Braddell MRT Station

Infobox Station
name=Braddell MRT Station
布莱德地铁站
பிரேடல்
type=Rapid transit


image_size=300
image_caption=South Bound Platform of NS18 Braddell MRT station
address=381 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
Singapore 319758
coordinates= coord|1.202522|103.504821
line=North South
other=Bus, Taxi
structure=Underground
platform=Side
depth=
levels=2
tracks=2
parking=
bicycle=
baggage_check=
passengers=
pass_year=
pass_percent=
pass_system=
opened=7 November 1987
closed=
rebuilt=
electrified=
ADA=Yes
code=NS18
owned=
zone=
former=
services=s-rail|title=SMRT
mpassengers=
map_locator=MRT locator map|Braddell|px=300

Braddell MRT Station (NS18) is located on the North South Line on the Singapore MRT. The station is an underground station located in the northern part of Toa Payoh. It is also the only underground station which has side platforms but when the Downtown MRT Line opens, MacPherson MRT Station will also have side platforms due to similar space-constraint problems.

History

When the MRT system was built in the 1980s, SMRT tried to design the track system and position in order to enable the station to have an island platform, as with other MRT stations. However, the closely-built HDB blocks in the Toa Payoh estate meant that the MRT system tunnels had to be constructed directly under Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, following the bend of the road, in the area between Lorong 1 Toa Payoh and Toa Payoh MRT Station. The result made it impossible for tracks to diverge at an island-platform station, as the angle that the south-bound trains would turn at when approaching and leaving the station would be too great.

It would be unfeasible to change the position of the station, because moving it south would render it too close to Toa Payoh MRT station, while moving it north would be impossible because of surrounding HDB blocks and JTC Flatted factories. There was only one suitable position for the construction of the station, it was thus built with side platforms.

Braddell MRT station was among the first of five stations opened for operation on November 7, 1987. The other 4 stations were Toa Payoh MRT Station, Bishan MRT Station, Ang Mo Kio MRT Station and Yio Chu Kang MRT Station.

Bizarre robbery

The station saw a rather bizarre robbery on May 7, 2008. A robber tried to rob from the 7-Eleven convenience store within the station at 3.10 pm, but was instead locked in the shop by the cashier who dashed out of the shop. The robber could not escape and the Police arrived shortly but the robber threatened to commit suicide. The robber was finally apprehended by the Police's Taser gun and arrested. [ cite news | title = 打抢便利店 歹徒被反锁束手就擒 | publisher = Channel News Asia Chinese | date = 7 May 2008 | url = http://www.cnachinese.com/stories/singapore/view/60485/1/gb/.html ]

Current Station Layout

tation vicinity

* Singapore Press Holdings
* Singapore Yellow Pages
* Beatty Secondary School
* Pei Chun Public School
* Kheng Cheng School

Bus services

The following bus services pass by the bus stops along Toa Payoh Lorong 1:

hops & facilities

* 7-Eleven
* Lifts
* Wide Fare Gate
* Escalators
* Staircases

References