafts which blends into the landscape. In addition, the patterns provide a distinguishing marker for the station.[44]

Public artwork

An artwork Punctum of the Long Hills by John Clang is displayed at the DTL platforms of the station as part of the network's Art-in-Transit Programme. The artwork showcases a row of tall Housing Development Board (HDB) flats, subtly reflecting the long hilly landscape for which Bukit Panjang is named after. The two giant-sized boys peeking around public housing blocks in the artwork signifies a sense of curiosity and the spirit of adventure.[45] [46] [47] [48]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bukit Panjang (MRT Station) – 950 Upper Bukit Timah Road (S)678213. www.streetdirectory.com. 11 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20180119132133/http://www.streetdirectory.com/sg/bukit-panjang/950-upper-bukit-timah-road-678213/35596_409641.html. 19 January 2018. live.
  2. Web site: Bukit Panjang (LRT Station) – 11 Petir Road (S)678268. www.streetdirectory.com. 11 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20161025124746/http://www.streetdirectory.com/sg/bukit-panjang/11-petir-road-678268/26937_119535.html. 25 October 2016. live.
  3. Web site: Land Transport DataMall . Datamall . . 14 August 2024 . 14 August 2024 . https://archive.ph/YCbCx . live. registration.
  4. Web site: Circle Line, Downtown Line 1 and 2 Station Names Finalised . 16 June 2009. www.lta.gov.sg. dead. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/webarchives/2016-04-25%2016:13:30.000/wp/details/http://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=2146. 25 April 2016.
  5. Web site: Annex 1: Final Station Names. www.lta.gov.sg. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/webarchives/wayback/20130322163835/http://app.lta.gov.sg/data/apps/news/press/2009/2009-06-16_Annex1_StationNaming-FINAL.pdf. 22 March 2013. dead.
  6. Web site: Downtown Line 2 Station Names Shortlisted for Public Polling Press Room. 10 October 2008. www.lta.gov.sg. dead. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/webarchives/2013-02-22%2016:47:55.000/wp/details/http://app.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=2021. 22 February 2013.
  7. News: Leong . Chan Teik . 4 December 1994 . Green light for Light Rail system . live . 1 June 2024 . The Straits Times . 1.
  8. News: Leong . Chan Teik . 11 February 1996 . Bukit Panjang to get S'pore's first light rail train . live . 1 June 2024 . The Straits Times . 1.
  9. Web site: 12 April 1996 . Speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for Communications, at the Signing Ceremony for the Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Project at the Raffles City Central Atrium on Friday, 12 April 1996 at 9.00 am. . 1 June 2024 . National Archives of Singapore.
  10. News: Leong . Chan Teik . 13 April 1996 . $285 m contract for LRT system signed . 1 June 2024 . The Straits Times . 1.
  11. News: Tan . Christopher . 13 April 1996 . Keppel-led group wins LRT contract . 1 June 2024 . The Business Times . 3 . NewspaperSG.
  12. News: Kaur . Karamjit . 26 July 1999 . Bukit Panjang LRT to begin operating on Nov 6 . The Straits Times . 3.
  13. News: Yeo . Geraldine . 7 November 1999 . LRT a hit on very first day . 1 June 2024 . The Straits Times . 1.
  14. Web site: 6 November 1999 . Speech By Dr Tony Tan, Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Defence, At The Official Launch Of The Bukit Panjang LRT System, Sat 6 Nov 99, 10am . 19 October 2020 . National Archives of Singapore.
  15. News: 10000 regular peak hour commuters stranded . The Straits Times . 31 August 2001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112432/http://www.getformesingapore.com/homepage2003/mrt_news.htm . 28 September 2011 .
  16. Web site: Tan . Christopher . 21 October 2015 . Platform barriers at all LRT stations by 2018 to prevent falls . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200101182230/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/platform-barriers-at-all-lrt-stations-by-2018-to-prevent-falls . 1 January 2020 . 11 May 2020 . The Straits Times.
  17. Web site: Lim . Adrian . 3 October 2017 . Parliament: Safety barriers installed on Bukit Panjang LRT; to be completed on Sengkang-Punggol LRT next year . 30 May 2024 . The Straits Times.
  18. Web site: Lim . Adrian . 9 December 2015 . LTA taps auto fare gates as way to go . 30 May 2024 . The Straits Times.
  19. Web site: Downtown Line 2 Station Sites Named. www.lta.gov.sg. 17 June 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110527042907/http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1969. 27 May 2011.
  20. Web site: Why Downtown Line differs from earlier ones. www.lta.gov.sg. 26 July 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101656/http://app.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=3&id=67. 24 December 2013.
  21. Web site: Downtown Line can't swing sharply to meet LRT station. The Straits Times. 20 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081211233731/http://www.asiaone.com/print/News/the+Straits+Times/Story/A1Story20080719-77597.html. 11 December 2008. live.
  22. Web site: LTA Awards 2 Downtown Line Contracts. 19 June 2009. www.lta.gov.sg. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/webarchives/2016-04-25%2019:09:00.000/wp/details/http://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=2149. 25 April 2016. dead.
  23. Web site: Lum Chang – Civil & Infrastructure. www.lumchang.com.sg. 11 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200511072522/http://www.lumchang.com.sg/construction/civil-infrastructure/detail/downtown-line-stage-2-(contract-c912). 11 May 2020. live.
  24. Web site: Sim . Walter . Burst water pipe causes part of Woodlands Road to cave in . The Straits Times . 17 March 2013 . 4 September 2020 . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904134836/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/burst-water-pipe-causes-part-of-woodlands-road-to-cave-in . live .
  25. Web site: sgCarMart . Sinkhole that appeared at Woodlands due to burst water pipe has been resurfaced . sgCarMart.com . 18 March 2013 . 4 September 2020 . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904132719/https://www.sgcarmart.com/news/article.php?AID=7615 . live .
