Feature Railways and The Environment (part 2)

Development of ’s System and The Environment Tai Chong Chew and Chong Kheng Chua

Introduction Figure 1 Singapore’s Rapid Transit System (RTS) Network Singapore has 3.6 million people liv- 2 ing in a total land area of just 646 km , WOODLANDS Woodlands Admiralty making it one of the most densely popu- North-South MRT Line (N-S MRT) lated and urbanized countries in the Marslling LRT (PG) world. Rapid industrialization and in- Khatib tensive development have required a corresponding growth in transport in- LRT LRT (SK) (BP-LRT) Depot frastructure. Roads currently take up Choa Chu Kang EAST Bishan about 12% of the total land area, and Braddell North East further major expansion to cope with Kovan MRT Line (NEL MRT) Novena Airport growing transportation needs is not Woodieigh Simel Station WEST East practical. At the end of 1997, 10% of Boon Lakeside Chinese Interchange Newton Sennett Expo Lay Garden Station Clementi Paya Tanah Merah people in Singapore owned a car. From Orchard Kandang Farrer Aljunled Labar Kerbau Park Somerset Eunos Kembangan � 1981 to 1997, daily trips by car grew Lavenoar Line Commonwealth Bugis (CAL) from 2.6 million to about 9 million Queenstown City Hall Interchange East-West MRT Line Redhill People’s (E-W MRT) while the vehicle population grew from Park Interchange 402,000 to about 681,000 in the same Marina Bay Tanjong World Trade Outram Pagar The Proposed Marina Line (ML) period. In September 1995, the gov- Centre Park MARINA BAY ernment of Singapore set up the (LTA), which merged all the public sector agencies in charge of land transport, previously under different ministries, to spearhead Table 1 Summary of Singapore’s Current and Planned Transit Systems improvements in the land transport sys- MRT In progress tem. in Total Operation BP-LRT CAL NEL-MRT ML SK PG The LTA’s mission is to establish a sus- tainable land transport system provid- Route 83 km 8 km 6 km 20 km 13 km 11 km 13 km 154 km ing commuters with efficient, No. of stations 48 14 2 16 20 14 19 133 comfortable, safe, and convenient rides Cost (S$) 6.3 bn 285 m 850 m 5 bn 1.75 bn 656 m 14.8 bn at affordable prices. A key component end end end end end end To be completed is an effective public transport system. 1999 2001 2002 2004 2002 2004 The strategic thrust is to shift commut- ers towards public transport modes, such as the urban Rapid Transit System (RTS) network and buses. Given the lated corridors, linking the various resi- scarcity of land, the push factor is to Singapore’s Rapid Transit System dential estates to the Central Business develop a comprehensive rapid transit District (CBD). Near and within the network with dedicated rights of way, Figure 1 shows an overview of the city, it runs underground for 19 km, and transporting large numbers of people to existing transit systems and those un- the remaining 64 km is elevated. Dur- their destinations quickly and reliably. der development. ing peak hours, the system operates at This article highlights current develop- The present Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) a 2-minute headway and a scheduled ments in Singapore on rail transit system has a route length of 83 km and speed of 40 km/h, providing efficient projects, which aim to meet the me- 48 stations. Operations started in 1987 transport for commuters. The Wood- dium-term objectives. It also discusses and the daily ridership has risen from lands Line, which opened for revenue the key environmental considerations 300,000 to about 1 million. The MRT service in 1996, highlights the impor- in development of transit systems. runs through Singapore’s heavily popu- tance of integration between different

