North East MRT line

"North East Line" redirects here. For other railway and metro lines of the same name, see North East Line (disambiguation).

The North East Line (NEL) is a high-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore. Operated by SBS Transit, the 20-kilometre (12 mi) line is the MRT's shortest.^{[lower-alpha 2]} It runs from HarbourFront station in southern Singapore to Punggol station in the northeast, serving 16 stations via Chinatown, Little India, Serangoon and Hougang. Coloured purple on official maps, it is Singapore's third MRT line and the world's first fully-automated underground driverless heavy rail line.

North East Line
An Alstom Metropolis C851E train at Punggol station, the NEL's north terminus.
Overview
Native name	Laluan MRT Timur Laut 东北地铁线 வடக்கு கிழக்கு எம்ஆர்டி வழி
Status	Operational
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Locale	Singapore
Termini	HarbourFront Punggol Punggol Coast (2024)
Stations	16[lower-alpha 1] 1 (under construction)
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Operator(s)	SBS Transit (ComfortDelGro)
Depot(s)	Sengkang
Rolling stock	Alstom Metropolis C751A Alstom Metropolis C751C Alstom Metropolis C851E
Daily ridership	527,000[2][3]
History
Planned opening	2024; 0 years ago (2024) (Punggol Coast)
Opened	20 June 2003; 21 years ago (2003-06-20) 15 January 2006; 18 years ago (2006-01-15) (Buangkok) 20 June 2011; 13 years ago (2011-06-20) (Woodleigh)
Technical
Line length	20 km (12 mi) (Operational) 1.6 km (0.99 mi) (under construction)
Track length	20 km (12 mi)
Character	Fully underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	1,500 V DC from overhead catenary
Operating speed	limit of 90 km/h (56 mph)
Route map Legend  NE18  Punggol Coast Punggol Waterway ■ Punggol LRT West loop│East loop  NE17   PTC   CP4  Punggol ■ Cross Island Line to Pasir Ris ■ Punggol LRT West loop│East loop Tampines Expressway ■ Sengkang LRT West loop│East loop  NE16   STC  Sengkang ■ Sengkang LRT West loop│East loop Sengkang Depot  NE15  Buangkok  NE14  Hougang  CR8  ■ ← to Bright Hill to Aviation Park →  NE13  Kovan  CC13  ■ Circle Line  NE12  Serangoon  NE11  Woodleigh  NE10  Potong Pasir Pan Island Expressway Kallang River Sungei Whampoa  NE9  Boon Keng  NE8  Farrer Park  NE7  Little India  DT12  ■ Downtown Line to Bukit Panjang  NE6  Dhoby Ghaut  CC1   NS24  ■ ← to Jurong East to Marina South Pier → Singapore River  NE5  Clarke Quay  DT19  ■ Downtown Line to Expo  NE4  Chinatown  TE17  ■ ← to Woodlands North to Bayshore →  EW16  ■ ← to Tuas Link to Pasir Ris →  NE3  Outram Park Ayer Rajah Expressway  NE1  HarbourFront  CC29  This diagram: view talk edit

The NEL was planned during the 1980s to alleviate traffic congestion on roads leading to the northeast suburbs of the country. However, the project was delayed due to lack of demand at the time. After the government's decision to eventually go ahead with the project at an estimated cost of S$5 billion, its alignment and stations were finalised in 1996 and construction began the year after. The line began operations on 20 June 2003. Two mid-line stations initially did not open with the rest of the line; Buangkok station opened on 15 January 2006, and Woodleigh station began operations on 20 June 2011. A one-station extension to Punggol Coast station, under construction, is expected to be completed in 2024.

The driverless line uses the moving-block Alstom Urbalis 300 CBTC signalling system. Three types of Alstom rolling stock – C751A, C751C and C851E – run on the NEL, which is powered by an overhead line. The NEL is Singapore's first Art-in-Transit line, with 18 artworks displayed across its 16 stations. The stations are wheelchair-accessible, and most of them are Civil Defence shelters designed to withstand airstrikes and chemical attacks.

Planning

Planning map for the line

The Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) first proposed an additional MRT line serving the northeastern areas of Punggol and Jalan Kayu in September 1984.^[9] In its preliminary studies, the Communications Ministry concluded that roads would be inadequate for projected traffic into the planned 21st-century housing estates. To minimise the impact on other development, the Ministry developed plans to determine which parcels of land would be needed for its construction.^[10] In December of that year, a British consultancy team consisting of Sir William Halcrow and Partners, Merz & McLellan and London Transport International was appointed by the MRTC to look into possible routes for the line.^[11]

In March 1986, the British consultants drew up a tentative route from Outram Park to Punggol. The line would connect to the existing MRT system at Dhoby Ghaut station and pass through Kandang Kerbau and Hougang, paralleling the major Serangoon and Upper Serangoon Roads. A branch line from Hougang to Jalan Kayu was also proposed. The segment of the line in the city would be underground, and the northern portion after Braddell Road would be elevated.^[12]