  26. Web site: Chow . Jermyn . Excavation works for new MRT line caused Woodlands sinkhole . The Straits Times . 23 March 2013 . 4 September 2020 . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904105755/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/excavation-works-for-new-mrt-line-caused-woodlands-sinkhole . live .
  27. Web site: Written Reply by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew to Parliamentary Question on Sinkholes Created by Construction of MRT Downtown Line . Ministry of Transport (MOT) . 9 April 2013 . 4 September 2020 . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904134838/https://www.mot.gov.sg/news-centre/news/Detail/Written%20Reply%20by%20Transport%20Minister%20Lui%20Tuck%20Yew%20to%20ParliamentaryQuestion%20on%20Sinkholes%20Created%20by%20Construction%20of%20MRT%20Downtown%20Line/ . live .
  28. Web site: Fire at Downtown Line construction site in Bukit Panjang. Channel News Asia. 9 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140410181141/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/fire-at-downtown-line/1064660.html. 10 April 2014. live.
  29. Web site: Thumbs Up For Downtown Line's Earlier Opening. The Straits Times. 3 October 2014. 28 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403023227/http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/thumbs-downtown-lines-earlier-opening-20141003. 3 April 2015. live.
  30. Web site: LTA News Room News Releases Downtown Line 2 is Coming to Town….this December. www.lta.gov.sg. 24 April 2020. 4 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904124826/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2015/11/2/downtown-line-2-is-coming-to-townthis-december.html. live.
  31. News: Additional underpass for Bukit Panjang MRT to open in first quarter of 2018 after initial delay. Straits. Times. 1 January 2018. The Straits Times. 1 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180101194705/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/additional-underpass-for-bukit-panjang-mrt-to-open-in-first-quarter-of-2018. 1 January 2018. live.
  32. News: 100m underpass to Bukit Panjang MRT station opens after year-long delay. Straits. Times. 10 February 2018. The Straits Times. 14 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180214142457/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/100m-underpass-to-bukit-panjang-mrt-station-opens-after-year-long-delay. 14 February 2018. live.
  33. Web site: New MRT stations, line extensions and a possible new rail line: LTA's 2040 blueprint. 25 May 2019. TODAYonline. en. 29 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190525081451/https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/new-mrt-stations-tel-extension-and-possible-new-rail-line-lta-2040-blueprint. 25 May 2019. live.
  34. Web site: MRT System Map. www.lta.gov.sg. 21 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200821064838/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/dam/ltagov/getting_around/public_transport/rail_network/pdf/sm-20-03-en-exp.pdf. live.
  35. Web site: Bt Panjang LRT's Ten Mile Junction station to close . The Straits Times . 8 March 2018 . 30 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190116150204/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/bt-panjang-lrts-ten-mile-junction-station-to-close . 16 January 2019 . live .
  36. Book: Feng, Zengkun . Downtown Line : soaring to new heights . Straits Times Press Pte Ltd . Singapore . 2017 . 978-981-4747-66-0 . 1003852882 . 65.
  37. Web site: Exit and re-enter on two DTL2 transfers. Lim. Adrian. 2 December 2015. The Straits Times. en. 11 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190213122925/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/exit-and-re-enter-on-two-dtl2-transfers. 13 February 2019. live.
  38. Web site: Transit Link Travel Information. www.transitlink.com.sg. 11 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190717024450/https://www.transitlink.com.sg/TIdetail.aspx?ty=art&Id=83. 17 July 2019. live.
  39. Web site: LTA Transport Tools MRT/LRT. www.lta.gov.sg. 11 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191101093932/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/map/train.html. 1 November 2019. live.
  40. News: Bukit Panjang's light rail system brings residents together years before it is to run. The Straits Times. 29 September 1996. 12 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191026152206/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19960929-1.2.40.4. 26 October 2019. live.
  41. Web site: First Light Rail Transit system Infopedia. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 12 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191026152142/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_538_2005-01-05.html. 26 October 2019. live.
  42. Book: Feng, Zengkun . Downtown Line : soaring to new heights . Straits Times Press Pte Ltd . Singapore . 2017 . 978-981-4747-66-0 . 1003852882 . 100.
  43. Web site: Train Service Information . SBSTransit . rw . 4 September 2020 . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904111704/https://www.sbstransit.com.sg/Service/TrainInformation?TrainLine=DTL&Station=BKP . live .
  44. Web site: Bukit Panjang Station – SAA Architects . SAA Architects. tl . 31 December 2020.
  45. Web site: Art-in-Transit – SBSTransit. www.sbstransit.com.sg. 26 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200421081419/https://www.sbstransit.com.sg/art-in-transit. 21 April 2020. live.
  46. Web site: Getting Around – Public Transport – A Better Public Transport Experience – Art in Transit . www.lta.gov.sg . 7 April 2020 . 21 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200421081559/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/getting_around/public_transport/a_better_public_transport_experience/art_in_transit.html . 21 April 2020 . live .
  47. Web site: Clang . John . John Clang-'Punctum of the Long Hills', unveiling next month at the new #DTL2, Bukit Panjang station. . John Clang . 21 November 2015 . 31 December 2020.
  48. Web site: Reduwan . Amirah Liyana . Downtown Line 2: Art in Transit . The New Paper . 27 November 2015 . 31 December 2020.

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