The Cross Island Line (CRL) is a high capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line under development in Singapore. It will run in an east–west direction from Changi to Jurong Industrial Estate via Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Serangoon North, Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming, Bukit Timah, Clementi and West Coast. From Pasir Ris, the line will branch off to Punggol.[2] The 58-kilometre (36 mi) line will replace the East–West Line as the longest line on the MRT network upon its complete opening by the 2040s, serving about 27 stations.[3]

Quick Facts Overview, Native name ...
Cross Island Line
Construction works at Teck Ghee station
Overview
Native name
  • Laluan MRT Rentas Pulau
  • 跨岛地铁线
  • குறுக்குத் தீவு ரயில் பாதை
Status
  • Under construction (Phase 1-2 & Punggol Extension)
  • Under planning (Phase 3)
OwnerLand Transport Authority
LocaleSingapore
Termini
Stations
  • 12 (Phase 1)
  • 6 (Phase 2)
  • 3 (Punggol Extension)
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemMass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Operator(s)TBA
Depot(s)Changi East
Rolling stockCRRC Qingdao Sifang CR151
History
Planned opening
  • 2030 (Phase 1)
  • 2032 (Punggol Extension and Phase 2)
  • 2040 (extension to Changi Airport T5)
Technical
Line length
  • 29 km (18 mi) (Phase 1)
  • 15 km (9.3 mi) (Phase 2)
  • 7.3 km (4.5 mi) (Punggol Extension)
  • 58 km (36 mi) (Total approximate)
CharacterFully underground
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 1,500 V DC [1]
Route map

future extension
to Changi Airport T5
 CR2 
Aviation Park
 CR3 
Loyang
 CR4 
Pasir Ris East
 EW1 
 CP1  CR5 
Pasir Ris
Sungei Api Api
 CP2 
Elias
 CR6 
Tampines North
 CR7 
Defu
 PE4 
Punggol LRT
East Loop
 CP3 
Riviera
 PTC 
East Loop
West Loop
 NE17 
 CP4 
Punggol
 NE14 
 CR8 
Hougang
 CR9 
Serangoon North
 CR10 
Tavistock
 CR11 
Ang Mo Kio
 NS16 
 CR12 
Teck Ghee
 CR13 
Bright Hill
 TE7 
 CR14 
Turf City
 DT6 
← to Bukit Panjang
to Expo
 CR15 
King Albert Park
 CR16 
Maju
Sungei Ulu Pandan
 CR17 
Clementi
 EW23 
← to Tuas Link
to Pasir Ris
 CR18 
West Coast
Sungei Pandan
 CR19 
Jurong Lake District
future extension
to Tuas
Close

Plans for the line were first announced in 2013. The CRL is envisioned to serve various key hubs including the Jurong Lake District and the Punggol Digital District, offering an alternative east–west connection to alleviate passenger load on the East–West Line. Shortly after the announcement, calls were made by some nature groups to divert the line tunnels away from the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR). Nevertheless, the Government ultimately decided after years of assessments and deliberation to continue with the original direct route in 2019, citing commuting time and economic factors as well as long-term energy consumption. The alignment and stations for CRL1 were finalised in 2019, followed by the Punggol branch in 2020 and Phase 2 in 2022.[4] The proposed full line is expected to have a daily ridership of over one million in the long term,[5] and to cost an estimated S$40.7 billion.[6]

History

Announcement

The Cross Island Line was first announced by then Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on 17 January 2013. The line was planned to relieve congestion on the existing East–West Line and slated to begin at Changi on Singapore's eastern coast, passing through the major eastern towns including Pasir Ris, Hougang and Ang Mo Kio. From this point, it would proceed further west toward Bukit Timah, Clementi and West Coast, before terminating in the Jurong Industrial Estate. A branch line was to connect the mainline to Punggol. The line was planned to be 50 km long and open in 2030.[7][8] Studies on the Cross Island Line began in May 2013.[9]

Line alignment

Thumb
Final and alternate routes crossing the Central Catchment[10][11]

Since its announcement, there has been controversy over the alignment of the line's Bukit Timah stretch crossing the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) and MacRitchie Reservoir, which prompted the Nature Society Singapore to call for the line's realignment. Environmental groups have urged the Government not to build the MRT line under the CCNR.[12]

On 19 July 2013, the NSS put forward two proposed alternative alignments:[13] a northern route that would run close to the Thomson–East Coast Line, heading west towards Mandai, Sungei Kadut and Gali Batu before terminating at Choa Chu Kang, and a southern route skirting the reserve along Lornie Road. One engineering professor Lee Der-Horng noted the possible feasibility of constructing the line through the reserve without impacting the environment, though he said the decision "shouldn’t be just based on transport".[14]

