North South MRT Line

NSL  North South MRT Line Laluan MRT Utara Selatan 南北地铁线 வடக்கு தெற்கு எம்ஆர்டி வழி
The North South Line is coloured red on system maps.
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Status	Operational Under Construction (Canberra)
Termini	Jurong East Marina South Pier
Stations	26 (excluding reserved station at Sungei Kadut and station under construction at Canberra)
Services	1
Operation
Opened	7 November 1987
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Operator(s)	SMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Character	Elevated (Jurong East - Ang Mo Kio) Subsurface (Bishan) Underground (Braddell - Marina South Pier)
Depot(s)	Bishan Ulu Pandan
Rolling stock	C151 C651 C751B C151A C151B C151C (Future)
Technical
Line length	44 km (27 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC Third rail
Operating speed	limit of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph)
Route map North South MRT Line  NS1  EW24  Jurong East ■ Pasir Ris  ■ Joo Koon Pan Island Expressway  NS2  Bukit Batok  NS3  Bukit Gombak   ■ Fajar  NS4  BP1  Choa Chu Kang Kranji Expressway  NS5  Yew Tee  NS7  Kranji Woodlands Flyover Bukit Timah Expressway  NS8  Marsiling  NS9  TE2  Woodlands ■ Sungei Bedok  ■ Woodlands North  NS10  Admiralty  NS11  Sembawang  NS12  Canberra  NS13  Yishun  NS14  Khatib Lentor Flyover Seletar Expressway  NS15  Yio Chu Kang  NS16  Ang Mo Kio Bishan Depot Kallang River ■ HarbourFront  ■ Dhoby Ghaut  NS17  CC15  Bishan  NS18  Braddell  NS19  Toa Payoh  NS20  Novena ■ Bukit Panjang  ■ Chinatown  NS21  DT11  Newton   ■ Woodlands North  NS22  TE14  Orchard ■ Sungei Bedok    NS23  Somerset ■ HarbourFront  ■ Punggol  NS24  NE6  CC1  Dhoby Ghaut  ■ HarbourFront      ■ Pasir Ris  NS25  EW13  City Hall Singapore River  NS26  EW14  Raffles Place ■ Joo Koon/Tuas Link    NS27  CE2  TE20  Marina Bay ■ HarbourFront  ■ Stadium ■ Woodlands North  ■ Sungei Bedok  NS28  Marina South Pier

The North South Line is coloured red in the MRT system map.

The North South Line (NSL) is the first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore which stretches from Jurong East (NS1) to Marina South Pier (NS28). The line is 44 kilometres (27 mi) long with 27 stations, including Canberra, which is under construction. 11 out of 27 stations are underground. ^[1] Travelling from one end of this line to the other end takes about one hour. The line is coloured red on the rail map.

The NSL running from Jurong East (NS1) in the West to Marina South Pier (NS28) in the South, via Woodlands (NS9) in the North, with station codes NS6 reserved for future use and NS12 for Canberra station. The line runs on elevated viaducts along more than half of its length, and goes underground within the Central Area (between Bishan and Marina South Pier) and along other short sections of its route.

Trains on the North South Line operate in a six-car formation, based out of Ulu Pandan and Bishan Depot. The rolling stock is also used on East West Line, which joins the North South Line at Jurong East and Raffles Place / City Hall.

Overview

As the name implies, the line connects central Singapore to both northern and southern parts of the island.

In the Southbound direction, the North South Line starts at Jurong East, where cross-platform interchange with the East West Line is possible. The line is elevated and passes through Choa Chu Kang, where it interchanges with the Bukit Panjang LRT, and Woodlands, where it will interchange with the Thomson-East Coast Line from 2019. Between Ang Mo Kio and Bishan stations, the North South Line descents into a subsurface structure and passes through Bishan, where it interchanges with the Circle Line.^[2]

Running on a mix of elevated viaducts, at-grade embankments, subsurface sections and underground tunnels, the line goes underground within the Central Area (between Bishan and Marina South Pier) to avoid building tracks at surface level^[3]. The North South Line interchanges with the Downtown Line at Newton. It then passes through Orchard at the western end of Orchard Road, where it will interchange the Thomson-East Coast Line from 2021. At the eastern end of Orchard Road, it interchanges with the North East Line and the Circle Line at Dhoby Ghaut. Cross-platform interchange with the East West Line is possible at City Hall and Raffles Place.

All southbound trains now terminate at Marina South Pier. Previously, majority of these trains still terminate at Marina Bay despite the opening of Marina South Pier, where one can transfer to the Circle Line, and from 2021, the Thomson-East Coast Line^[4].

