Marina Bay MRT Station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit interchange station on the North South Line, Thomson-East Coast Line and Circle Line in Downtown Core, Singapore. The station is designed by Aedas. It was the southern terminus of the North South Line until late November 2014 and early 2017.
The Circle Line station was awarded the winner of Small Project Award at the World Architecture Festival in 2012.[1] When the Thomson-East Coast Line opens in 2022, Marina Bay will become a triple-line interchange station, just like Dhoby Ghaut and Outram Park. Circle Line trains that begin from here terminate at HarbourFront, with a few trains terminating at Stadium during peak hours. However, during off peak hours, usually all trains departing here terminate at Stadium.
Marina Bay Mall is a new shopping mall to replace the portion of East Coast Parkway that is already expunged. It will be owned by CapitaMalls Asia and construction will start in 2014.
History[]
North South Line[]
The civil Contract 310 for the construction of the 900 metres (0.56 mi) cut-and-cover tunnels as well as Marina Bay MRT station was awarded to Gammon-Antara Koh joint venture at a value of S$96.16 million on 8 April 1986. The construction of the tunnel to the station was rather challenging at the time, as the tunnel goes underwater through the Telok Ayer Basin and the station and tunnels were to be built in soft soil. Due to the soft marine clay, open excavation was not possible. Divers had to cut the 20 metres (66 ft) trenches, where the MRT tunnels were to be laid, in zero visibility in very muddy water. A concrete base for the tunnels was then set up with the water pumped out for the tunnels and the station to be built on. The tunnels would then be covered with another layer of concrete before the seabed is refilled. During the construction, a World War 2-era bomb was found on the site. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Bomb Disposal Unit was called and the bomb was safely detonated elsewhere.
The station was opened on 4 November 1989 and was the terminus of the North South Line, until the North South Line Extension to Marina South Pier on 23 November 2014. On 8 January 2006, this station had their bomb explosions in terrorist attacks. Before regular southbound trains were scheduled to terminate at Marina South Pier from 13 March 2017 (Mondays - Fridays), 16 April 2017 (Sundays) as well as 13 May 2017 (Saturdays), platforms at Marina Bay were used both for train turnarounds and trains heading to/from Marina South Pier. Using the set of points that is north of the station, terminating trains arriving from Raffles Place can use either platforms before heading back. Passing through services still calls at the platform.
Circle Line[]
Circle Line Contract 901 for the construction and completion of Marina Bay CCL station was awarded to local company Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure Pte. Ltd. for S$348.4 million in Feb 2008. The scope also includes addition and alteration works to the existing North South Line (NSL) Marina Bay station, localised diversions of the East Coast Parkway and Marina Street as well as demolition of an expunged vehicular underpass.
The Circle Line station was designed by Aedas Architecture. As an integral part of Singapore’s Marina Bay development and an interchange station for two major metro lines, Marina Bay Station is located in a public park. The design aims to integrate the station into the park landscape through landscaping. The translucent ETFE canopy acts as a skylight to allow natural light penetrating deep into the underground hall. To further minimise the visual impact of the station to the surrounding park landscape, only the lift, entrance glazed enclosure, lightweight canopy and reflective pool are visible on street level, giving users full view of the park from the station entrance.
Since the opening of the Circle Line platforms, this station is the first underground station in the Singapore MRT to have its platform above the concourse level.
Ground freezing will be applied for the first time in Singapore rail construction when building the Thomson-East Coast Line part of this station, where it under-cross the existing North-South Line and Circle Line tunnels.
On 15 June 2015, train services between Marina Bay and Marina South Pier Stations was disrupted after a train fault at Marina Bay Station.
Cash top-ups are no longer accepted at Passenger Service Centres from 21 November 2017, at Marina Bay MRT Station.
Thomson East Coast Line[]
On 29 August 2012, it was announced that Marina Bay station would interchange with the 22-station Thomson line (TSL). Contract T226 for the design and construction of Marina Bay TSL Station and associated tunnels was awarded to Taisei Corporation for S$425 million (US$335.4 million) in February 2014. Construction started in 2014, with an expected completion date in 2021.
On 15 August 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that TSL would merge with the Eastern Region line to form the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL). Marina Bay station was constructed as part of Phase 3, consisting of 13 stations between the Mount Pleasant and Gardens by the Bay stations. Ground freezing was applied for the first time in Singapore rail construction when building the TEL stacked tunnels and platforms, where it crosses underneath the existing NSL and CCL tunnels. This was due to the layers of weak and strong old alluvium, which do not allow effective ground treatment of the soil. The construction of tunnels also involved close monitoring of the existing train tunnels, especially as the piles supporting the NSL tunnels had to be cut off for the underground walkways and mined train tunnels.
With restrictions imposed on construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TEL3 completion date was pushed back a year to 2022. On 9 March 2022, Transport Minister S. Iswaran announced in Parliament that TEL 3 would open in the second half of that year. As confirmed during a visit by Iswaran at the Outram Park and Maxwell stations on 7 October 2022, the TEL station began operations on 13 November 2022.
