TEL4: Revolutionising East-Singapore Connectivity with 7 New MRT Stations in 2024
Here’s a piece of exciting news to TEL you! The sixth MRT line in Singapore, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), is set to welcome its fourth stage (TEL4) ahead of its predicted completion in 2025.
The fourth stage will introduce 7 new stations:
– Tanjong Rhu
– Katong Park
– Tanjong Katong
– Marine Parade
– Marine Terrace
– Siglap
– Bayshore
Are any of these stations conveniently located near you?
An Overview of TEL’s Progress
The TEL, a fully underground and driverless MRT line, serves as an alternative for people travelling North-South who currently lack easy access to MRT stations.
A significant benefit of the TEL has been the reduction in travel time—35 minutes from Woodlands South to Orchard, compared to the previous 50-minute journey by bus and MRT.
Initially announced in 2008 as the Thomson Line and in 2011 as the Eastern Region Line, these two lines were merged in 2014 to form what we know today as the TEL.
Here’s a brief overview of the TEL’s stages and their openings:
TEL 1: Woodlands to North-South Line
– Date Opened: 31 Jan 2020
– Stations: Woodlands North, Woodlands, Woodlands South
– Interchange: Woodlands (NSL)
TEL 2: Connecting Thomson
– Date Opened: 28 August 2021
– Stations: Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson, Caldecott
– Interchange: Caldecott (CCL)
TEL 3: Direct Access to CBD and Marina Bay
– Date Opened: 13 November 2022
– Stations: Stevens, Napier, Orchard Boulevard, Orchard, Great World, Havelock, Outram Park, Maxwell, Shenton Way, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay
– Interchanges: Stevens (DTL), Orchard (NSL), Outram Park (EWL & NEL), Marina Bay (NSL & CCL)
TEL 4: Journey To The East
– Date Set to Open: First Half of 2024
– Stations: Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, Siglap, Bayshore, *Founder’s Memorial
*Founder’s Memorial station will open in conjunction with the Founder’s Memorial in the future. It is located between Gardens by the Bay station and the new Tanjong Rhu station.
TEL 5
– Date Set to Open: 2025 (if no delays, let’s pray)
– Stations: Bedok South, Sungei Bedok
TEL Extension (as announced in Land Transport Master Plan 2040)
– Stations: Changi Airport Terminal 5, Changi Airport, Expo, Tanah Merah
East Residents to Rejoice
A Facebook post by the Land Transport Authority in July 2023 suggested that TEL4 should “bring a smile” to those living in the East, offering direct connectivity to the city centre.
This long-awaited connectivity means, for some, the convenience of walking to a nearby station, a luxury previously unavailable to many, especially in the East.
With TEL2 and TEL3, stations in the Thomson and downtown regions were opened.
The upcoming TEL4, scheduled for this year, and TEL5, slated for next year, will notably benefit East residents.
A key connection will be from Tanjong Rhu station in TEL4 to the existing Gardens by the Bay station in TEL3.
Currently, while bus services like numbers 196 and 158 service areas near these two points, the journey between them takes almost an hour.
With TEL4’s new stations, we anticipate a significantly smoother and faster journey.
Imagine reducing travel time by almost fivefold.
It means finally leaving the car at home and opting for a faster train ride, without the hassle of finding downtown parking.
For the curious, here are the locations of the TEL stations for your reference.
Not Going to Open Before CNY; Ensuring Rigorous Checks
In an interview with Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, as reported by Shin Min Daily News, he mentioned the authorities’ aim to open the stations early, provided any arising issues are resolved.
Thus, it’s unlikely that the East-downtown connectivity will be available for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
As per the Straits Times, experts indicate that train testing typically takes three to six months.
Mr Chee stated that testing could take at least three months, depending on potential issues.
Recall that signalling problems delayed the TEL2 launch in 2021 by three months.
We hope for no further delays in TEL4, as it represents a crucial connection for East residents.
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