A tender to assess the environmental impact of the line was called for on 24 February 2014 to facilitate civil works for the line.[15] In July 2014, the LTA appointed Environmental Resources Management (S) Pte Ltd (ERM) to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the section of the line around and through the nature reserve. The EIA was to be conducted in two phases, with the first studying the ecosystem and physical conditions along both the straight and skirting alignments, as well as assessing how construction and operation of the line would affect the CCNR.[16] The Phase 1 EIA report was released in February 2016.[17][18]

Soil investigation works along the CCNR began in February 2017 and by October, was announced to be nearing completion by the end of the year.[12] On 20 March 2018, the LTA declared that the findings on the environmental impact of drilling and other initial works would be completed later that year.[19] The Phase 2 EIA report was released in September 2019.[20] On 4 December 2019, the Ministry of Transport confirmed that the direct route underneath the CCNR had been chosen, with mitigating factors such as tunnelling deeper than usual under the CCNR as well as no surface works in the area. The construction cost is also expected to be $2 billion lower than the alternative alignments.[21]

Phase 1

Thumb
Construction works at Hougang CRL site

On 25 January 2019, then Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced the alignment of CRL Phase 1 (CRL1). This segment of the line, spanning 29 kilometres (18 mi), consists of 12 stations from Aviation Park station to Bright Hill station. A new 57-hectare Changi East Depot was to be built to serve the line. CRL Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2030.[22][23][24]

Punggol Extension

On 10 March 2020, a branch line from Pasir Ris station to Punggol station was announced. The 7.3-kilometre (4.5 mi) Punggol extension, consisting of four stations between this station and Punggol, was expected to be completed in 2031.[25][26] However, the restrictions imposed on construction works due to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to delays and the completion dates for CRL1 and CRLe were pushed by one year to 2030 and 2032 respectively.[27] Construction of CRL1 officially began on 18 January 2023.[28][29] As of January 2022, there are no plans to extend the Punggol branch to Jalan Kayu.[30]

Phase 2

In December 2021, as part of a virtual exhibition by the LTA, a future system map depicted a series of 11 unnamed stations on the western half of the CRL.[31] The map also showed the western segment interchanging with existing and under-construction stations: King Albert Park, Clementi, Jurong Pier and Gul Circle stations. The map, along with the virtual exhibition, has since been offline. The LTA explained that the route was a "conceptual alignment" yet to be finalised, with the interchange stations being tentative.[32]

On 20 September 2022, then Transport Minister S. Iswaran confirmed the stations for Phase 2 of the CRL. Expected to open in 2032, the 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) segment spans six stations from Turf City station to Jurong Lake District station.[33][34] Construction of these stations is expected to start in 2023.[33]

Phase 3

Based on tender documents, The Straits Times projected in February 2022 that civil works for the CRL might be completed by end-2033, with operations beginning in 2034 or later. The CRL is to be completed in three phases.[10] However, the LTA stated that the exact timeline is unclear and will only be known with the completion of advanced engineering studies.[35] It is projected that the second and third phases will be about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) long respectively.[36] The Phase 3 segment is predicted to have four stations, with tentative stations CR21 and CR24 on the Phase 3 segment interchanging with the Jurong Region Line and the East–West Line.[37] An additional shell station might be built as part of the segment. As of 16 August 2024, engineering studies for Phase 3 have not yet been completed.[35][38]

Future plans

In conceptual plans for the redevelopment of Paya Lebar Air Base, an additional station (labelled "PLAB") has been proposed between Defu and Tampines North stations to serve the new developments.[39]

Network and operations

Route

Thumb
Planned route of the Cross Island MRT line[40][41]

The 58 kilometres (36 mi)-long CRL is planned to run in a generally east–west direction, serving 27 stations[10] and being an alternative route to the existing East–West (EWL) and Downtown (DTL) lines.[7][42] Phase 1 of the line goes west from Changi, in the east, to Pasir Ris. The line branches off to Punggol Digital District[25] and goes south-west towards Tampines North, and west to Hougang, and further towards Sin Ming via Ang Mo Kio.[40] Phase 2 of the line connects Bukit Timah to Sin Ming, tunneling through the CCNR, before continuing south-west to West Coast via Clementi, before heading north-west to Jurong Lake District.[41] Phase 3 concludes the line at the Jurong Industrial Estate.[41]

Services

At least half of the CRL stations are to interchange with existing lines, providing alternative routes for commuters.[3] The LTA is also studying a possible extension to Changi Airport Terminal 5.[43]

The Government briefly considered in 2014 implementing an express service for the CRL.[44] However, then Transport Minister Khaw announced in 2018 that express services were considered not feasible, citing the higher cost needed to build extra tracks and additional signalling systems that can affect non-express commuters and existing lines.[45]