26 Japan Railway & Transport Review 18 • December 1998 Copyright © 1998 EJRCF. All rights reserved. modes of transport. Woodlands Station, in particular, is a model of such inte- gration. The MRT system is located at the elevated viaduct level, the taxi stands and car drop-off points at ground level, while a bus interchange is located at one level below ground. This allows commuters to change modes easily. This level of integration has been speci- fied for all subsequent rapid transit projects, including the North East MRT Line (NEL) presently under construc- tion. The NEL is a conventional rail system that will run completely underground from the World Trade Centre in the south of Singapore to Punggol, a soon- to-be-developed residential town in the north-east. The NEL will be 20-km long Woodlands MRT Station (LTA) with 16 stations. When completed in 2002, it will link the heavily populated North East corridor to the CBD. Two system is Singapore’s first LRT. It is fully Downtown in . It will also interchanges with the existing MRT sys- automated and links the relatively new provide better links to other areas tem are planned: at Outram Park Sta- Bukit Panjang and resi- within the CBD and to the existing MRT. tion on the East-West Line, and at dential estates to the Choa Chu Kang It will form part of a larger orbital sys- Dhoby Ghaut Station on the North- Station on the existing MRT. It has a tem around the city. South Line. Great emphasis has been route length of 8 km with 14 stations. These systems represent the LTA’s efforts placed on integration, and the design To optimize land usage, the depot will to build an RTS network in the short- incorporates integrated interchanges be integrated with a commercial-cum- to-medium term. Table 1 gives an over- with future Light Rapid Transit (LRT) sys- residential development. The system view of the current network as well as tems. In addition, the interchange at is expected to be completed by 1999. the network envisaged in 2004. A long- Dhoby Ghaut Station is designed with Stations will be located within 400 m term Strategic RTS plan is being devel- an integrated above-ground commer- of most apartment blocks, making the oped. Currently, in addition to being cial development. This concept opti- system very accessible to residents. the builder and owner of the various mizes the development potential of Other LRTs shortly to commence con- systems, LTA is also the regulator, en- sites above and near MRT stations. struction are the fully automated suring that the systems are operated and Similarly, to optimize land usage, the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines. Both maintained safely and efficiently. NEL depot will have an over-the-track will serve as feeders to the NEL and will deck to facilitate development of indus- have a total length of 24 km with 33 trial units. stations. They will serve two new Environmental Issues The Changi Airport Line (CAL) is a 6- towns with relatively few physical con- km branch of the existing MRT network, straints, so the stations will be well in- Apart from solving transportation with two additional stations. The tegrated with the neighbourhood needs, an RTS network can offer con- elevated Expo Station will serve the facilities. They are expected to be com- siderable improvements in the quality soon-to-be-completed mega exhibition pleted at the same time as the NEL. of the environment and the quality of centre, while the second station will be In addition to the MRT/LRT systems now life, particularly in a densely populated underground at Changi Airport, serving under construction, feasibility studies area like Singapore. Social costs due Terminal 2 and future Terminal 3. are presently being undertaken for the to air pollution, excessive noise, exploi- The Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit Marina Line intended to serve the New tation of land, and traffic accidents are

Copyright © 1998 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Japan Railway & Transport Review 18 • December 1998 27 Railways and The Environment (part 2)

mary consideration as Singapore pro- ceeds with plans to expand the RTS network, and it is imperative that envi- ronmental issues are considered both in operations and construction.

Operations

Reducing energy consumption is an im- portant contribution to protecting the environment as well as reducing opera- tional costs. Major design efforts for the various subsystems of the RTS have been implemented as follows based on developments in the railway industry and advancement in technology: Rolling stock • Reduction of vehicle weight by us- ing aluminium bodies Guideway bifurcation at Station A6 on the Bukit Panjang LRT (LTA) • Use of efficient electronic switching devices such as Gate Turn-Off (GTO) much lower with such networks. catenary systems are not allowed for thyristors and Insulated Gate Bipolar In planning Singapore’s RTS, the LTA elevated transit systems. The present MRT Transistors (IGBT) works closely with the Urban Redevel- uses a 750-V dc to power the • Optimization of the running opment Authority (URA) and Housing , while the Bukit Panjang LRT has profile between stations to maximize Development Board (HDB) to ensure 600-V ac side conductors. coasting using the Automatic Train integration with land usage and to iden- Protection of the environment is a pri- Operation system tify and safeguard corridors for future construction. For the existing MRT and those systems under construction, much effort has been taken to ensure that the stations and infrastructure are not visually ob- trusive and that the architecture blends with the environment. This is impor- tant to preserve the character of the area served by each station. To this end, eminent local and international archi- tects either design or review the station architecture. To ensure that the cityscape is not compromised, in the early 1970s, the government decided to stop all overhead cabling. This has caused high costs for burying power and telecommunications cables. Apart from increasing the complexity and cost of constructing roads and transit sys- tems, this decision means that overhead (LTA)

