railroad.wikisort.org - Station

Marina Bay MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the North South (NSL), Circle (CCL) and Thomson–East Coast (TEL) lines in Singapore. Located in the Downtown Core district near Marina Bay, the station serves the Marina One Residencies, Marina Bay Suites and the Marina Bay Financial Centre.

NS27  CE2  TE20  Marina Bay 滨海湾 மரீனா பே Marina Bay
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange and terminus
Exit A of Marina Bay station
General information
Location	21 Park Street Singapore 018925 (NSL)[1] 23 Park Street Singapore 018926 (CCL)[2] 25 Park Street Singapore 018929 (TEL)[3]
Coordinates	1°16′33.95″N 103°51′16.83″E
Owned by	Land Transport Authority
Operated by	SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)	North South Line   Circle Line   Thomson–East Coast Line
Platforms	6 (2 island platforms, 2 stacked platforms)
Tracks	6
Connections	Bus, taxi
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Platform levels	4
Bicycle facilities	Yes[4]
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	4 November 1989; 33 years ago (1989-11-04) (North South line) 14 January 2012; 10 years ago (2012-01-14) (Circle line) 13 November 2022; 7 days ago (2022-11-13) (Thomson–East Coast line)
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Marina South
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station Raffles Place towards Jurong East North South Line Marina South Pier Terminus Terminus Circle Line Stadium Shuttle Bayfront towards Stadium Prince Edward Road Clockwise / outer Circle Line Future service Bayfront Anticlockwise / inner Shenton Way towards Woodlands North Thomson–East Coast Line Gardens by the Bay Terminus Thomson–East Coast Line Future service Marina South towards Gardens by the Bay
Location
Marina Bay Marina Bay station in Singapore

Marina Bay station was one of the last stations to be completed in the early phases of the MRT network, opening on 4 November 1989. It was the terminus of the NSL until the line's extension to Marina South Pier station in 2014. The station became an interchange station with the CCL upon the completion of the two-station branch extension to this station from Promenade station in January 2012. The TEL station platforms were completed in November 2022 as part of TEL Stage 3, becoming another triple-line interchange on the MRT network.

The station features many forms of artwork as part of the MRT network's Art-in-Transit programme. An overhanging flower sculpture Flowers in Blossom II is displayed over the CCL mezzanine, the CCL platforms feature a series of photographs Train Rides on Rainy Days by Nah Yong En and the TEL station features a series of murals Walking Into The Interstitial by Tang Ling Nah.

History

North South Line

The station, then named Marina South, was included in the early plans of the MRT network published in May 1982.[5] The first confirmation that the station would be among the Phase I stations (from Ang Mo Kio to this station) came in November that year.[6][7] This segment was given priority as it passed through areas that had a higher demand for public transport, such as the densely populated housing estates of Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio and the Central Area. The line aimed to relieve the traffic congestion on the Thomson–Sembawang road corridor.[8][9]

Civil Contract 310 for the construction of the 900-metre (0.56 mi) cut-and-cover tunnels, as well as Marina Bay MRT station, was awarded to a joint venture between Gammon and Antara Koh at a value of S$96.16 million (US$44.16 million) in April 1986.[10][11] The main challenges of the construction include tunnelling underneath the Telok Ayer Basin and building the station and tunnels in soft soil. Due to the soft marine clay, open excavation was not possible. Divers had to cut the 20-metre (66 ft) trenches for the MRT tunnels in zero visibility and very muddy water. A concrete base for the tunnels was then laid with the water pumped out for the tunnels and the station to be built on. The tunnels were then covered with another layer of concrete before the seabed was refilled.[12][13] During the construction, a World War II-era bomb was found at the work site. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Bomb Disposal Unit was called and the bomb was safely detonated elsewhere.[14]

The station opened on 4 November 1989 and was the southern terminus of the North South line (NSL)[15] until the NSL extension to Marina South Pier station opened in 2014.[16] On 8 January 2006, this station was one of the four stations that participated in Exercise Northstar V.[17]

Circle Line

An extension of the Circle line (CCL) to this station was first announced in April 2007.[18] Contract 901 for the construction and completion of Marina Bay CCL station was awarded to Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure Pte. Ltd. for S$348.4 million (US$246.24 million) in February 2008.[19][20] The scope also included addition and alteration works to the existing NSL station, road diversions of the East Coast Parkway and Marina Street and the demolition of a vehicular underpass.[21] Construction of the station started in February 2008 and was completed on schedule by January 2012.[22]

