Report by Craig Moore 01 March 2017 Singapore Singapore
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Report by Craig Moore 01 March 2017 Singapore Singapore is a small densely-populated city-state, having a land area of only 71 km", and a population of #$%m &201%'$ It has achieved strong economic gro)th over many years due to its role as a ma*or financial+services hub and centre for high value manufacturing – the rising affluence bringing increased demand for available land and greater mobility$ -ith finite space, the Singaporean .overnment is alleviating these pressures through the implementation of a long-term, overarching transport policy, led by the /and 0ransport 1uthority &/01'$ 0he /01 is responsible for the planning, development and management of the entire land transport system in Singapore and so, )ith regard to the MR0, a broad overvie) and strategic policy direction has been implemented through a three-pronged integration approach2 The integration of land use and transport planning$ 0he /01 has intensified land use across the island by decentralising commercial activities along rail corridors, integrating MR0 stations into commercial facilities, and creating transport hubs )hich act as a focus of housing developments$ (ntensifying development around main MR0 stations reduces the need for travel and increases the utilisation of the MR0, enabling the rail net)ork to develop routes that serve the most densely populated areas and corridors, linking the population to the main commercial, business and industrial areas and trip generating points$ Network integration$ 0he MR0 is the backbone of the transport system in Singapore and has a hierarchical role, )ith /R0 and bus services planned around MR0 services$ MR0 and /R0 stations are physically integrated to main bus stations )hich provide feeder routes$ 0hese routes are planned so that the duplication of services is limited and there is improved utilisation of transport resources and more effective coverage$ 0he co-ordination of services also involves timetable integration, an integrated fare system &34-link card- distance-based contactless smart card', and integrated travel information via an impressive .5S+R0I electronic travel guide )ith full *ourney planning and fare information, or hard copy information &0ransit/ink guide'$ 1ll this is achieved despite different ownership. Standard integration$ Service standards and performance are set and rigourously monitored by the /01 and the 6uality of provision is an essential ingredient$ Supplementary provision such as pedestrian lin!)ays to housing and ad*acent commercial buildings, cycling and ta7i facilities, intermediate and end-point commercial amenities, customer service centres, uniform station information and )ayfinding, and safety &barriers+CCT8 etc$' are all at forefront of design, construction and operation$ Capturing performance is made easier because the government has managed transport competition$ 3ssentially, t)o multi-modal operators e7ist – SMR0, )hich mainly operates trains and a small bus net)ork and one /R09 )hilst S:S mainly operates buses as )ell as t)o light metro lines and accompanying /R0 lines$ 0his structure provides the benefits of competition in terms of peer benchmarking in service standards and cost efficiencies, but enables easier service and policy integration$ 0his approach provides the population )ith high 6uality mobility options and a spectrum of seamless transport choices to accommodate varying travel needs$ 0he harmonisation of services, brand and information makes travel by public transport efficient and effective$ -hilst this approach is common in 3urope, it is not the case in 1sia, )here mobility is often based on sheer volume than any planning protocols$ 0his makes the Singapore e7perience all the more impressive and successful, supported in many )ays by a dominant government and relatively obedient population$ The System 0he MR0 is operated by t)o companies &SMR0-12 $;km' + &S:S-<0$1km' and is currently 1% $ km in length )ith elevated &%;$7km' and underground &101$2km' alignments$ 0here is a total of 10= stations$ 0he original 1 ;7 line no) forms part of the arc shaped >orth-South /ine &>S' )hich is <<$7km &12$= ?m underground' and has 2% stations &11 underground'$ It runs from the )estern industrial area of Jurong on viaduct, initially travelling north through less densely populated areas and connecting to the parallel :ukit 5an*ang /R0 at Chao Chu ?ang. 1t its northernmost, the line travails large satellite towns around -oodlands &)here vie)s of the city of Johore :haru in Malaysia can be seen', and then moves south down the central north-south spine of the island$ Aere it runs past the huge stabling facilities at :ishan$ 0he stations on the viaduct section are large, concrete, angular structures )ith island