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Light Rapid Transit (Singapore): Encyclopedia BETAFree Encyclopedia |
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Bukit Panjang LRTThe Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit (BPLRT) is a 7.8 km light rail line opened in 1999 and part of Singapore's light rail system. It is currently operated by SMRT Light Rail, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation.Sengkang LRTThe Sengkang Light Rapid Transit (SKLRT) is a 10.7 km light rail line which partly opened on 18 January 2003. It is currently operated by SBS Transit.Punggol LRTThe Punggol Light Rapid Transit (PGLRT) is a light rail line in Singapore within the Singapore Light Rapid Transit system. Its first phase, which comprises of a 10.3km light rail line with 15 stations, began operating on 29 January 2005 (with the exception of Damai and Oasis LRT Stations). It is currently operated by SBS Transit.StationsThe LRT network has 43 stations currently, but only 31 stations are currently in operation, as the stations' surroundings are not yet built up and will open at a later date. This includes, Cheng Lim, Farmway and Kupang on the West loop of the Sengkang LRT Line; Oasis and Damai stations on the Punggol LRT East Loop and the entire West Loop of the Punggol LRT Line.FacilitiesSince the Light Rapid Transit was built in the 1990s, plans for barrier free facilities were included during the planning stages. All 43 stations are equipped with these facilities, thus there will be no indifficulty for the handicapped. Barrier free facilities include, lifts, ramps, tactile guidance system, toilets with handicapped friendly facilities, all stations include wide faregates. These barrier free facilities will be included in all future LRT stations.LRT rolling stock
19 Bombardier CX-100 Cars operate on the Bukit Panjang LRT. Capable on operating at a maximum speed of 55km/h, its pionners can be traced to as early as 1990, when Westinghouse and Adtranz (acquired by Bombardier) co-operatively built the skytrain system for the Singapore Changi Airport with the same design. However, the Bombardier stock was frequently fraught with unreliability and technical glitches. The CX-100 cars can be coupled to operate in pairs during peak hours. The Mitsubishi Crystal Mover Cars are the newest rolling stock on the system, operating on the Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, it currently maintains a cleaner record of reliability. It is also to eventually replace its older counterparts for the Singapore Changi Airport skytrain with the opening of Terminal 3. Depots
HistoryConceptionThe concept of having rail lines which could bring people from door to door without requiring the use of road-clogging buses was much favoured by the government transport planners, especially with the increased emphasis on a rail-based public transport network. For intra town travel, LRTs were favoured over buses because trains run on dedicated elevated guideways, bypassing any traffic congestion and traffic lights on the roads, and does not add to road traffic. Train arrival and departure times are also almost guaranteed this way. It is also cleaner as the trains are electrically powered, and therefore lessens the effects of air pollution.Opening of linesThe Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit opened on November 6 1999, with all 14 stations opened at the same time. The Sengkang Light Rapid Transit opened in two stages, the East Loop opening first on January 20 2003 and the West Loop on January 29 2005. However, Cheng Lim, Farmway and Kupang stations remain closed and will only be opened for passenger service when the areas surrounding these stations are further developed. For the Punggol Light Rapid Transit, the East Loop opened on the same day as the Sengkang Light Rapid Transit's West Loop on the January 29 2005. Two stations on the East Loop (Oasis and Damai) and the West Loop remain closed and will only be opened for passenger service when the station surroundings are further developed.Future expansionThe network will expand in the future years, with more LRT lines to be constructed. However, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has recently announced that unless there is a new township that is going to be heavily built up, there are currently no plans to expand the LRT network further. All plans to expand the LRT network, whose role can be fulfilled by feeder buses, has been put on hold."Groundwork begins for new MRT lines", Christoper Tan, The Straits Times, 13 March 2006 Past plans include a northern spur line for Punggol LRT, in addition to the current east and west loops. It was originally planned for construction in the future, if public housing developments in northern Punggol begins. Another plan put on hold is the Jurong Region Line"Other Rail Projects", Land Transport Authority, Retrieved 12 April 2006, which was aimed to serve residents of Jurong East and West housing towns, and the campus of Nanyang Technological University (NTU)."Development Plans for Jurong West", Housing and Development Board, Retrieved 12 April 2006Fares and ticketingThe Light Rapid Transit uses the same ticketing system as the Mass Rapid Transit. It uses the contactless EZ-Link smart card and a standard single trip ticket. EZ-Link adult fares range from S$0.64 to S$0.84. Single trip ticket fares for adults on the LRT range from S$0.80 to S$1.00.SafetyThere were some incidents since the Light Rapid Transit's inception in 1999. Two Bombardier CX-100 trains collided head to back at Phoenix station in 2000, the Land Transport Authority fined SMRT S$10,000 for the collision. The Bukit Panjang LRT had the service disrupted at least more than 50 times. Again in 2002, a dislodged train wheel caused the entire shutdown of the system for a few days, as it crippled the power system and the rail at the incident was damaged and had to be repaired. This was partly why the Land Transport Authority awarded the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines management to rival SBS Transit and the train supplier to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.NotesSee also* List of Singapore LRT stations* List of rapid transit systems * Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) * Transport in Singapore * SMRT Corporation * SBS Transit * Bukit Panjang * Sengkang New Town * Punggol New Town * Sentosa Express — a privately owned and operated LRT-like monorail system External links* Official rail map, Land Transport Authority* SMRT * SBS Transit * Website About Singapore's Rail Transit System * Singapore @ UrbanRail.Net
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