During the construction, the entrance (Exit A) to the station had to be relocated for construction works for the Circle line station.[23] As announced on 28 November 2011,[22] the station opened on 14 January 2012 as part of the two-station, 2.4-kilometre (1.5 mi) extension from Promenade, with an opening ceremony the day before.[24][25][26]

On 17 January 2013, transport minister Lui Tuck Yew announced that the CCL would be extended from Marina Bay station to HarbourFront station as part of CCL Stage 6.[27] Contract 886 for the construction of cut and cover tunnels at Marina Bay Area between the Prince Edward and Marina Bay stations was awarded to Koh Brothers Building & Civil Engineering Contractor (Pte.) Ltd. at S$255.4 million (US$184.9 million) in September 2017. Construction began in 2017, and was expected to be completed by 2025.[28][29] However, with the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the completion date was pushed to 2026.[30]

Thomson–East Coast Line

Marina Bay station was first announced to interchange with the 22-station Thomson line (TSL) on 29 August 2012.[31][32] Contract T226 for the design and construction of Marina Bay TSL Station and associated tunnels was awarded to Taisei Corporation at S$425 million (US$335.4 million) in February 2014. Construction started in 2014, with an expected completion date in 2021.[33][34]

On 15 August 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that Marina Bay station would be part of the proposed Thomson–East Coast line (TEL). The station will be constructed as part of Phase 3, consisting of 13 stations between the Stevens and Gardens by the Bay stations.[35][36] Ground freezing was applied for the first time in Singapore rail construction when building the TEL stacked tunnels and platforms, where it crosses underneath the existing NSL and CCL tunnels.[37][38] This is due to the layers of weak and strong old alluvium, which does not allow effective ground treatment of the soil. The construction of tunnels also involved close monitoring of the existing tunnels, especially as the piles supporting the NSL tunnels have to be cut off for the link way and mined tunnels.[39]

With restrictions imposed on construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TEL3 completion date was pushed by a year to 2022.[40] On 9 March 2022, Transport Minister S. Iswaran announced in Parliament that TEL 3 would open in the second half of that year.[41] As announced during a visit by Transport Minister S. Iswaran at the Outram Park and Maxwell stations on 7 October 2022, the TEL station began operations on 13 November 2022.[42][43][44]

Details

Location

Marina Bay station is located near the eponymous Marina Bay underneath the junction of Bayfront Avenue and Park Street.[1][45] The station serves various developments, including Asia Square Towers 1 & 2, Marina One Residencies, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore Conference Hall and V on Shenton, as well as cultural landmarks such as Red Dot Museum, Shenton House and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.[46] The station is also within walking distance to Downtown station on the Downtown line.[47]

Services

Marina Bay station is an interchange station on the NSL, CCL and TEL. Its official station codes are NS27/CE2/TE20. On the NSL, the station is located between Raffles Place and Marina South Pier stations.[48] NSL trains operate every 2–5 minutes from approximately 6:00 am (6:25 am on Sundays and Public holidays) to 11.30 pm for both directions.[49][50] The station is the terminus of the CCL's Marina Bay branch; the adjacent station is Bayfront station.[48] Shuttle services from Stadium station terminate at Marina Bay during off-peak periods.[51] The shuttle service operates every of 5–7 minutes from 6:00 am (6:24 am on Sundays and Public holidays) to 11:25 pm.[50] The station is between the Shenton Way and Gardens by the Bay station on the TEL,[48] with headways of 5–6 minutes.[52]

Design

Marina Bay station on the NSL was among the first nine underground MRT stations designated as a Civil Defence (CD) shelter.[53] As such, the station is structurally reinforced against bomb attacks with layers of earth-backed, air-backed and airtight walls and slabs.[54][55]

Aedas and Quarry Bay designed the CCL station[56] around the concepts of visibility, integration and efficiency.[57] Consequently, the station's entrances are integrated with the park around it.[58] There are also provisions for a future underground pedestrian network, to be converted from a temporary maintenance facility near the station, as well as connections to future developments.[59][57] The tracks leading to the defunct facility were removed in June 2021.[60]

The translucent entrance canopy and the large entrance are intended to maximise the amount of natural light entering the station.[61] Only the lift, escalators, the lightweight ETFE canopy and the reflective pool are visible from street level; this reduces the station's aesthetic impact on the park's landscape while giving passengers a full view of the park from the station entrance. The reflective pool was also intended to provide a smooth transition between the exits and the park.[57]

The station's design won the Small Project Award at the World Architecture Festival in 2012.[57][62] The station received numerous other awards, such as the Land Transport Excellence Awards 2012 (as the Best Design Rail / Road Infrastructure – Project Partner),[63] the 2013 UIPT Asia-Pacific Grow with Public Transport Award[64] and an honourable mention for the Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Awards 2012.[65]