Temporary Maintenance Facility[]
Just beside the Circle Line station is the former Downtown Line Temporary Maintenance Facility. As Downtown Line Stage 1 (22 Dec 2013 to 26 Dec 2015) was disconnected from the main depot at Gali Batu, the Temporary Maintenance Facility was used to provide for low-level maintenance work for the Bombardier Movia C951 rolling stock prior to the opening of Downtown Line Stage 2. In the meantime, trains used the Circle Line’s Kim Chuan Depot for the launching of trains and major maintenance works.
The Temporary Maintenance Facility was built as part of the Circle Line Extension and is now used for stabling Circle Line trains. Concealed from view behind a concrete partition wall, the facility can be seen from the scissors crossing just north of the station, with a single access track joining the northbound track.
MBTMF was built as part of the Circle Line Extension. Concealed from view behind a concrete partition wall, the facility can be seen from the scissors crossing just north of the station, with a single access track joining the northbound track. The tracks were removed in May 2021. The facility was converted to an unpaid link and was opened on 1 November 2023.
Platforms[]
Marina Bay Station currently has six platforms, with the North South Line (NSL), the Circle Line (CCL) and the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) occupying two platforms each.
Firstly, the North South Line platforms are arranged in a conventional island platform layout. Full-height Platform screen doors isolate the air-conditioned station from the tunnel environment, enhancing commuter safety and station comfort. Passenger Information Systems, which are plasma display screens located at each platform, display expected train arrival times, destinations and key messages. Tactile flooring helps to guide the visually-handicapped from the platform to the station exits and other platforms on connecting rail lines. A set of escalators, stairs and lifts connect to the concourse above.
The Circle Line platform also uses a conventional island platform layout. Similar to the NSL platforms, Full-height Platform screen doors isolate the air-conditioned station from the tunnel environment, enhancing commuter safety and station comfort. Passenger Information Systems, which are plasma display screens located at each platform, display expected train arrival times, destinations and key messages. Tactile flooring helps to guide the visually-handicapped from the platform to the station exits and other platforms on connecting rail lines. A set of escalators, stairs and lifts connect to the concourse two floors below.
The TEL platforms are arranged in a stacked side configuration. Heading south from Marina Bay station, trains pass through the unopened Marina South station.
As part of the Circle Line Extension, train services on the Circle Line will operate as a shuttle between Marina Bay and Stadium stations throughout most of the day. However, during the weekday peak hours, train services from Marina Bay will serve the full line, operating between Marina Bay and HarbourFront stations. Both platforms are utilized alternately by terminating trains.
With the platforms at Basement 1 accessible only via the Transfer Hall at Basement 3, Marina Bay CCL station is the first underground MRT station to have its platform level above the concourse level. Just beside the Circle Line station is the former Downtown Line Temporary Maintenance Facility. As Downtown Line Stage 1 (22 Dec 2013 to 26 Dec 2015) was disconnected from the main depot at Gali Batu, the Temporary Maintenance Facility was used to provide for low-level maintenance work for the Bombardier Movia C951 rolling stock prior to the opening of Downtown Line Stage 2. In the meantime, trains used the Circle Line’s Kim Chuan Depot for the launching of trains and major maintenance works.
The Temporary Maintenance Facility was built as part of the Circle Line Extension and is now used for stabling Circle Line trains. Concealed from view behind a concrete partition wall, the facility can be seen from the scissors crossing just north of the station, with a single access track joining the northbound track.
Concourse[]
North South Line and Circle Line ticket concourses are located at Basement 1 and Basement 2 respectively. They feature faregates for automatic fare collection and provides access between paid and unpaid areas of the station, with at least one bidirectional wide-swinging gate for the benefit of passengers-in-wheelchairs and those carrying bulky items or travelling with prams. Their faregates were TITAN faregates and were changed in 3 July 2012, and to provide larger crowds when Gardens by the Bay was opened.
General Ticketing Machines allow commuters to purchase tickets for single or multiple journeys, and along with TransitLink Add Value Machines (NSL) and Top-up Machines (CCL), offer contactless card transactions. The station offices at each concourse function as a Passenger Service Centre, and is staffed during operating hours, where commuters may make travel inquiries or perform card transactions using cash payment.
Connecting the NSL concourse and the CCL concourse is the transfer linkway at Basement 2, which provides a paid link between both lines for the benefit of transfer commuters. Near the CCL concourse, the transfer linkway emerges at an atrium where a set of five escalators (3 in paid areas and 2 outside of paid areas) descend to the B3 Transfer Hall, where passengers can ascend to the CCL platforms. The unpaid areas reaching deep into B3 are provisions for the future Thomson-East Coast Line station and a pedestrian mall network linking with future adjacent buildings. Several faregates separate the paid and unpaid areas at Basement 3.