History

First phase of development

Toa Payoh Station, the Oldest Station on the MRT Line and the Singapore MRT System

The North South line was the first MRT line in Singapore, with the first section from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh opening on 7 November 1987. Nine more stations from Novena to Outram Park followed on 12 December 1987, with through service onto what is today the East West Line. The northern terminal was extended to Yishun on 20 December 1988 when Yishun and Khatib stations opened. Separate operation of the North South and East West Lines only started on 4 November 1989, when the extension to Marina Bay was opened.

Second phase of development (Woodlands Extension)

Woodlands MRT Station

After the Branch Line opened in 1990, the Woodlands Extension MRT line was envisioned to close the gap between Yishun and Choa Chu Kang. During the initial planning of the line, Sembawang station was only intended as a provisional station to be built at a later date due to the underdevelopment of the town and Kranji station was not planned. But on the second round of planning, the government decided to build these stations and omit Sungei Kadut station from the plan. Sungei Kadut station will be built later if the town's population justifies the necessity for the station.^[5] With the completion of the Woodlands Extension in 1996, the Branch Line became part of the North South Line and ceased to exist.

Jurong East Modification Project (JEMP)

Jurong East MRT Station before the JEMP, at night

The Jurong East Modification Project consisted of the construction of a new platform and the addition of a fourth track to Jurong East Station.^[6] It has been in use since 27 May 2011.^[7] Originally it opened from 7am to 9am, this was expanded from 27 December 2011 and it also opens during the evening peak hour.^[8]

North South Line Extension (NSLe)

A 1-kilometre (0.6 mi), one station extension from Marina Bay to Marina South Pier station was opened on 23 November 2014, one year earlier than originally planned.^[9] The extension serves the Marina South Pier and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore in Marina Bay.

Canberra station

On 27 April 2015, construction started on Canberra Station (NS 12) which will be built along an operational section of the line and costing S$90 million.^[10] Similar to Dover Station, the station platform will be of an elevated side platform layout. Construction is expected to be completed by 2019 to serve the upcoming developments near the station.^[11]

Installation of half-height platform screen doors

After the government announced plans to install half-height platform screen doors on the above-ground stations in January 2008,^[12] they were first installed at Jurong East and Yishun stations in 2009 as trial runs.^[13] Subsequently, installation began in May 2011 at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station. By 14 March 2012, Kranji MRT Station was the last station to put the platform screen doors into operation.^[14]

Timeline of stations opened

• 7 November 1987: Yio Chu Kang – Toa Payoh (First section opened)
• 12 December 1987: Toa Payoh – Raffles Place
• 20 December 1988: Yio Chu Kang – Yishun
• 4 November 1989: Raffles Place – Marina Bay (start of separate North South Line & East West Line)
• 10 March 1990: Jurong East – Choa Chu Kang (initially operated as the Branch Line of the East West Line)
• 10 February 1996: Yishun – Choa Chu Kang (the former Branch Line became part of the present North South Line)
• 23 November 2014: Marina South Pier
• 2019: Canberra (Under Construction)

Improvement Works

Timber to concrete sleeper replacement works

Timber sleepers are designed to last 15 to 25 years, and they have to be replaced when they are near the end of their lifespan, or when they show signs of significant wear and tear. The new sleepers installed will allow trains to move along the tracks smoothly and without the current speed restrictions. In order to carry out works at night when trains are not operational, train services were ended earlier on the North South Line. The sleeper replacement work was divided into two phases: Phase 1 (Bishan-Admiralty) and Phase 2 (Admiralty-Jurong East), and were completed in April 2015. After the completion of sleeper replacement works, the last train timings reverted to the original timings before the replacement works.^[15]

Resignalling works

A new signalling system, supplied by Thales, will replace the current ageing signalling system on the North South Line. Upgrading works on the signalling system for NSEW Line will be completed in phases from 2016. Commuters on the North-South Line can expect shorter waiting times as the upgraded signalling system allows trains to run in shorter intervals.^[16] The new system is expected to be operational from mid-March 2017. MRT trains are also progressively being retrofitted with new equipment on board to be compatible with the new signalling system.

The new signalling system was tested in the evening of 28 March 2017, when train services were paused to facilitate the testing. Trials of the new system had been ongoing during off-service hours since August 2016.^[17] From 16 April 2017, the new system will commence full-day testing on Sundays for two months, along with the commencing of operations of the new C151B rolling stock on these testing days. ^[18] From 29 May 2017, the new signalling system will commence full-day operation on the North South Line.

