Bencoolen MRT Station (DT21) is an underground Mass Rapid Transit station on the Downtown Line Stage 3 in Singapore. Located under Bencoolen Street, the station will serve the nearby Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore Management University, School of the Arts and Singapore Art Museum. The station is located within a five-minute walk to Circle Line's Bras Basah.
The platform.
Bencoolen is the deepest non-interchange MRT station in Singapore at 43 m below ground, the second being Stevens.
History[]
On 20 August 2010, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that Bencoolen station would be part of the 21-kilometre (13 mi) Downtown Line Stage 3, consisting of 16 stations between the River Valley (now Fort Canning) and Expo stations. The line was expected to be completed in 2017. Contract 936 for the design and construction of Bencoolen station and associated tunnels was awarded to Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd at a sum of S$177.58 million in April 2011. Construction of the station and the tunnels commenced in the second quarter of that year and was targeted to be completed in 2017.
The station and associated tunnels were constructed next to the operational tunnels of the CCL and NSL and underneath various commercial developments; hence the need to construct the station at a deep depth of 43 metres (141 ft). Various instruments were used to monitor the live tunnels to ensure the construction of the DTL tunnels did not impact the train operations. To maximise efficiency and reduce the risks of the construction, the geology along the tunnels from Fort Canning to Bencoolen was analysed and the tunnel boring machines' cutter heads were changed at strategic places.
The geology of the station site was composed of soft soil overlaying a thick boulder bed. Due to the very tough ground conditions, mechanical and chemical means were adopted to break down the boulders. To minimise inconvenience to the residents of the surrounding buildings, working hours were restricted. The LTA and contractors cooperated with the hotels and surrounding developments to deal with noise and environmental problems.
As there is limited space, a portion of Bencoolen Street was closed to traffic from Prinsep Link to Bras Basah Road from 16 October 2011 to 10 December 2016. The road was reinstated as a one-way street after the construction, with pedestrian and cyclist-friendly facilities along the street. During the construction, on 3 March 2017, a burst pipe caused a flood at the station. The water was immediately drained away and the valve was turned off within 15 minutes.
On 31 May 2017, the LTA announced that the station, together with the rest of DTL3, will be opened on 21 October that year. Passengers were offered a preview of the station along with the other Downtown Line 3 (DTL 3) stations at the DTL 3 Open House on 15 October.
Design[]
The escalators to the platform.
The six-level underground station is 43 metres (141 ft) below ground and is currently the deepest station on the MRT network, surpassing the Promenade DTL station by 1 metre (3.3 feet). The station and the tunnels' depth is to avoid the existing infrastructures at the surface and the other rail tunnels in the way of the alignment. The station, designed by Aedas, is only 22-metre (72 ft) wide and 140-metre (460 ft) long, as the space between the buildings along the street is just 25-metre (82 ft) wide.
The station has three entrances. Exit A of the station is integrated with the NAFA Tower Block above the station and the underpass link to the SMU. The station was constructed in tandem with the construction of NAFA's fourth campus. The integration allows students to access the campus easily regardless of the weather conditions. Exit B has a glass and frame retro-design to harmonise with the colonial image of Hoel Rendezvous near the station.
The interior walls are curvilinear that resembles canyon walls, while the earth-tone colours were used to represent the many layers of the soil, emphasising the depth of space. The glass walls of the passenger lifts are tinted in maroon, such that a descent to the platforms reflects a descent to the Earth's core, enhancing the commuters' experience in the station.
At the surface, Bencoolen Street has been transformed into an enhanced pedestrian walkway. Two of the four lanes have been permanently closed to make way for a community space, which includes a wide footpath for pedestrians and a dedicated bicycle lane. The transformation was part of Singapore's government Walk-Cycle-Ride initiative, which was aimed to make the country "car-lite" and allow more opportunities to walk and cycle. One of the remaining lanes on the street is now a dedicated bus lane to facilitate efficient bus services.
Designed to be pedestrian-friendly, there are sheltered linkways from the station to the surrounding developments. The surface structures of the station (the entrances and vent shafts) were placed in such a way to preserve the buildings' facades while establishing a "vibrant, comfortable" walking environment above ground. The street also features seven "funky" benches designed by students and alumni through a competition held by NAFA. Various bench designs include a dog-shaped double-level bench, another shaped like a cat on its back, and animal-shaped branches made of fibreglass. These benches are intended to inject a touch of innovation to the streetscape. A total of 125 bicycle parking lots are installed at various places along the street.
