Light Rail Transit (Singapore)

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Light Rapid Transit (LRT)
轻轨列车系统
Sistem Rel Ringan
Locale Singapore
Transit type Light Rail
Began operation 6 November 1999
System length 28.8 km (17.9 mi)
Number of lines 3
Number of stations 33
Owner Land Transport Authority
Operator(s)
Light Rapid Transit

A Bombardier CX-100
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese: 輕軌列車系統
Simplified Chinese: 轻轨列车系统
Malay name
Malay: Sistem Rel Ringan
Tamil name
Tamil: Fill in
Current MRT/LRT map including Circle Line.
Current MRT/LRT map including Circle Line.

The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) (Simplified Chinese: 轻轨列车系统; Malay: Sistem Rel Ringan; Tamil: fill in) is the light rail component of Singapore's rail network, consisting of localised rail systems acting as feeder services to the Mass Rapid Transit network. The first LRT line was opened in 1999 and the system has since expanded to three lines, each serving a public housing estate.

The system is closer to an automated people mover system such as those found in many airports around the world than a traditional light rail system. All the lines are fully automated and elevated, and run on viaducts in order to save scarce land space in Singapore. A similar (though free-of-charge) system can be found in Miami, Florida in the United States; see Metromover (Miami-Dade Transit).

Note that while both the old and the new Singapore Changi Airport Skytrain people mover is similar to the LRT, they are not part of the LRT system.

Lines are constructed by the Land Transport Authority, with operating concessions currently handed to SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit.

Contents

[edit] The Light Rapid Transit Network

Bukit Panjang LRT
Between Choa Chu Kang and Senja
14 stations over 7.8 km, operated by SMRT Light Rail
Sengkang LRT
Both loops starts and ends at from Sengkang. East Loop: Between Compassvale and Ranggung, West Loop: Between Cheng Lim1 and Renjong
141 stations over 10.7 km, operated by SBS Transit
Punggol LRT
Both loops starts and ends at Punggol. East Loop: Between Cove and Damai2. West Loop: Between Sam Kee and Soo Teck3
152 stations over 10.3 km, operated by SBS Transit Note: 1. Include two completed stations on the West Loop (Cheng Lim and Kupang) but operationally postponed. 2. Include one completed station (Damai) but operationally postponed. 3. Punggol LRT West Loop is operationally postponed.

Network map of the Light Rapid Transit
Network map of the Light Rapid Transit

[edit] Lines

Exterior view of Senja Station, one of the stations on the Bukit Panjang LRT Line.
Exterior view of Senja Station, one of the stations on the Bukit Panjang LRT Line.
Platform view of Thanggam Station, along the West Loop of the Sengkang LRT Line.
Platform view of Thanggam Station, along the West Loop of the Sengkang LRT Line.

[edit] Bukit Panjang LRT

The Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit (BPLRT) is a 7.8 km light rail line opened in 1999 and part of Singapore's light rail system. It is currently operated by SMRT Light Rail, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation.

[edit] Sengkang LRT

The Sengkang Light Rapid Transit (SKLRT) is a 10.7 km light rail line which partly opened on 18 January 2003. It is currently operated by SBS Transit. It forms part of the Singapore Light Rapid Transit system together with the other two lines.

[edit] Punggol LRT

The Punggol Light Rapid Transit (PGLRT) is a light rail line in Singapore within the Singapore Light Rapid Transit system. Its first phase, which comprises a 10.3 km light rail line with 15 stations, began operating on 29 January 2005 (with the exception of Oasis, which was opened on 15 June 2007 and Damai LRT Stations). It is currently operated by SBS Transit.

[edit] Stations

Main article: List of Singapore LRT stations

The LRT network has 43 stations currently, but only 33 stations are currently in operation, as the stations' surroundings are not yet built up and will open at a later date. This includes, Cheng Lim and Kupang on the West loop of the Sengkang LRT Line; Damai stations on the Punggol LRT East Loop and the entire West Loop of the Punggol LRT Line.

[edit] Facilities

Since the Light Rapid Transit was built in the 1990s, plans for barrier-free facilities were included during the planning stages. All 43 stations are equipped with these facilities, thus there will be no difficulty for the handicapped. Barrier free facilities include, lifts, ramps, tactile guidance system, toilets with handicapped friendly facilities, all stations include wide faregates. These barrier free facilities will be included in all future LRT stations.

[edit] LRT rolling stock

A Bombardier CX-100 train at South View LRT Station, in its initial livery.
A Bombardier CX-100 train at South View LRT Station, in its initial livery.
A Crystal Mover train on the Punggol LRT system at Punggol Station in Singapore
A Crystal Mover train on the Punggol LRT system at Punggol Station in Singapore

The trains on the Light Rapid Transit are fitted with rubber tyres, rather than steel wheels, on specially-constructed guideways from which its power is also sourced. All cars are fully automated and driverless, and are controlled from their respective depots.