28 Japan Railway & Transport Review 18 • December 1998 Copyright © 1998 EJRCF. All rights reserved. • Use of regenerative braking to mini- good ambient light host of design and maintenance mea- mize loss of train braking energy as • Use of direct lighting when possible sures have helped ensure that the noise heat. For the existing MRT, the re- to improve brightness and cut power level meets the specification of 67 dBA generated power is fed to other trains consumption Leq (1 h) at a distance of 15 m. To en- nearby and the excess is returned to • Use of high-efficiency air condition- sure a quieter ride, rubber tyres will be the 22-kV power network through in- ing with load demand control in un- used on the Bukit Panjang and other verters along the line. The returned derground stations planned LRTs. All on-train auxiliary power is used for station lighting and To cut energy demand as much as equipment on all lines must also meet air conditioning, etc. possible, the MRT uses high-effi- the stringent noise standards specified Stations ciency filters, air conditioners with by LTA. • Use of hump profiles when feasible, high Coefficients of Performance Apart from energy-conservation and to reduce energy requirements for (COP), insulation of chilled water noise-reduction measures, Singapore braking and accelerating by slowing pipes/air ducts, and variable-speed also closely follows international devel- trains when entering the station on motors in cooling towers. opments to protect the environment. the upgrade and facilitating accelera- • Design of escalators switching auto- One example is the use of environment- tion when departing on the down- matically to low-power consumption friendly inert gases such as Inergen to grade under low passenger load protect critical equipment rooms • Reduction of air conditioning levels All escalators on NEL and CAL will against fire. Similarly, train and station through correct location and orien- have energy-saving devices to slow air-conditioning systems use R134A re- tation of heat-reflecting glass them down when nobody is on them. frigerant, as recommended by the • Design of elevated stations for good Noise pollution is another area that has Montreal Protocol. cross ventilation, thereby reducing to be carefully managed. The present the need for air conditioning MRT has steel wheels running on steel • Installation of platform screen doors rails. Much effort has been made to Construction in underground stations to minimize reduce the high pitch squealing of trains loss of cooled air into tunnels. These on tight curves as well as the level of The extensive RTS construction work, doors also help prevent blasts of air low-frequency rumble using noise- such as for the NEL, inevitably has an (caused by the piston effect of trains damped wheels. In addition, the rails impact on nearby communities and running through tunnels) affecting are reground regularly to remove noise- land. Environmental protection and commuters standing on platforms: generating irregularities and to main- pollution control measures are required they also enhance passenger safety. tain the rail profile. The train wheels during construction, along with mea- • Use of energy-saving lighting and are also ground to remove noisy ‘wheel sures to alleviate any environmental separate group control in areas with flats’ and to maintain the tolerance. A consequences.

Cut-and-cover construction at Sengkang Station (left) and View of Clarke Quay Station (right) on North East Line (LTA)

Copyright © 1998 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Japan Railway & Transport Review 18 • December 1998 29 Railways and The Environment (part 2)

Before construction, LTA undertakes a measures are implemented. The mate- environmental impact and that appro- survey to identify the condition of struc- rials and waste management aspect is priate countermeasures are taken. tures and foundations along the con- also examined closely. Since the land Singapore recognizes that its transport struction corridor. Where necessary, and streetscape are inevitably affected system must not be provided at the ex- monitoring equipment is installed to during construction, reinstatement is pense of the environment. The LTA be- track any possible impact of construc- usually required and this is normally lieves it is on the right track! I tion so countermeasures can be taken undertaken in conjunction with the if needed. Special attention is given to National Parks Board. sites of historical significance. The two most common concerns dur- ing construction are noise and dust. Conclusion Noise control measures include care- ful scheduling of noisy work, use of The LTA vision of a world-class land appropriate equipment such as vibro transport system requires a world-class hammers for piling, and controlled public transport system. The RTS is one movement of heavy vehicles. However, key to achieve this vision, because it is when safety is the primary concern, the the most efficient means of transport- mitigating measures may involve use of ing large numbers of people. Conse- noisy equipment although the time quently, it will form the backbone of needed for such work is minimized as Singapore’s public transport system. much as possible. In this respect, LTA The present MRT network will be ex- works within the guidelines laid down panded into a comprehensive system by the Ministry of Environment and that will attract commuters in terms of Ministry of Manpower. access convenience. For dust control, proper hoardings are The growth of Singapore’s RTS, has the always used. In addition to compul- potential for major impact on the envi- sory washing of muddy vehicles with ronment. The LTA is sparing no effort recycled water, before allowing them to ensure that the planning, design, to leave the site, vehicles carrying spoil construction, and operation of the RTS must have covers to prevent dust pol- gives due recognition to any potential lution. Contractors are also required to wash the roads used by vehicles leav- ing the site regularly. During construction, maintenance of Tai Chong Chew road capacity and safety have high pri- Mr Chew is Director of Projects and System with the Singapore LTA. He obtained an MS from ority. In principle, the LTA maintains University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technolgoy. He has more than 20 years of the lane capacity before the start of con- railway-related experience and prior to joining the LTA, he was Project E&M Manager on the Jubilee Line Extension Project, London Underground Ltd., UK. struction, except where it is physically not possible. Road diversions and traf- fic control schemes are developed in close consultation with experts to en- sure the safety of road users while con- Chong Kheng Chua struction is in progress. The LTA also works closely with the Mr Chua is Senior Project Manager for the Singapore LTA, with responsibility for all electrical Ministry of Environment and the Na- and mechanical works on the North East Line. He obtained a Bachelors Degree in Engineering from Nanyang Technological University in 1985 before joining the Mass Rapid Transit Corpora- tional Parks Board during any RTS con- tion as a Rolling Stock Engineer. He later obtained a Masters degree from Birmingham Univer- struction. Cooperation is required to sity. ensure that any impact on water qual- ity is identified and suitable control

30 Japan Railway & Transport Review 18 • December 1998 Copyright © 1998 EJRCF. All rights reserved.