Stations

Names stated are working names, except for the existing interchange stations.[22]

More information Date, Project ...
Cross Island Line stations timeline
DateProjectDescription
2030Phase 1Aviation Park - Bright Hill
2032Punggol ExtensionPasir Ris - Punggol
2032Phase 2Turf City - Jurong Lake District
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Legend


Elevated
 
Line terminus

Transfer outside paid area

Ground-level

Wheelchair accessible

Bus interchange

Underground

Civil Defence Shelter
     
Other transportation modes

List

More information Station code, Station name ...
Station code Station name Images Interchange;
Adjacent transportation
Opening Cost
Phase 1 (under construction, to be ready by 2030)
 CR2 
 
Aviation ParkDoes not appear Changi Ferry Terminal 
2030;
6 years' time
S$320 million[46][47]
S$356 million[48][lower-alpha 1]
 CR3 
 
LoyangDoes not appear
S$748 million[49][50]
 CR4 
 
Pasir Ris EastDoes not appearS$363 million[51]

 CR5  CP1  EW1 
 
Pasir RisDoes not appear  CRL Punggol Extension  (2032)
  East–West Line 

 Pasir Ris
S$980 million[52]
 CR6 
 
Tampines NorthDoes not appear Tampines NorthS$397 million[53]
S$446 million[46][54][lower-alpha 2]
 CR7 
 
DefuDoes not appear
S$467 million[55]
 CR8  NE14 
  
HougangDoes not appear  North East Line 

 Hougang Central
S$604 million[56]
 CR9 
 
Serangoon NorthDoes not appearS$407 million[57][58]
 CR10 
 
TavistockDoes not appear
 CR11  NS16 
 
Ang Mo KioDoes not appear  North–South Line 

 Ang Mo Kio
S$644 million[59]
 CR12 
 
Teck GheeDoes not appearS$615.9 million[60]
 CR13  TE7 
  
Bright HillDoes not appear  Thomson–East Coast Line S$526 million[61]
S$758 million[62][lower-alpha 3]
Phase 2 (planned, to be ready by 2032)
 CR14 
 
Turf CityDoes not appear
2032;
8 years' time
S$530 million[63]
 CR15  DT6 
  
King Albert ParkDoes not appear  Downtown Line  S$447 million[64]
 CR16 
 
MajuDoes not appear S$480 million[65]
S$199 million[38][lower-alpha 4]
 CR17  EW23 
 
ClementiDoes not appear  East–West Line 

 Clementi
S$514 million[64]
 CR18 
 
West CoastDoes not appear S$510 million[66]
S$242 million[67][lower-alpha 5]
 CR19 
 
Jurong Lake DistrictDoes not appear S$590 million[68]
Punggol Extension (under construction, to be ready by 2032)[69]

 CP1  CR5  EW1 
 
Pasir RisDoes not appear  Cross Island Line 
  East–West Line 

 Pasir Ris
2032;
8 years' time
S$980 million[52]
 CP2 
 
EliasDoes not appear $562 million[70]
 CP3  PE4 
 
RivieraDoes not appear  PGLRT East Loop  S$1.1 billion[71]
 CP4  NE17  PTC 
 
PunggolDoes not appear  North East Line 
  Punggol LRT 
 Punggol
S$496 million[62]
Close

Depots

More information Number, Depot name; Lines ...
Number Depot name;
Lines
Location Images Line-specific
stabling capacity
Cost Opening
1
  Changi East ChangiDoes not appear70 trainsS$1.05 billion[72][73][74]
2030;
6 years' time
Close

Train control

The Cross Island Line will be equipped with Siemens Trainguard Communications-based train control (CBTC) moving block signalling system with Automatic train control (ATC) under Automatic train operation (ATO) GoA 4 (UTO).[75]

Rolling stock

Thumb
The CR151 mockup displayed at LTA's Hampshire office.

Services on the CRL are to be provided by six-car electric multiple units designed and manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang in Qingdao, known as the CRRC Qingdao Sifang CR151. These trains draw power from an overhead conductor rail, and are to be equipped with condition monitoring equipment to allow for quick identification of any potential problems.[76] In addition, they are to have five doors per side per carriage (also present on the T251 trains) as well as wider gangway connections carriages compared to other trains on the MRT network, which the LTA claims allow for smoother commuter movement on, off and within the trains.[77]

The LTA announced that it had awarded the S$589 million contract for the supply of trains for the line on 14 June 2023. Initially comprising a 44-train order, it includes an option for 11 more trains and for maintenance support of the train fleet. The trains are to be delivered progressively from 2027 onwards.[78] A CRL Train Mixed Reality Mock-up was displayed at LTA's Hampshire office as a public engagement exercise.[79][80][81]

Notes and references

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