19 Bombardier CX-100s operate on the Bukit Panjang LRT. Capable of operating at a maximum speed of 55km/h, its pioneers can be traced to as early as 1990, when Westinghouse and Adtranz (acquired by Bombardier) co-operatively built the skytrain system for the Singapore Changi Airport with the same design. However, the Bombardier stock was fraught with unreliability and technical glitches. The CX-100 cars can be coupled to operate in pairs during peak hours.

The Mitsubishi Crystal Movers are the newer rolling stock of the Singapore Light Rapid Transit system, operating on the Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, it currently maintains a cleaner record of reliability. The Crystal Movers are now used on Singapore Changi Airport Skytrain system.

[edit] Depots

Sengkang Depot. The LRT trains are parked at the top level of the building.
Sengkang Depot. The LRT trains are parked at the top level of the building.

Every line on the Light Rapid Transit has one depot, which does the maintenance, inspection, train overhaul facilities and houses the cars overnight. The Ten Mile Junction Depot houses cars for Bukit Panjang LRT, and the Sengkang Depot houses cars for the Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT, together with the North East Line of the Mass Rapid Transit.

[edit] History

[edit] Conception

The concept of having rail lines which could bring people from door to door without requiring the use of road-clogging buses was much favoured by the government transport planners, especially with the increased emphasis on a rail-based public transport network. For intra town travel, LRTs were favoured over buses because trains run on dedicated elevated guideways, bypassing any traffic congestion and traffic lights on the roads, and does not add to road traffic. Train arrival and departure times are also almost guaranteed this way. It is also cleaner as the trains are electrically powered, and therefore lessens the effects of air pollution.

[edit] Opening of lines

The Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit opened on 6 November 1999, with all 14 stations opened at the same time.

The Sengkang Light Rapid Transit opened in two main stages, the East Loop opening first on 20 January 2003 and most of the West Loop on 29 January 2005. Farmway Station on the West Loop opened on 15 November 2007, but Cheng Lim and Kupang stations remain closed and will only be opened for passenger service when the areas surrounding these stations are further developed.

For the Punggol Light Rapid Transit, the East Loop opened on the same day as the Sengkang Light Rapid Transit's West Loop and Oasis was opened for service on 15 June 2007, after more residents moved into HDB flats in the station's vicinity.[1] Damai Station and the West Loop remain closed and will only be opened for passenger service when the station surroundings are further developed.

[edit] Future expansion

The Land Transport Authority has announced that unless there is a new township that is going to be heavily built up, there are currently no plans to expand the LRT network further. All plans to expand the LRT network, whose role can be fulfilled by feeder buses, have been put on hold.[2]

Past plans included a northern spur line for Punggol LRT, in addition to the current east and west loops. Another plan put on hold is the Jurong Region Line,[3] which was aimed to serve residents of Jurong East and West housing towns, and the campus of Nanyang Technological University (NTU).[4][5]

[edit] Fares and ticketing

Main article: Fares and ticketing on the Light Rapid Transit

The Light Rapid Transit uses the same ticketing system as the Mass Rapid Transit. It uses the contactless EZ-Link smart card and a standard single trip ticket. EZ-Link adult fares range from S$0.64 to S$0.84. Single trip ticket fares for adults on the LRT range from S$0.80 to S$1.00.

[edit] Safety

There were some incidents since the Light Rapid Transit's inception in 1999. Two Bombardier CX-100 trains collided head to back at Phoenix station in 2000, the Land Transport Authority fined SMRT S$10,000 for the collision. The Bukit Panjang LRT had the service disrupted at least more than 100 times. Again in 2002, a dislodged train wheel caused the entire shut down 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. This was partly why the Land Transport Authority awarded the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines management to rival SBS Transit and the train supplier to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Panoramic view showing the Sengkang LRT Line (SKLRT). Renjong LRT Station lies to the left, and the Sengkang Depot for the North East MRT Line (NEL) and SKLRT to the right. In the distant background lie Buangkok and Hougang New Town.
Panoramic view showing the Sengkang LRT Line (SKLRT). Renjong LRT Station lies to the left, and the Sengkang Depot for the North East MRT Line (NEL) and SKLRT to the right. In the distant background lie Buangkok and Hougang New Town.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Daphne Chuah, "This Oasis opens for business today", Today, 15 June 2007
  2. ^ "Groundwork begins for new MRT lines", Christoper Tan, The Straits Times, 13 March 2006
  3. ^ "Other Rail Projects", Land Transport Authority, Retrieved 12 April 2006
  4. ^ "Development Plans for Jurong West", Housing and Development Board, Retrieved 12 April 2006
  5. ^ SPEECH BY MR YEO CHEOW TONG MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF DOVER STATION ON 23 OCT 2001, TUESDAY, 3.00PM, Ministry of Transport
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[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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LRT stations in Singapore
Bukit Panjang LRT station
Sengkang
Punggol
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