Paya Lebar MRT station

Paya Lebar MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the East West line (EWL) and Circle line (CCL) in Geylang, Singapore. Despite the name, this station is not located in Paya Lebar but rather along Paya Lebar Road, near the junction with Sims Avenue. It is located among the developments of the Paya Lebar Central commercial hub and near the Geylang Serai district.

EW8  CC9  Paya Lebar 巴耶利峇 பாய லேபார் Paya Lebar
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
Exit A of Paya Lebar station
Location	30 Paya Lebar Road Singapore 409006 (EWL) 15 Paya Lebar Road Singapore 409049 (CCL)
Coordinates	1°19′04″N 103°53′33″E
Operated by	SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation) (East West and Circle lines)
Line(s)	East West Line   Circle Line
Platforms	6 (3 island platforms)
Tracks	2 (East West line) 3 (Circle line) - 2 in regular operation
Connections	Bus, Taxi
Construction
Structure type	Elevated (East West line) Underground (Circle line)
Platform levels	2
Parking	Yes (Paya Lebar Square, Singpost Centre, Paya Lebar Quarter)
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	2
History
Opened	4 November 1989 (1989-11-04) (East West Line) 17 April 2010 (2010-04-17) (Circle Line)
Electrified	Yes
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station Eunos towards Pasir Ris East West Line Aljunied towards Joo Koon or Tuas Link Dakota towards Dhoby Ghaut Circle Line MacPherson towards HarbourFront
Location
Paya Lebar Paya Lebar station in Singapore

The station opened on 4 November 1989 as part of the MRT eastern line extension to Tanah Merah station. The EWL station exterior has the characteristic dome-shaped segmented roof also seen on other elevated EWL stations. The station later interchanges with the Circle line on 17 April 2010, and was the first MRT station to serve both an elevated line and an underground line.

History

East West line

East West line platforms

The contract for the construction of Paya Lebar station and associated viaducts was awarded to Lee Kim Tah Ltd at a contract sum of S$59.52 million on November 1985. The contractor had partnered with a French company Societe Generale D'Enterprises Sainrapt Et Brice (SGE) for the construction. The contract also includes the construction of the Kallang and Aljunied stations.[1]The station opened earlier than expected on 4 November 1989, serving the East West line.[2][3][4][5][6]

As with most of the above-ground stations along the EWL, the station was built without platform screen doors. Half-height platform screen doors, which prevent commuters from falling onto the train tracks, were installed on 28 October 2011 and commenced operations on 11 January.[7] In addition, high-volume low-speed fans were installed and started operations since 14 July that year together with Kembangan station.[8] Privacy screens were installed at some parts from Paya Lebar Road all the way to Geylang East Central, to minimise the noise impact from residents since October 2016 and completed in May 2017.[9]

Circle line

Circle line platforms

The Contract 823 for the construction of Paya Lebar station was awarded to Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte Ltd-Nishimatsu Construction Co. Ltd joint venture. The contract also includes the construction of the Mountbatten and Dakota stations. Construction of the station started in August 2002.[10][11][12]

On 16 March 2003, several roads around the station, including Paya Lebar Road, Eunos Avenue 5 and Tanjong Katong Road, were converted to one-way traffic to facilitate the construction. A bus stop was also temporary relocated in front of Singapore Post Centre.[13] A stretch of Sims Avenue was also temporarily realigned from 26 August 2003 until two months later.[14] When the roads were reinstated, an extra lane for each direction of Paya Lebar Road was added.[15]

The Circle line station opened on 17 April 2010.[16][17][18]

Incidents

On 4 April 2007, a man died after being hit by a train along the East West line sector at about 10:20 am. Police said the victim, a 52-year old Chinese man, was pronounced dead by paramedics at 10:45 am. East-bound services were disrupted for 41 minutes but resumed by 11:02 am.[19]

Station details

Services

The station serves the EWL between the Eunos and Aljunied stations, and the CCL between the Dakota and MacPherson stations. On the EWL, the station operates between 5:47 am (6.13 am on Sundays and Public Holidays) and 12:22 am. On the CCL, the station operates between 5:40 am (6.07 am on Sundays and Public Holidays) and 12:26 am.[20][21]

Design

Like most EWL elevated stations on the eastern segment on the line (after Kallang station), Aljunied station has the notable feature of the dome-shaped roof, segmented like a caterpillar, over the platform level. The design was an attempt by the MRT Corporation (MRTC) to give the stations on the EWL an "attractive look".[22]

References

1. Lye, Jaime (8 November 1985). "Lee Kim Tah wins MRT contract". The Business Times.
2. "Add soul to the steel". The Straits Times. 4 November 1989. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via NewspaperSG.
3. "MRT eastern line to start operating on Nov 18". The Business Times. 4 August 1989.
4. "On right track". The Straits Times. 4 November 1989.
5. Dhaliwal, Rav (5 November 1986). "MRT Trains to Pasir Ris from Dec 16". The Straits Times.
6. "East-enders get ticket to ride as MRT opens line". The Straits Times. 4 November 1989.
7. Wong, Siew Ying (26 January 2008). "Above-ground MRT stations to have platform screen doors by 2012". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
8. "Enhancing Connectivity and Comfort for Commuters". Land Transport Authority. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
9. "Railway Noise Barriers on Track". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
10. "Lum Chang - Civil & Infrastructure". www.lumchang.com.sg. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
11. "CPG Consultants - Circle Line Stage 2 - Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Consultancy Services (Contract 823)". www.cpgcorp.com.sg. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
12. "Projects - Rail". www.lta.gov.sg. 4 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009.
13. "Changes To Traffic Scheme And Bus Stop At The Paya Lebar MRT Station Vicinity". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010.
14. "Realignment Of Sims Avenue And Paya Lebar Road". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010.
15. "ONE.MOTORING - Widening of Paya Lebar Road". www.onemotoring.com.sg. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2009.
16. "Transport minister announces next phase of Circle Line will open on 17 Apr". Channel NewsAsia. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
17. "Welcome Remarks By Mr Raymond Lim At The Opening Of The Circle Line From Dhoby Ghaut To Bartley on 16 April 2010". www.mot.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
18. "Circle Line from Bartley to Dhoby Ghaut to Open 17 April". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
19. Chiang, Gracia (5 April 2007). "Man hits by train dies". The Straits Times.
20. "SMRT Journeys". journey.smrt.com.sg. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
21. "SMRT > Journey with Us > Trains > NetworkMap > PayaLebar". www.smrt.com.sg. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
22. "Roof to make heads turn". The Straits Times. 20 April 1986.

External links

• Official website
• Media related to Paya Lebar MRT Station at Wikimedia Commons