From east side to JB: 3 new MRT stations, including Sungei Bedok, to open on Dec 26
New stations will improve rail connectivity and provide faster and more convenient journeys for commuters, especially those living and working along the East Coast corridor
TE31/DT37 Sungei Bedok Station is an underground interchange connecting the Thomson-East Coast Line and Downtown Line, making it the second TEL-DTL interchange after Stevens. As the eastern terminus of both lines upon opening, the station will provide commuters with seamless transfers and greater connectivity across the rail network.
Three new MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and Downtown Line (DTL) — Bedok South, Sungei Bedok and Xilin — will open for passenger service on Dec 26.
The first two stations are part of the TEL stage 5 (TEL5), while Xilin MRT station is part of the Downtown Line 3 Extension (DTL3e).
"These new stations will stitch together two major train corridors, give commuters in the East new routes, and faster journeys," said Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow at the Singapore Urban Mobility Week on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Illustrating this, Siow pointed out that residents in the eastern region will be able to take the TEL continuously into the city centre, up north to Woodlands, and soon, conveniently across the Johor Strait into Malaysia.
The three new stations — Bedok South, Sungei Bedok and Xilin — sit between Expo and Bayshore stations. GRAPHIC: Land Transport Authority
The new stations are also expected to enhance access to employment nodes such as Changi Business Park and Tampines Regional Centre.
Meanwhile, Sungei Bedok interchange will also enable commuters to transfer between the TEL and DTL , providing more travel options and strengthening the resilience of our rail network.
Travel time savings
LTA said that the opening of TEL5 will put over 240,000 households within a 10-minute walk of a TEL station, while the opening of DTL3e will see 220,000 households within a 10-minute walk of a DTL station.
It projected savings of between 10 and 25 minutes for commuters travelling between the eastern region and other parts of Singapore.
The agency gave the example of commuters travelling from Havelock to Changi Business Park via TEL and DTL, which would take around 45 minutes, as compared to the present 70 minutes.
Those travelling from Marine Parade to Tampines via TEL and DTL can also expect time savings of up to 10 minutes compared to today.
Estimated travel time savings for commuters following the opening of Bedok South, Sungei Bedok and Xilin stations. TABLE: Land Transport Authority
The upcoming opening of the TEL stations also completes the line's five-stage planned opening, with 29 operational stations over 42.8km.
When the future Changi Terminal 5 extension is completed in the mid-2030s, the TEL is expected to serve about one million daily commuters.
The opening of Sungei Bedok interchange and Xilin station, connecting the north-western and eastern parts of the island through the city centre, will extend the line to over 44.6km and 37 operational stations.