The station is wheelchair-accessible. The NSL station was built without accessible facilities, but it has been upgraded to include lifts, ramps and dedicated toilets for the disabled.[66] A tactile system, consisting of tiles with rounded or elongated raised studs, guides visually impaired commuters through the station,[67] with dedicated tactile routes connecting the station entrances to the platforms.[68] Wider fare gates allow wheelchair users to access the station more easily.[66][68] The TEL station also has green building features including inbuilt solar panels to minimise energy consumption.[69]

Artworks

Flowers in Blossom II

The sculpture Flowers in Blossom, by Tay Chee Toh, was originally hung underneath the dome of Orchard station.[70] Described as a "colourful twirl" of metal and plastic shapes,[71][72] the sculpture was disassembled after ION Orchard was constructed over Orchard station.[73] The recreated version, known as Flowers in Blossom II, is larger than the original version and was intended as a homage to the public artwork project predating the Art-in-Transit programme.[70]

August 9 babies

August 9 babies, a gallery of 50 photographs by Tay Kay Chin, was commissioned in advance of the 50th National Day, the anniversary of Singapore's founding.[74] The work originally contained 40 photographs as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Singapore's founding, answering Tay's personal question of what it means to be a Singaporean.[75][76] The 40 photographs were of Singaporeans born on National Day, and Tay wondered if people born on that day have a stronger sense of patriotism.[74]

With this background, the LTA approached him to update the collection of photographs for the country's 50th National Day.[74][75] Tay revisited some of the people he had photographed; he said the most rewarding part was how much they had changed since, especially regarding their aspirations and challenges in living in Singapore.[74][76] The work took inspiration from Brian Lanker's I Dream a World and Ron Kovic's Born on the Fourth of July, both a compilation of portraits.[75] The subjects of the expanded project were chosen based on their gender, ethnic and occupation, representing Singapore's diverse demographics.[76]

Train Rides on Rainy Days

Train Rides on Rainy Days by Nah Yong En is a series of fourteen raindrop pictures displayed at the CCL platform. One side is themed to greenery, while the other reflects 'blue evenings', contrasting with the orange pillars of the station.[77] The raindrops in each picture produce inverted images of the area depicted.[78] Intended to bring "a refreshing element of nature" into the underground station, the work represents scenes seen by commuters as they gaze out of the window from a train whenever it rains.[70]

Nah had originally used the photographs as guides for his own paintings displayed at his graduation ceremony. The LTA architect Andrew Mead then recommended to the Art Review Panel that the station use Nah's set of photos. According to Nah, the work came from his fascination with looking out of the trains' windows, which he said not many commuters do.[78] The photographs for this project were reshot in higher quality using a new camera that could capture the raindrop up close, allowing it to look sharp against the blurred background.[79] Nah's main issue was taking the pictures under the right lighting conditions. The buildings would appear dark under rainy clouds if his camera was exposed to the sky, but the sky would appear washed out if the buildings were shot under better lighting conditions. To obtain the appropriate balance of light, Nah took his images during the short period after rain stopped falling.[80]

These photographs were taken along the North South and East West lines.[80] Initially, Nah's two paintings at the graduation ceremony were to be displayed with his raindrop images. However, the Art Review Panel felt the paintings did not complement the photographs well, so they were replaced by two additional images.[77]

Walking Into The Interstitial

Walking Into The Interstitial by Tan Ling Nah is a collection of charcoal sketches scanned and printed on vitreous enamel panels.[70] The sketches depict various urban spaces, including book alleys and roofs. They were merged to form surrealistic murals with the trompe l’oeil effect, giving the impression of a larger space.[81] These scenes were derived from Shenton Way, Cecil Street and Raffles Place, thus connecting the old financial district of Shenton Way with the new financial district of Marina Bay.[70]

References

Bibliography

• Cheong, Colin (2012). The Circle Line: Linking All Lines (PDF). Singapore: Land Transport Authority. ISBN 978-981-4342-02-5. Retrieved 15 November 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
• Information portfolio. Singapore: Mass Rapid Transit Corporation. 1984.
• Mass Rapid Transit System: Proceedings of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Conference. Singapore: Mass Rapid Transit Corporation. 1987. ISBN 9971-84-636-5. OCLC 82363485.
• Zhuang, Justin (2013). Art in transit: Circle line MRT. Singapore: Land Transport Authority. ISBN 978-981-07-4982-8. OCLC 854958677.

External links

• Official website
• Media related to Marina Bay MRT Station at Wikimedia Commons

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