The MRTC, which approved the project in October 1986,^[13] proposed that the line link to Bishan Depot (which would maintain and service its trains).^[14] In February 1991, it was proposed to extend the line to Pulau Tekong via Pulau Ubin to serve future residential and industrial developments in the long-term plans for these islands.^[15]

Delay

Although the government approved the NEL "in principle" in January 1989, Communications Minister Yeo Ning Hong said that the line's construction was dependent on development in the northeast.^[16] The Woodlands extension,^{[lower-alpha 3]} which cost S$1.35 billion (US$0.7 billion), took precedence over the S$4.3 billion (US$2.4 billion) NEL. According to Yeo's successor, Mah Bow Tan, there were firmer plans for development around the Woodlands extension,^[18] unlike in the northeast, where the low population meant that the NEL would not be as cost-effective.^[19] The four Members of Parliament (MPs) for the northeast called for the line to be built sooner, saying that there would be sufficient demand (given the area's population) and it would relieve traffic congestion.^[19]

Reviewing the line's feasibility,^[20] the Communications Ministry said in 1995 that the NEL could be completed in 2002 if construction began promptly. It was projected to cost S$5 billion (US$3.5 billion) and would operate at a loss of S$250 million (US$176.4 million) during its first four years, with lower daily passenger numbers (240,000). The ministry recommended the construction of the NEL to the Cabinet, citing "wider benefits" such as reduced travelling time and reliance on cars.^[21]

There's no question about our desire or willingness to bring this extension forward. I believe it's worth the effort. It's worth doing. I believe residents will show their commitment and willingness to help us bring the gap in operating costs.

– Mah Bow Tan, engaging with grassroots leaders at the Punggol Community Club on 22 October 1995^[22]

Mah, engaging with grassroots leaders in October 1995, said that residents would have to be prepared to pay higher fares on the NEL to cover the line's cost and initial losses. His position was divisive; some leaders felt that it would be unfair to the residents, and others were confident that residents would be willing "to pay for a better quality of life". Increased fares for the entire network were also suggested, but Mah said that it would be more difficult to implement. He assured leaders that he would recommend construction of the line to the government.^[22][23]

A white paper released on 2 January 1996 said that the NEL would be built earlier to address congestion in the northeast corridor, which would also be relieved by express bus service.^[24][25] The government's announcement during a 19 January parliamentary debate on the report that it had decided to build the NEL "immediately" was greeted with applause.^[26]

Construction and opening

The Punggol station's construction was expedited to serve the area's new developments.

North East Line stations timeline

Date	Project	Description
20 June 2003	North East Line	HarbourFront – Punggol (14 stations)
15 January 2006		Opening of Buangkok station
20 June 2011		Opening of Woodleigh station
2024	North East Line Extension	Punggol – Punggol Coast (1 station, under construction)

The 16 NEL stations and their locations were announced on 4 March 1996.^[27] Many residents and politicians welcomed the announcement, since the line was expected to relieve traffic congestion, improve transport in the northeast and stimulate development around the stations.^[28][29] Thirteen civil contracts for track work and construction of the stations, Sengkang Depot and associated tunnels were awarded for a total of S$2.8 billion (US$1.9 billion). Sixteen more contracts related to electrical and mechanical work were awarded for a total of S$1 billion (US$3.5 billion).^[30]

To construct the line, 20 ha (49 acres) of private land was acquired and 43 ha (110 acres) of government land was returned to the state.^[27] Several rental HDB blocks, private homes and shops were acquired,^[31] dismaying many affected residents.^[32] Those who had been asked to relocate in July 1996 requested more time to find new premises.^[33] Construction of the line began with a groundbreaking ceremony at Farrer Park station on 25 November 1997.^[34][35] On 20 May 1999, SBS Transit (then Singapore Bus Service) was appointed to operate the line along with the Sengkang and Punggol LRT systems. With bus operations in the area handed over from Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) to the newly-appointed operator, SBS controlled northeastern bus and rail service; this provided the inter-modal integration desired by the government.^[36][37]

Construction challenges on the line included diverting the Eu Tong Seng canal for construction of the Chinatown station,^[38][39] and avoiding flooding the tunnels and stations while boring tunnels under the Singapore River between the Clarke Quay and Dhoby Ghaut stations.^[40] At the Outram Park station, an arched roof of cement-filled steel pipes was laid underneath the EWL tunnels to minimise movement.^[41] Jet-grout arches were used to support the North-South line (NSL) tunnels when explosives were used to remove rock while tunnelling from Clarke Quay to Dhoby Ghaut.^[42] Roads around the line had to be temporarily diverted for construction.^[43]

When the 16 stations were announced, Potong Pasir (then named Sennett), Woodleigh and Punggol were planned to be built as shell stations due to lack of development around the station sites.^[44] It was later decided to build these stations in full as it would have been more costly to wait until later to complete the stations from the structural shells.^[45] In 1998, the timeline for Punggol station was moved up because of planned housing developments in the area.^[46][47] The decision not to build Sennett station generated political controversy, however, with claims by residents and opposition MP Chiam See Tong that the station would only open if the ruling People's Action Par