Changi Airport MRT Station

Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2) was opened on 8 February 2002 by the then Minister for Transport, Mr Yeo Cheow Tong as one of the terminal Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations for the East West Line, and located in between Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. This is one of the three MRT stations that have fare gates on the same level as the platform. The two other MRT stations which have this feature are Expo lift concourse and Bishan Exit E (south-bound train platform). Sentosa of Sentosa Express also has fare gates on the same level as the platform, but it is not included in the MRT system.

The station is the easternmost station on the MRT network and has the widest platforms in any underground MRT station in Singapore. It is rated 10 out of 15 most beautiful subway stops in the world in 2011.

History
Changi Airport had been operating since its opening in 1981 with no rail link and with full reliance on taxi and bus connections, proven effective given the short 20 kilometre distance to the city via the East Coast Parkway and their relative affordability. Public buses also provide cheap express trips to the city, and link commuters to the MRT network at Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris. There was thus no pressing need to build the rail line despite regional competition, and was only given the green light when the Singapore Expo was built along the line and helping to add potential traffic.

Since the station's opening, passenger traffic has been moderate, as most bus routes were maintained and continue to be a popular means of cheap, direct transport for local airport/airline employees, as well as travellers not living along the East West Line. Many air travellers also prefer to continue taking taxis or private transport as the MRT service does not provide for convenient luggage storage beyond Tanah Merah, and they have to contend with the commuting crowd especially during peak hours. Thus primary users of the station are usually confined to airport/airline employees, leisure visitors, well-wishers, and budget air travellers, in particular backpackers. Most passengers on weekends use the station merely as a transfer point from Expo to the bus terminal.

Initially operated as a shuttle service, through services from Boon Lay were commenced after the full opening, but the service was reverted into shuttle mode from July 22, 2003.

The initial numbering of the station was EW29, but was changed on 1 November 2003 to CG2. The same numbering is now used for Joo Koon.

Plans
Provision had long been made for a new line branching off from the existing East West Line at the Tanah Merah, with some conceptual plans showing a tentative route alignment up to the airport along Airport Boulevard, continuing beyond the airport to Changi Point, before turning southwest back towards the city along the east coast of the island. When the extension to the airport was finally announced, however, the route alignment showed a deviation from previous plans.

The final plan involved building only the first two stations, namely Expo, an elevated station directly adjacent to the Singapore Expo, and the Changi Airport station, an underground station built between Terminal 2 and the new Terminal 3. The alignment of the station at the airport has been switched perpendicularly to an east-west direction, such that the station leads to two of the terminals directly from either end of the station.