Toilets are located in the unpaid areas of both concourse levels. There are no retail shops located in this station.
Station layout[]
| L1 | Street Level | Bus stops, Taxi stand, Pick-up/drop-off point |
| B1 | TEL-NSL Transfer Link | Paid Transfer between TEL & NSL, Faregates to Exit 5 |
| CCL-NSL Transfer Link | Paid Transfer between NSL & CCL, Passenger Service Centre (CCL), Faregates | |
| NSL Concourse | Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control | |
| TEL Concourse | Faregates, Ticketing Service Kiosks, Passenger Service Centre (TEL), Retail Shops | |
| Linkway | Unpaid Link to Exits 2 & 5, Faregates to CCL / NSL Ticket Concourse | |
| Platform 3 | Circle Line towards Stadium/Harbourfront (→) | |
| Island platform, doors will open on the left, right | ||
| Platform 4 | Circle Line towards Stadium/Harbourfront (→) | |
| B2 | TEL-CCL Transfer Link | Paid Transfer between TEL & CCL
Unpaid Transfer between TEL & CCL Concourses |
| CCL Concourse | Transfer Hall, Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control, Shops | |
| Platform 1 | North South Line towards Jurong East via Raffles Place (→) | |
| Island platform, doors will open on the right | ||
| Platform 2 | North South Line towards Marina South Pier (←) | |
| B3 | Transfer Linkway NSL-CCL-TEL | Paid linkway between North South Line and Circle Line/Thomson-East Coast Line platforms |
| B4 | Side platform, doors will open on the right | |
| Platform 5 | Thomson-East Coast Line towards Bedok Junction via Marina South/Gardens by the Bay ← | |
| B5 | Side platform, doors will open on the left | |
| Platform 6 | Thomson-East Coast Line towards Tanjung Puteri via Asia Square → | |
Exits[]
Marina Bay MRT station has two exits leading to ground level (A and B), of which only Exit A offers barrier-free accessibility for the disabled. More exits will be built in the future.
| Exit | Former Exit No. | Location | Nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Central Boulevard | Asia Square, Central Boulevard, Marina Bay City Gallery, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Marina Bay Link Mall, Marina Bay Residences, Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay Suites, Marina Boulevard, The Promontory @ Marina Bay, Marina One |
| 2 | A | Bayfront Avenue | Bayfront Avenue Taxi Stand |
| 3 (TEL) | |||
| 4 (TEL) | Sheares Avenue | ||
| 5 (TEL) | Park Street | Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Singapore Conference Hall |
It is possible to walk 500 meters to Downtown MRT Station from Exit B of the station.
Among of these, it is only the transfer where patronage is received from Marina South Pier to Bayfront MRT Station via Marina Bay MRT. Due to the opening of Downtown Line (Downtown MRT Station), and major reorganisation of Marina Bay roads, it capped to its certain extent.
Exit 1 is wheelchair-inaccessible.
Passenger Usage Patterns[]
An an interchange station linking the North South Line with the Circle Line extension, Marina Bay station encounters moderate numbers of transfer passengers between the two lines along with moderate demand from limited surrounding developments. Demand is expected to increase manyfold when the new Central Business District develops in the surrounding area.
| Platforms | Services |
| North South Line Platform 1 |
EWL (E) – Aljunied (change at Raffles Place) EWL (W) – Jurong East (change at City Hall) NSL (N) – Yishun, Bishan & Newton |
| Circle Line Platform 1 & 2 |
CCL – Promenade & Bayfront |
Alternative Routes[]
Transport connections[]
Rail[]
| Destination | First Train | Last Train | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon – Sat | Sunday & Public Holiday |
Daily | |||
| North South Line | |||||
| to Marina South Pier | 6.05am | 6.32am | 11.58pm | ||
| to Jurong East | 6.01am | 6.26am | 11.50pm | ||
| to Kranji | – | – | 12.06am | ||
| Circle Line | |||||
| to Stadium | 5.59am | 6.24am | 11.55pm | ||
| Thomson-East Coast Line | |||||
| to Woodlands North | 6.02am | 6.22am | 12.02am | ||
| to Caldecott | - | - | 12.14am | ||
| to Orchard | - | - | 12.20am | ||
| to Bayshore | 6.01am | 6.21am | 12.14am | ||
| to Marine Terrace | - | - | 12.19am | ||
| to Gardens by the Bay | - | - | 12.25am | ||
Bus[]
| Bus Stop | Exit | Bus Routes |
|---|---|---|
| 03391 – Marina Blvd (Marina Bay Financial Ctr) | 1 | 97, 97e, 106, 133, 400, 513, 651, 653, 654, 655, 657, 661, 666, 667, 668, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 982E |
| 03539 – Central Blvd (Marina Bay Stn) | 97, 97e, 106, 133, 400, 502, 502A, 513, 651, 653, 654, 655, 657, 661, 666, 667, 668, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 982E |
References[]
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External links[]
- Template:Official website
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