Tracing Memories by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
Art in Transit[]
Tracing Memories by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)[]
The students of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) students created this artwork with images of the community around the station. Each figure is composed of a collage of photographs of buildings, people and objects.
The team of NAFA students collected more than 800 photographs, and the artwork acts as subtle wayfinding to Singapore Management University (figures with laptops) and to NAFA (figures with drawing tools).
Station layout[]
| L1 | Street Level | Bus stops, Taxi stand, pick-up/drop-off point |
| B1 | Concourse | Underpass, Unpaid link to Bras Basah via Exit C |
| B2 | Concourse | Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control |
| B3 | Staff / Intermediate | Escalators between Concourse & Platforms, Staff Area / Service Corridor |
| B4 | Staff Room | Staff Area / Service Corridor |
| B5 | Concourse | Escalators between Concourse & Platforms, Staff Area / Service Corridor |
| B6 | Platform 1 | Downtown Line towards DT35 Expo via DT22 Jalan Besar (→) |
| Platform 2 | Downtown Line towards DT1 Bukit Panjang via DT20 Fort Canning (←) | |
Exits[]
- A: Manulife Centre, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA Campus), Singapore Art Museum
- B: School of the Arts, National Museum, YMCA
- C: Singapore Management University, Bras Basah MRT Station
Passenger Usage Patterns[]
| East West Line | |
| EW13 City Hall | Take bus service 166 (B/S 2) to North Bridge Road (St Andrew's Cathedral). |
| EW12 Bugis | Take bus service 7 / 175 (B/S 3) to Victoria Street (opp Bugis Junction). |
| EW11 Lavender | Take bus service 7 / 175 (B/S 3) to Kallang Road (Lavender Station). |
| EW10 Kallang | Take bus service 7 (B/S 3) to Sims Avenue (Kallang Station). |
| EW8 Paya Lebar | Take bus service 7 (B/S 3) to Sims Avenue (Paya Lebar Station). |
| EW7 Eunos | Take bus service 7 (B/S 3) to Sims Avenue (Eunos Station). |
| EW6 Kembangan | Take bus service 7 (B/S 3) to Sims Avenue East (Kembangan Station). |
| EW5 Bedok | Take bus service 7 (B/S 3) to Bedok Interchange. |
| North South Line | |
| NS22 Orchard | Take bus service 65 (B/S 1) to Orchard Boulevard (opp Orchard Station). |
| NS23 Somerset | Take bus service 65 (B/S 1) to Somerset Road (Somerset Station). |
| NS24 Dhoby Ghaut | Take bus service 65 (B/S 1) to Penang Road (Dhoby Ghaut Station). |
| North East Line | |
| NE4 Chinatown | Take bus service 147 (B/S 2) to New Bridge Road (Chinatown Station). |
| NE5 Clarke Quay | Take bus service 147 (B/S 2) to New Bridge Road (Clarke Quay Station). |
| Circle Line | |
| CC2 Bras Basah | Walk to Bras Basah MRT Station. |
| CC3 Esplanade | Take bus service 36 / 106 / 111 / 162M / 502 / 518 / 700A / 857 (B/S 1) to Temasek Boulevard (Suntec Convention Centre). |
| Downtown Line | |
| DT14 Bugis | Take bus service 7 / 175 (B/S 3) to Victoria Street (opp Bugis Junction). |
| DT19 Chinatown | Take bus service 147 (B/S 2) to New Bridge Road (Chinatown Station). |
| DT21 Bencoolen | Walk to Bencoolen MRT Station. |
Gallery[]
Transport connections[]
| Destination | First Train | Last Train | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon – Sat | Sunday & Public Holiday |
Daily | ||||
| Downtown Line | ||||||
| to Bukit Panjang | 6:06am | 6:24am | 12:10am | |||
| to Expo | 6:12am | 6:31am | 12:12am | |||
Alternative Routes[]
| Going to | Methods |
|---|---|
| Downtown Line | |
| Bukit Panjang | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031  972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 Bt Panjang Stn (Upp Bt Timah Rd) 44021
|
| Cashew | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 bef Cashew Stn (Upp Bt Timah Rd) 43091
|
| Hillview | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 Hillview Stn (Upp Bt Timah Rd) 43061
|
| Beauty World | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 Beauty World Stn Exit B (Upp Bt Timah Rd) 42091
|
| King Albert Park | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 King Albert Park Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 42051
|