The old signalling system will be retired in 2018. ^[19]

Third-rail replacement

Replacement works on the third rail, which provides electricity to the trains, are ongoing. A new third rail is being installed to replace the current one in use since 1987 and this will increase reliability of the electrical system.^[20]

Line disruptions

On 15 December 2011, services between Bishan and Marina Bay stations were suspended due to 40 metres of the power rail being damaged between City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut stations. Trains along the stretch were stalled, causing a disruption to the train service for almost 5 hours. Train service fully resumed at 11.40pm.^[21][22]

On 17 December 2011, a similar fault caused a 7-hour disruption between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations.^[23][24] According to SMRT, the disruption was caused by damage to the third rail and the trains' collector shoes. Seven trains were damaged in this incident.^[25]

These two service disruptions on the North-South Line were the second worst ever since SMRT started operation for 24 years since 1987.^[26]

On July 7, 2015, the NSEWL was shut down due to massive power trips detected along the two lines. This was the worst breakdown in history after the December 2011 issue. Investigations have been completed and the cause has been narrowed down to damaged insulators which failed to supply power properly.^[27]

Stations

Station Number	Station Name	Image	Interchange/Notes
NS1  EW24	Jurong East		Cross-Platform Interchange with the  EWL  East West Line
NS2	Bukit Batok
NS3	Bukit Gombak
NS4  BP1	Choa Chu Kang		Interchange with the  BPLRT  Bukit Panjang LRT
NS5	Yew Tee
NS6	Reserved Station		(reserved for future use)
NS7	Kranji
NS8	Marsiling
NS9  TE2	Woodlands		Interchange with the  TEL  Thomson-East Coast Line (2019)
NS10	Admiralty
NS11	Sembawang
NS12	Canberra		One of the two stations on the NSL with side platforms Station added on operational line (under construction/opening in 2019)
NS13	Yishun
NS14	Khatib
NS15	Yio Chu Kang
NS16	Ang Mo Kio
NS17  CC15	Bishan		Interchange with the  CCL  Circle Line
NS18	Braddell		One of the two stations on the NSL with side platforms
NS19	Toa Payoh
NS20	Novena
NS21  DT11	Newton		Interchange with the  DTL  Downtown Line
NS22  TE14	Orchard		Interchange with the  TEL  Thomson-East Coast Line (2021)
NS23	Somerset
NS24  NE6  CC1	Dhoby Ghaut		Interchange with the  NEL  North East Line and the  CCL  Circle Line
NS25  EW13	City Hall		Cross-Platform Interchange with the  EWL  East West Line Out of system transfer to the Circle Line at  CC3  Esplanade
NS26  EW14	Raffles Place		Cross-Platform Interchange with the  EWL  East West Line
NS27  CE2  TE20	Marina Bay		Interchange with the  CCL  Circle Line and the  TEL  Thomson-East Coast Line (2021)
NS28	Marina South Pier

The North South Line's numbering scheme reserves station code " NS6 " between  NS5  Yew Tee and  NS7  Kranji for future use.

Previously, southbound North-South Line trains starting from Jurong East will alternate their terminus between  NS27  CE2  TE20  Marina Bay and  NS28  Marina South Pier where out of 4 trains, 3 trains will terminate at the former and final train at the latter despite the opening of Marina South Pier station. This restriction however, was removed due to the new signalling system. All southbound trains now terminate at Marina South Pier at all occasions.

Rolling stock

From Left- 2 Siemens C651 trains and 2 Kawasaki C751B trains at Ulu Pandan Depot

Trains operating on the line are the C151s, C651s, C751Bs, C151As and C151Bs. These trains operate from the Bishan Depot which serves maintenance and train overhaul facilities along the North South Line and Ulu Pandan Depot along the East West Line. The trains can also crossover to the East West Line as both the North South Line and East West Line are built as one system operating two different lines at both Jurong East and Raffles Place.

Train control

Half-Platform Screen Doors in Ang Mo Kio Station

The new signalling system by Thales is currently undergoing full-time tests and is expected to be fully deployed later in 2017. Meanwhile, the old signalling system by Westinghouse will serve as a backup for the new system.

The North South Line is currently equipped with Thales SelTrac® Communications-based train control (CBTC) moving block signalling system^[28] with Automatic train control (ATC) under Automatic train operation (ATO) GoA 3 (DTO)^[29]. The subsystems consist of Automatic train protection (ATP) to govern train speed, NetTrac MT Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) to track and schedule trains and a Computer-based interlocking (CBI) system that prevents incorrect signal and track points to be set.^[30]

The old signalling system was overlaid during resignalling in 2017 but is still able to operate. The old signalling system consists of Westinghouse fixed block signalling system with Automatic train control (ATC) under Automatic train operation (ATO) GoA 2 (STO). The subsystems consist of Automatic train protection (ATP) to govern train speed, Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) to track and schedule trains and a Relay interlocking system that prevents incorrect signal and track points to be set.

