Light Rail Transit (Singapore)

Infobox Public transit
name = Light Rapid Transit (LRT)
轻轨列车系统
Sistem Rel Ringan

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imagesize = 100px
locale = Singapore
transit_type = Light Rail
began_operation = 6 November, 1999
system_length = km to mi|28.8|abbr=yes|precision=2|wiki=yes
lines = 3
stations = 33
ridership =
track_gauge =
operator = SMRT Corporation
SBS Transit
owner = Land Transport AuthorityThe Light Rapid Transit (LRT) (Simplified Chinese: 轻轨列车系统; Malay: "Sistem Rel Ringan"; Tamil: "fill in"), is the light rail component of Singapore's rail network, consisting of localised rail systems acting as feeder services to the Mass Rapid Transit network. The first LRT line was opened in 1999 and the system has since expanded to three lines, each serving a public housing estate.

The system is closer to an automated people mover system such as those found in many airports around the world than a traditional light rail system. All the lines are fully automated and elevated, and run on viaducts in order to save scarce land space in Singapore. A similar (though free-of-charge) system can be found in Miami, Florida in the United States; see Metromover (Miami-Dade Transit).

Note that while both the old and the new Singapore Changi Airport Skytrain people mover is similar to the LRT, they are not part of the LRT system.

Lines are constructed by the Land Transport Authority, with operating concessions currently handed to SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit.

History

Conception

The concept of having rail lines which could bring people from door to door without requiring the use of road-based 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 lines

The Bukit Panjang LRT opened on 6 November 1999, with all 14 stations opened at the same time.

The Sengkang LRT opened in two main stages, the East Loop opening first on 18 January 2003 and most of the West Loop on 29 January 2005. Farmway Station on the West Loop opened on 15 November 2007, but Cheng Lim 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 LRT, the East Loop opened on the same day as the Sengkang LRT's West Loop and Oasis was opened for service on 15 June 2007, after more residents moved into HDB flats in the station's vicinity.Daphne Chuah, "This Oasis opens for business today", "Today, 15 June 2007] Damai Station and the West Loop remain closed and will only be opened for passenger service when the station surroundings are further developed.

Infrastructure

Current Network

"Note: 1. Includes two completed stations on the West Loop (Cheng Lim and Kupang) but operationally postponed. 2. Includes one completed station (Damai) but operationally postponed."

Facilities

Since the LRT 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 difficulty 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.

Lines

Bukit Panjang LRT

The Bukit Panjang LRT (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.

engkang LRT

The Sengkang LRT (SKLRT) is a 10.7 km light rail line which partly opened on 18 January 2003. It is currently operated by SBS Transit. It forms part of the LRT system together with the other two lines.

Punggol LRT

The Punggol LRT (PGLRT) is a light rail line in Singapore within the LRT system. Its first phase, which comprises a 10.3 km light rail line with 15 stations, began operating on 29 January 2005 (with the exception of Oasis, which was opened on 15 June 2007 and Damai LRT Stations). It is currently operated by SBS Transit.

tations

The LRT network has 43 stations currently, but only 33 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 and Kupang on the West loop of the Sengkang LRT Line; Damai stations on the Punggol LRT East Loop and the entire West Loop of the Punggol LRT Line.

Depots

The LRT system consists of two depots, which does the maintenance, inspection, train overhaul facilities and houses the cars overnight. The Ten Mile Junction Depot houses cars for Bukit Panjang LRT, and the Sengkang Depot houses cars for the Sengkang LRT & Punggol LRT, together with the North East Line of the Mass Rapid Transit.

Expansion

The Land Transport Authority has 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, have been put on hold."Groundwork begins for new MRT lines", Christoper Tan, The Straits Times, 13 March 2006]

Past plans included a northern spur line for Punggol LRT, in addition to the current east and west loops. Another plan put on hold is the Jurong Region Line, [ [http://www.lta.gov.sg/projects/index_proj_rail.htm "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). [ [http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/0/E3DD372368CF8AAD482570830021FE5B?OpenDocument "Development Plans for Jurong West"] , Housing and Development Board, Retrieved 12 April 2006] [ [http://app.mot.gov.sg/data/s_01_10_23.html SPEECH BY MR YEO CHEOW TONG MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF DOVER STATION ON 23 OCT 2001, TUESDAY, 3.00PM] , Ministry of Transport]

Rolling stock

The trains on the LRT system are fitted with rubber tyres, rather than steel wheels, on specially-constructed guideways from which its power is also sourced. All cars are fully automated and driverless, and are controlled from their respective depots.

19 Bombardier CX-100s operate on the Bukit Panjang LRT. Capable of operating at a maximum speed of 55km/h, its pioneers 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 fraught with unreliability and technical glitches. The CX-100 cars can be coupled to operate in pairs during peak hours.

The Mitsubishi Crystal Movers are the newer rolling stock of the Singapore LRT system, operating on the Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, it currently maintains a cleaner record of reliability. The Crystal Movers are now used on Singapore Changi Airport Skytrain system.

Fares and ticketing

The 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.

afety

There were some incidents since the LRT'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 100 times. Again in 2002, a dislodged train wheel caused the entire shut down 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.

Notes

ee also

* List of Singapore LRT stations
* List of tram and light-rail transit systems
* Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
* Transport in Singapore
* SMRT Corporation
* SBS Transit
* Bukit Panjang
* Sengkang New Town
* Punggol New Town
* Sentosa Express — privately owned by the Sentosa Leisure Group

External links

* [http://www.lta.gov.sg/projects/images/system_map.gifOfficial rail map, Land Transport Authority]
* [http://www.smrt.com.sg SMRT]
* [http://www.sbstransit.com.sg SBS Transit]
* [http://sg.geocities.com/singaporerail Website About Singapore's Rail Transit System]
* [http://www.urbanrail.net/as/sing/singapore.htm Singapore @ UrbanRail.Net]