platforms, half screens and large ceiling fans$ 0here are smart platform information boards )ith line maps and system maps, some seating and R0I information screens$ South of :ishan &the only grade station on the system', the line runs underground passing the main commercial corridors around Brchard Road and through the city centre$ 0hese stations have island platforms, )ith full platform screens and good 6uality passenger information$ 0he infrastructure is clean and efficiently designed )ith ample stairs, lifts and bi-directional escalators, although the design is pretty standard, and the stations are very much of the 1 ;0s$ Services run from 0#=0 to 00=0 )ith a base head)ay of <+#mins and three of every four trains terminate at Marina :ay )ith only < services per hour heading on)ard to Marina South 5ier$ 0he entire *ourney takes %=mins$ 1t the most central stations of City Aall and Raffles 5lace, there is cross platform transfer )ith the 3ast--est /ine &3-' depending on )hich direction you )ish to travel9 the tunnels here dive, rise and t)ist bet)een the t)o stations to ensure all transfer possibilities are met effectively$ 0he 3- line is of a similar standard to the >S line$ It is < $7km &1=$<km underground' and includes a branch from 0anah Merah to Changi 1irport &%$<km'$ Including the branch there are =1 stations &; underground'$ Crom the large eastern satellite towns around 0ampines, the line runs above the busy >e) Changi Road+Sims 1venue )here there are some nice vie)s of the dense urban environment$ 0he stations on this section have vaulted ceilings, supported by arch pillars$ 0he island platform areas are very similar to those on the >S line$ 0he airport branch involves a change of service at 0anah Merah, a t)o island+three- line station, )ith the middle line for the airport line shuttle supporting cross platform transfer, regardless of direction$ 0his branch runs at #min base head)ays on its min *ourney and after the modern 37po station, it heads underground to the large and architecturally stylish station at the airport$ Continuing on the main line, after ?allang the line heads belo) ground through the centre &cross-platform transfer )ith the >S line' in a south )esterly direction before a sharp bend north-)est)ard &and lots of flange noise' at 0an*ong 5agor$ 1fter 0iong :ahru, the line again emerges to viaduct above Common)ealth 1venue$ 0hese stations are more angular and have elevated )al!)ays from the pavement areas - these are, perhaps, the least impressive on the system$ Cross-5latform transfer to the >S line is also possible at Jurong 3ast station, a multi-platform large station )ith an impressive flying *unction and some intensive train movements from the east$ :eyond Jurong 3ast the line continues on a viaduct through less dense areas to the )estern terminus at Joo ?oon, from )here a 7$#km e7tension to 0D1S -est+< stations )ill open in 2017$ 1s )ith the >S line, there are good head)ays and a peak hour service level of 2min fre6uencies really pushes the system to capacity, )ith many trains stopping bet)een stations due to train congestion and bringing some irregularity to head)ays$ 0his is the longest line on the Singapore system and takes %<mins to traverse$ 0he t)o lines share % car stoc!$ 0hese have been built at various times by Siemens &-ien', ?a)asaki and a ?a)asaki+CSR partnership. 0here are some differences in e7ternal and internal appearance bet)een the various constructions, but all have high levels of cleanliness, information provision &strip maps+audio information', and side seating. In some cases, seats in the middle part of the carriage have been removed and more grab poles added to increase capacity$ Strip maps above the door have electric lights to sho) progression and there is )ritten information provision in 3nglish, Simplified Chinese, :ahasa and Aindi &Sans!rit', although audio information on station stops is in 3nglish only$ 1lthough these t)o MR0 lines are the backbone of the system, they are more than ably supported by three fully automated lines$ 0he SMR0 operated Circle /ine &CC) is =#$<km long )ith 2; stations and takes %2min to travel$ Services run from 0#<#-00=0 and operate at #min base head)ays$ 0he fully underground line is currently the longest underground automated line in the )orld &soon to be surpassed by the Eowntown /ine' and it covers some of the more peripheral areas of the built up part of Singapore$ Running from the centre at Ehoby .haut, the line heads in a semi-circle via 5aya /abar and :ishan to the Eover area and down toward the Aarbour$ 1t 5romenade station &see Eo)nto)n /ine', the line splits toward Marina :ay &2$1km branch+7mins' )ith 1 in < services operating this leg. It is a medium capacity line using = car 1ltsom Metropolis sets$ 0his line has several architecturally distinct stations )ith high atrium