Automatic full-height platform screen doors by Westinghouse were originally installed in all underground stations since opening, and half-height platform screen gates by ST Electronics were installed at a later date on elevated stations.

References

External links

• North South Line

Rail transport in Singapore
Overview	History Nicoll Highway collapse Major disruptions Stations Fares and ticketing EZ-Link NETS FlashPay CEPAS Facilities STARiS Safety Security Public Transport Security Command
MRT Lines	Current  NSL  North South  EWL  East West  NEL  North East  CCL  Circle  DTL  Downtown Under construction  TEL  Thomson-East Coast Future  JRL  Jurong Region  CRL  Cross Island Defunct  B  Branch
LRT Lines	Current  BPLRT  Bukit Panjang  SKLRT  Sengkang  PGLRT  Punggol
Other Lines	Current Sentosa Express Changi Airport Skytrain Defunct Jurong Bird Park Panorail Sentosa Monorail
Rolling stock	Current (MRT) C151 C151A C151B C651 C751A C751B C751C C830 C830C C951/C951A Current (LRT) C801 C801A C810 C810A Other Lines Hitachi Monorail Crystal Mover Future CT251 C151C Withdrawn Adtranz C-100
Depots	Current Bishan Changi Gali Batu Kim Chuan Sengkang Ulu Pandan Ten Mile Junction Tuas Under construction Tai Seng Facility Building Mandai East Coast
Companies	ComfortDelGro SBS Transit SMRT Corporation SMRT Trains

Railway lines in Singapore
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)	NSL  North South  EWL  East West  NEL  North East  CCL  Circle  DTL  Downtown  TEL  Thomson-East Coast  JRL  Jurong Region  CRL  Cross Island
Light Rail Transit (LRT)	BPLRT  Bukit Panjang  SKLRT  Sengkang  PGLRT  Punggol
International	Intercity North-South KTM Singapore-Johor RTS Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High Speed Rail
Other lines	Changi Airport Skytrain CAAS Sentosa Express SDC
Defunct lines	Jurong BirdPark Panorail WRS Sentosa Monorail SDC
Operators are denoted in brackets, planned or under construction lines in italics

Urban Rail Transit in Southeast Asia
Indonesia	Jabodetabek Commuter Line Jakarta MRT  M1   M2  Jakarta LRT  L1   L2   L3  Palembang LRT  L1  Surabaya Commuter Line Kualanamu Railink Soekarno–Hatta Raillink Halim Perdanakusuma Raillink Minangkabau Railink Adisumarmo Railink Jakarta–Bandung HSR
Malaysia	KTM Komuter  1   2   10  KTM Komuter Northern  1   2  Rapid Rail  3   4   5   8   9  Express Rail Link  6   7   ETS  KTM ETS  12  MRT Sungai Buloh–Serdang–Putrajaya Line  11  LRT Bandar Utama–Klang Line  13  MRT Circle Line  HSR  Kuala Lumpur–Singapore HSR  ECR  East Coast Rail Line  RTS  Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS  14  Putrajaya Monorail Penang Rapid Transit Bayan Lepas LRT
Myanmar	Yangon Circular Railway
Philippines	Manila LRT  LRT1   LRT2   LRT4   LRT6  Manila MRT  MRT3   MRT7  Mega Manila Subway  PNR  PNR Metro South Commuter Line North South Commuter Rail
Singapore	Singapore MRT  NSL   EWL   NEL   CCL   DTL   TEL   JRL   CRL  Singapore LRT  BPLRT   SKLRT   PGLRT   HSR Kuala Lumpur–Singapore HSR  RTS Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS
Thailand	Bangkok Mass Transit BTS  BTS   BTS  MRT  MRT   MRT   MRT   MRL   MRL  BMA  MRL   MRL   MRL  SRT SRTET  ARL  SRT Red Lines  SRT   SRT  SRT Commuter      Lopburi Line      Kaeng Khoi Line      Prachinburi Line      Ratchaburi Line      Suphan Buri Line SRT High Speed Railways Bangkok–Chiang Mai Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima Bangkok–Hua Hin Bangkok–Rayong Khon Kaen LRT
Vietnam	Hanoi Metro  1   2   2A   3   4   5   6   7   8   M1   M2   M3  Ho Chi Minh City Metro  1   2   3   4   5   6
Note: Under construction & planned lines are in Italics