In the next two construction phases, the Cross Island Line might add 11 new stations. Before reaching the terminus at Tuas, the line will pass through and serve the areas of Bukit Timah, Clementi, and West Coast.
The tentative plans for the western section of the Cross Island Line also indicate that four of the proposed stations will be interchanges, connecting with existing or upcoming MRT lines.
According to the MRT system map recently published online by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as part of a virtual exhibition, these four interchange stations are expected to be located at King Albert Park, Clementi, Jurong Pier, and Gul Circle.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned map also shows the proposed routes for the second and third phases of the Cross Island Line, but the other seven stations along these proposed routes have not yet been named.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the LTA stated that the station alignments for the remaining two phases of the Cross Island Line shown on the MRT system map are “conceptual alignments” and have not been finalized.
The LTA added that the interchange stations shown on the map are also indicative, and detailed engineering studies are required for specific planning, considering factors such as land availability and ground conditions.
Based on the map seen by The Straits Times, the 50km western leg of the Cross Island Line will start from Bright Hill station in Sin Ming and connect with King Albert Park station on the Downtown Line, Clementi station on the East-West Line, and Jurong Pier station on the upcoming Jurong Region Line. The line will terminate at Gul Circle station, reconnecting with the East-West Line.
According to the map, a new terminal station will also be built at the eastern end of the Cross Island Line. This station may be located at the future Changi Airport Terminal 5 and could also be an interchange connecting with the future Thomson-East Coast Line.
Construction for the first phase of the Cross Island Line has officially begun, with work underway at 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill.
This 29km stretch will serve residential and industrial areas in places such as Loyang, Tampines, Pasir Ris, Defu, and Serangoon North.
It is expected to be completed in 2030.
A spur line of the Cross Island Line will also extend from Pasir Ris to Punggol.
Announced last year, this four-station extension will benefit more than 40,000 households when it becomes operational in 2032.
National University of Singapore transport infrastructure expert Raymond Ong said the western leg of the Cross Island Line will make the MRT system more resilient, as the proposed line will provide an alternative for commuters using the western part of the East-West Line and the Circle Line.
He noted that there are currently no parallel MRT routes for these sections. The Cross Island Line will also help to shorten commuting times between the western part of Singapore and areas like Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, and Sengkang by providing more direct connections.
He added that before finalizing the routes and locations of future stations, the authorities need to check if there is space to accommodate the necessary infrastructure. They also need to consider if there will be sufficient demand, which must align with the long-term plans for the station and its surrounding areas.
From an engineering perspective, the authorities also need to study the soil behavior around the proposed MRT lines and stations to determine the engineering measures and funding required.
Raymond Ong said: “Planning and building an MRT line is not a simple matter. We must consider the developments that will happen around the stations. This is especially important when we talk about built-up areas.”
In 2013, the LTA first announced in its master plan that the Cross Island Line would be Singapore’s eighth MRT line, and it is expected to alleviate crowding on the existing East-West and North-East Lines.
The LTA said the entire Cross Island Line connects major hubs, including the future Jurong Lake District and Punggol Digital District. Initially, it is projected to have a daily ridership of over 600,000, which will increase to over one million in the long term.
The Cross Island Line will span the entire island of Singapore, from Changi to Tuas, and will be the longest fully underground MRT line in the country. At the same time, it will have the most interchanges, with nearly half of its stations expected to serve as interchanges with other lines.
During the early planning stages of the Cross Island Line, a major issue was whether the section between Bright Hill station and the western part of the line would run directly under the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Nature groups concerned about the potential environmental impact had suggested building the line along Lornie Road to bypass the nature reserve. However, after a two-phase environmental impact assessment of both alignment options, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) decided in late 2019 that the 2km-long MRT tunnel would run directly under Singapore’s largest nature reserve at a depth of 70m, making it the deepest MRT tunnel. This direct route is expected to reduce construction costs by about S$2 billion.
The MOT had said at the time that compared to the skirting alignment option, the direct route would also lead to lower fares and a six-minute reduction in commuting time.
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