Residents of Taman Jurong are finally getting a direct MRT connection.
Four underground stations will be built under the third and final phase of the Cross Island Line, also known as CRL3.
The approximately 10km extension will run westwards from the future Jurong Lake District station to Gul Circle, serving Taman Jurong and several major industrial areas.
To be clear, all four stations will not be located inside Taman Jurong. One will directly serve the residential estate, while the remaining stations will continue through the Jurong industrial area.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the stations targeted to open by the late 2030s.
In other words, this is excellent news, but you probably should not start queueing at the gantry yet.
Where the Four New Stations Will Be Located
The first station, temporarily known as CR20, will be located along Jalan Terusan, near Jurong Lake Gardens and the Ayer Rajah Expressway.
It will serve residents living around Taman Jurong, including those at Yung Ho Spring I and the upcoming Taman Jurong Skyline Build-To-Order project. It will also provide access to Jurong Lake Gardens and St Andrew’s Nursing Home.
The next station, CR21, will be built along Jalan Buroh near Jurong Pier.
It will serve as a gateway to Jurong Island, although the station itself will not be located on the restricted island.
CR21 will also be an interchange with JS12 on the upcoming Jurong Region Line. Commuters will therefore be able to transfer between the two lines without travelling through Jurong East or Boon Lay.
CR22 will be located near the eastern end of Gul Circle. It will serve existing and future developments around the Benoi and Gul industrial areas.
The final station, CR23, will connect with the existing Gul Circle station on the East-West Line, turning it into another interchange.
CR20, CR21 and CR22 are temporary station codes. Their official names have not been announced.
Some Journeys Could Be Cut by Up to 50 Minutes
The extension is expected to make travelling between western Singapore and the northern or north-eastern parts of the island considerably faster.
A journey from Taman Jurong Skyline to Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 currently takes around 90 minutes by bus. With CRL3, it is projected to take about 45 minutes.
The trip from Sin Ming Gardens to Jurong Pier Road could fall from 90 minutes to 40 minutes, saving commuters 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, travelling from West Coast to Gul Circle could take approximately 35 minutes instead of the current 60 minutes.
The improved connections could also help companies in Jurong’s industrial estates recruit workers who presently face long journeys or rely on company shuttle buses.
Two of the Stations Will Be Interchanges
CRL3 will create two important connections with other train lines.
At CR21, passengers will be able to transfer to the Jurong Region Line. That line is being built to connect areas such as Tengah, Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay, Jurong East, Nanyang Technological University and Jurong Pier.
At Gul Circle, passengers can transfer to the East-West Line.
These interchanges will give commuters alternative routes when disruptions occur elsewhere on the rail network.
Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said 11 Cross Island Line stations will eventually function as interchanges, strengthening the resilience of Singapore’s MRT system.
Some Industrial Properties Will Be Acquired
The Government will fully acquire seven industrial properties to facilitate the construction of CRL3 and related road works.
Another eight industrial properties will be partially acquired.
According to the Land Transport Authority and Singapore Land Authority, the partial acquisitions will mainly affect features such as green verges and boundary fences.
The affected companies can continue operating and will not need to relocate. Structures affected by the works will be reinstated after construction is completed.
Noise and vibration impact studies will also be conducted before construction starts. The authorities said measures will be introduced to manage noise, dust, traffic and safety concerns.
A New Train and Bus Depot Will Also Be Built
A second Cross Island Line depot will be constructed at the former Raffles Country Club site.
The approximately 23ha depot will provide maintenance and stabling facilities for Cross Island Line trains.
It will be built together with a multi-storey bus depot containing parking, charging and maintenance facilities for public buses.
The Cross Island Line Will Eventually Stretch About 67km
Phase 1 of the Cross Island Line covers approximately 29km and comprises 12 stations. It is expected to be completed in 2030.
Phase 2 will add another six stations between Turf City and Jurong Lake District. It is targeted to open in 2032.
A separate four-station extension between Pasir Ris and Punggol is also expected to open in 2032.
Once every section is completed, the Cross Island Line will stretch approximately 67km, making it Singapore’s longest fully underground MRT line.
It is expected to carry at least 600,000 passengers per day during its initial years of operation, with daily ridership potentially reaching one million in the longer term.
