Expo MRT Station

Expo MRT Station (CG1/DT35) was opened on 10 January 2001, and is part of the Changi Airport Branch Line (CAL) to the existing East West Line. It sports a space age architecture designed by world renowned architect Sir Norman Foster. The roof is clad in titanium, steel, and glass, and its design enabled the platform to be columns-free and invoking a sense of spaciousness. This design is also functional in that it handles human traffic which deviates significantly on a daily basis due to its proximity to the Singapore Expo, where human traffic is dependent on the timing of events held. The large space is thus needed to facilitate smooth traffic flow.

The section of underground track between this station and Changi Airport is the longest underground track between any two MRT stations in Singapore.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that this station will be an interchange with the future Downtown Line. When this station is ready, it would be the third station in Singapore that serves both an above ground line and an underground line after Paya Lebar and Buona Vista.



Architecture
The station's shell-shaped roof is derived from the section of a torus, as the eventual shape of the roof resembles a cylindrical cut perpendicular to the torus, while the shell roof is supported by two pairs of "Y" shaped twin columns separated by a 70 metre span in between. These columns are unique in that they are built outside the station platform and behind the train tracks.

Another distinctive feature is the large disc situated at the top of the glass elevator shaft, as seen in the photo on the right. The disc overhangs and terminates one end of the toroidal curved roof form, and contains an elevator shaft for the usage of the handicapped or needy. Its unusual shape lead some people to comment that it looked like a spaceship or UFO. This unique disc is the first of its kind in Singapore, although it was also used for the New Supreme Court building in downtown Singapore, which was opened in 2006.

History
Train services to Expo station were initially operated as a 2-station shuttle service from Tanah Merah when the station first opened and it was first denoted by code E13 for a short while until the MRT map was revamped in 2001. It was then converted to a through service from Boon Lay Station when the other station on the Changi Extension, Changi Airport, opened. However, to cut costs due to ridership falling below expectations, the service was reverted into shuttle mode on 22 July 2003.

The initial numbering of this station was EW28, until 20 June 2003 when it was changed to CG1. The same numbering is now used for Pioneer.

The station has a high passenger traffic whenever there are major events occurring in the Singapore Expo. The recent expansion of Singapore Expo helped increase the passenger traffic in the station. However, traffic is still rather low at certain times of the year when there are not many events held. However, this will change in the 4th quarter of 2011 when a new shopping mall called Changi City Point opens at the south of the station and linked to the station by an underpass, bringing more crowds to the station.

As with most of the above-ground stations built in the past along the East West Line, it was built without platform screen doors that prevent commuters from falling onto the train tracks. Installation of the half-height screen doors started on 20 June 2011 as the last station of the East West Line. On 31 August 2011, all of the screen doors have been installed and began operating, marking the completion of the installation of all the Platform Screen Doors along the East West Line. However on 2014 February 1, an elderly man was hit by a train which is believed to have access to the track by climbing over the platform screen door and currently being treated in the hospital as the victim suffers from multiple injuries.

On 28 November 2011, LTA marked the start of construction of Downtown Line 3 (DTL3) with a groundbreaking ceremony at this station.

2014 accident
A 70-year-old man was found unconscious and with multiple cuts on his body close to the elevated train tracks between the Tanah Merah and Expo MRT stations on Feb 1 2014. SMRT said the man was not hit by any train.

High volume, low speed (HVLS) fans
Station is installed with MJ Air Tech High Volume, Low Speed (HVLS) Pro-Jet fans and started operations on 27 September 2012.