Bukit Panjang LRT Line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bukit Panjang LRT Train, with its updated livery.

Senja LRT Station.

Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit is a 7.8 km light rail line opened in 1999 and part of Singapore's light rail system. It is fully automated, and the project was contracted to Adtranz, Keppel Corporation and Gammon Construction. The line uses the CX-100 rolling stock supplied by Bombardier, and is similar to the ones used in the Singapore Changi Airport's peoplemover service during the 90s'. It is currently operated by SMRT Light Rail, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation. A complete loop joruney on the line (excluding Ten Mile Junction Station) takes 28 minutes and all stations, except Choa Chu Kang and Ten Mile Junction Stations have two side platforms, like Dover and Fernvale Stations.

1 Issues
2 Stations
3 Service
4 External links

[edit] Issues

The operation of the Bukit Panjang LRT has experienced several problems. Software glitches during initial running means that there were constant delays in service, and were sometimes severe. There have been two serious accidents since its opening:

In 2000, two LRT trains crashed head-to-back at Phoenix Station causing minor injuries. The operator was fined S$10,000.
In 2002, a dislodged train wheel caused the entire shutdown of the system for a few days, as it crippled the power system and the rail at the incident was damaged and had to be repaired.

There have also been over fifty disruptions in service, the most recent being on 12 May 2004. The poor operation was partly why the operation of the Sengkang LRT Line and Punggol LRT Line were awarded to rival company SBS Transit and rival manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Most of the problems have been addressed and ironed out since.

The Bukit Panjang LRT has been operating at a loss for the past five years. This has raised complaints from the public who argue that the system is a white elephant (as some do about the North East MRT Line).

It was also reported that residents were unhappy with the withdrawal of feeder bus services operating in the area since the opening of the Bukit Panjang LRT, and were further aggravated by the unreliability of the service. After lobbying to Members of the Parliament, some services were partially restored.

[edit] Stations

Working map of the whole Bukit Panjang Light-Rail Transit (LRT) Line

BP1 Choa Chu Kang (Transfer to North South MRT Line is available)
BP2 South View
BP3 Keat Hong
BP4 Teck Whye
BP5 Phoenix
BP6 Bukit Panjang
BP7 Petir
BP8 Pending
BP9 Bangkit
BP10 Fajar
BP11 Segar
BP12 Jelapang
BP13 Senja
BP14 Ten Mile Junction (shuttle station)

[edit] Service

There are three services operating along the Bukit Panjang Line. Trains designated on Service A will ply the outer loop (clockwise) via Senja first whereas trains designated on Service B will ply the inner loop (anti-clockwise) via Petir first. Service C runs between Bukit Panjang and Ten Mile Junction. The service frequency for Service C is 30 minutes.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bukit Panjang Lightrail

[edit] External links

SMRT Homepage

v • d • e LRT stations in Singapore
Bukit Panjang	Choa Chu Kang \| South View \| Keat Hong \| Teck Whye \| Phoenix \| Bukit Panjang \| Petir \| Pending \| Bangkit \| Fajar \| Segar \| Jelapang \| Senja \| Ten Mile Junction
Sengkang	Sengkang \| Compassvale \| Rumbia \| Bakau \| Kangkar \| Ranggung \| Cheng Lim \| Farmway \| Kupang \| Thanggam \| Fernvale \| Layar \| Tongkang \| Renjong
Punggol	Punggol \| Cove \| Meridian \| Coral Edge \| Riviera \| Kadaloor \| Oasis \| Damai \| Sam Kee \| Teck Lee \| Punggol Point \| Samudera \| Nibong \| Sumang \| Soo Teck