Jurong East MRT Station To Have Security Screening Exercise on 5 Apr; Commuters Advised To Add Time To Travel


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Last Updated on 2019-03-25 , 3:03 pm

This is the map of Singapore’s MRT infrastructure.

To be honest, it’s pretty darned comprehensive, seeing as to how it all came about only as recently as 1987.

Image: TransitLink

Nestled in the far corner of the West, Jurong East station serves as an interchange between the North-South Line (NSL) and the East-West Line (EWL), which were the first two lines when our MRT came online in 1987.

Jurong East Station is also known for the pervasive smoky, sometimes chocolaty, sometimes unidentifiable enigmatic smell that pervades the entire station.

Image: Gifer

No, it’s not like the pee-smell-that-recently assailed Yishun and Punggolrather a mishmash of scent that is potentially emitted from nearby complexes.

Don’t believe me?

Just take a trip down there and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Security Screening at Jurong East Station on 5 April

This 5th of April though, be prepared for some X-Ray Machines, robots and security personals in and around the station.

No, you didn’t read wrong.

And fret not, this isn’t some doomsday scenario.

It’s just that “as part of a regular emergency preparedness exercise, called Exercise Station Guard”, both Land Transport Authority (LTA) and train operator SMRT will be conducting a series of security screening at the station.

The exercise is slated to happen from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (yeah, at least it’s not during the peak hours).

What’s going to happen?

According to this ST report, “all commuters entering the station that day will be directed towards the gates on the concourse level after exit A for security screening.”

This is where some commuters may be asked to go through security screening which includes the use of metal detectors and/or having their belongings scanned by X-ray machines.

There will also be new security equipment on trial.


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How exciting new things are, right?

Additional Travelling Time

As a result of this exercise, LTA and SMRT have jointly requested that commuters factor in additional time for their travel.

Bulky items may also require more time for screening and commuters are advised not to bring them along.

Exercise Station Guard

Lest you are unaware, Exercise Station Guard has been in place since February 2018.

According to the LTA, this series of exercise serves to “validate their security measures, contingency plans and operational readiness at public transport nodes during heightened security situations” and is “part of the national SGSecure movement to strengthen security in public places and build resilience in the community against security threats” according to ST.


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If you can recall, similar exercises have been conducted at Holland Village station (Circle Line), Newton station (Downtown Line) and at Hougang station (North-East Line).

These exercises and movement will also serve to increase “public awareness of the security threats facing Singapore and familiarise commuters with how they should respond in the event of an emergency.”

And, erm, don’t worry: no mob manning for NSmen for this exercise.