| Sixth Avenue | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 Sixth Avenue Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 41081
|
| Hwa Chong | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 Hwa Chong Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 41051
|
| Botanic Gardens | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221 Walk Stevens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 40081 67 Botanic Gardens Stn (Bt Timah Rd) 41021
|
| Stevens | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut Walk Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B (Penang Rd) 08031 972 opp Stevens Stn (Stevens Rd) 40221
|
| Newton | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut North South Line Newton |
| Little India | Bencoolen Walk Bras Basah Circle Line Dhoby Ghaut North East Line Little India |
| Rochor | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 7 / 175 opp Bugis Stn Exit C (Victoria St) 01112 851 Rochor Stn (Rochor Canal Rd) 07531
|
| Bugis | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 7 / 175 opp Bugis Stn Exit C (Victoria St) 01112
|
| Promenade | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 106 / 518 Promenade Stn (Temasek Ave) 02161
|
| Bayfront | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 106 / 518 Bayfront Stn Exit B/MBS (Bayfront Ave) 03509
|
| Downtown | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 106 Downtown Stn (Central Blvd) 03529
|
| Telok Ayer | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 opp Hong Lim Cplx (South Bridge Rd) 05049 Walk Telok Ayer |
| Chinatown | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 147 Chinatown Stn Exit E (New Bridge Rd) 05049
|
| Fort Canning | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk aft City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04168 195 bef Fort Canning Stn (River Valley Rd) 04331
|
| Sungei Road | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 7 / 175 opp Bugis Stn Exit C (Victoria St) 01112 851 Rochor Stn (Rochor Canal Rd) 07531 Walk Sungei Road |
| Bendemeer | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 175 Bendemeer Stn Exit A (Kallang Bahru) 60011
|
| Kallang Bahru | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 175 Bendemeer Stn Exit A (Kallang Bahru) 60011 107M Blk 68 (Geylang Bahru) 60229
|
| Mattar | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 175 Bendemeer Stn Exit A (Kallang Bahru) 60011 107M St Michael's Pl (Serangoon Rd) 60221 65 Mattar Stn Exit A (Merpati Rd) 70161
|
| MacPherson | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 175 Bendemeer Stn Exit A (Kallang Bahru) 60011 107M St Michael's Pl (Serangoon Rd) 60221 65 MacPherson Stn Exit A (Circuit Lk) 70371
|
| Ubi | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 175 Bendemeer Stn Exit A (Kallang Bahru) 60011 107M St Michael's Pl (Serangoon Rd) 60221 65 Ubi Stn Exit B (Ubi Ave 2) 71121
|
| Kaki Bukit | Hotel Rendezvous (Bras Basah Rd) 08069 175 Bendemeer Stn Exit A (Kallang Bahru) 60011 107M St Michael's Pl (Serangoon Rd) 60221 65 Blk 637 (Eunos Lk) 71091 Walk Blk 311 (Eunos Lk) 71099 5 / 15 / 59 Kaki Bukit Stn Exit A (Bedok Reservoir Rd) 72039
|
| Bedok North | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Bedok Walk Bedok Int 84009 60 Bedok North Stn Exit A (Bedok North Rd) 84451
|
| Stonehills | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Bedok Walk Bedok Int 84009 18 / 69 / 168 Stonehills Stn Exit A (Bedok North Ave 3) 84201
|
| Huang Wen | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Bedok Walk Bedok Int 84009 18 / 168 Huang Wen Stn Exit B (Tampines Ave 1) 75051
|
| Tampines | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Tampines |
| Godric's Hollow | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Tampines Walk Tampines Int 75009 4 / 37 / 38 / 81 Godric's Hollow Stn Exit A (Tampines Ave 7) 76221
|
| Somapah | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Simei Walk Simei Stn (Simei St 3) 96169 5 Somapah Stn (Upp Changi Rd East) 96041
|
| Expo | opp Bencoolen Stn Exit B (Bencoolen St) 04019 166 City Hall Stn Exit B (North Bridge Rd) 04167 Walk City Hall East West Line Tanah Merah East West Line Expo |
References[]
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