Phase one of Cross Island Line (CRL) is finalised. Here are 5 quick facts on Singapore’s eighth MRT line

​Spanning 29km with a target completion date by 2029, phase one of the CRL will run from Bright Hill to Changi with 12 stations in all

By Khalil Adis

An MRT train passing by Lakeside MRT station. The upcoming Cross Island Line (CRL) will provide an alternative route from Jurong to Changi when it is fully completed by 2030. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.

Come 2029, you can hop onto the train via a fully underground line that will link you from Ang Mo Kio to the aviation hub of Changi.

Announced just last week by Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, phase one will comprise 12 stations.

When fully completed by 2030, the entire line will span some 50km and will serve existing and future developments in the eastern, western, and north-eastern corridors.

This will link it to major hubs such as Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District and the Changi region.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the CRL will be Singapore’s longest fully underground line. 

Here are five quick facts on phase one of the CRL.

#1: 29km of fully underground line

The alignment for phase one of the CRL will comprise 12 stations spanning 29km. Map: Courtesy of the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

The CRL will run parallel to the current East West Line (EWL).

When opened, it will serve the residential and industrial areas such as Loyang, Tampines, Pasir Ris, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North and Ang Mo Kio.

This will definitely help ease congestions along the popular line which has been in operation since 12 December 1987.

When the full CRL line commences service, the LTA envisages time savings of up to 30 to 40 minutes from Changi to Jurong.

Construction for phase one of the CRL is expected to commence in 2020 and will be completed by 2029. 

#2: 12 stations 

Ongoing construction works at Bright Hill MRT station which serves the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). By 2029, it will become an interchange station with phase one of the Cross Island Line (CRL). Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.

Phase one of the CRL will comprise 12 stations namely, Aviation Park, Loyang, Pasir Ris East, Pasir Ris, Tampines North, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North, Tavistock, Ang Mo Kio, Teck Ghee and Bright Hill.

Of these, four will be interchange stations.

Bright Hill, which is on the Thomson-East Coast Line, will become an interchange station with the CRL

Meanwhile, Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Pasir Ris will be an interchange station with the North-South Line, North East Line and the East-West Line respectively.

#3: More than 100,000 households will benefit

Condominium developments along Sin Ming Avenue will be served by Bright Hill MRT station. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.

According to the LTA, more than 100,000 households will benefit from phase one of the CRL.

Additionally, the LTA said envisages the projected daily ridership of the entire CRL to be more than 600,000 in the initial years before increasing to over 1 million in the longer term.

#4: Open up access to more areas

Screen grab of Aviation Park MRT station from LTA's website.

The LTA said previously inaccessible areas which currently have no MRT access such as Serangoon Gardens, Serangoon North and Aviation Park in Changi will enjoy greater connectivity. 

This means common recreational spaces such as Changi Beach Park, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Hougang Mall and Ang Mo Kio Hub will also become more accessible by public transport.

This is definitely great news for outdoor lovers and mall enthusiasts as such spaces will enjoy greater connectivity.

There’s more good news.

The LTA said the line may be extended to link up with Changi Airport.

#5: CRL will support three new economic hubs 

Jurong Lake District is fast taking shape as Singapore's largest commercial and regional centre outside the city centre. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.

Singapore plans to bring jobs closer to homes with various plans in place to build economic hubs away from the central business district.

Minister Khaw said that the CRL will help to support these new economic hubs that are being planned such as the Punggol Digital District, Jurong Lake District and one at the Changi region.

Analysis

The township of Punggol has seen HDB flats transacted above the S$1 million threshold recently. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.

​The CRL will help to boost property values along the 50km stretch.

The districts that will benefit greatly are those described above where the government has laid across a masterplan especially for Punggol Digital District and Jurong Lake District.

According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Punggol Digital District masterplan, the innovation district will house technology firms involved in key growth fields such as cyber-security as well as the new Singapore Institute of Technology Campus.  

It will be opened progressively from 2023 and will create around 28,000 new jobs.

Meanwhile, Jurong Lake District is set to become the largest commercial and regional centre outside the city centre.

According to the URA, the district will create more than 100,000 new jobs with 20,000 homes to be built when it is set for completion after 2040.

As for Changi, the URA’s Draft Master Plan 2013 showed Changi Airport’s ambitious expansion plans with two new terminals that will be built - Terminal 4 was completed in 2017 while the new Terminal 5 will be completed by around 2025. 

In addition, Project Jewel, an S$1.7 billion mixed-use development is set to open this year and will be seamlessly linked with the existing Terminal 1.

This iconic development will feature a vast indoor garden and more shopping options. 

The URA envisages these three new developments to anchor Changi Airport’s air hub status for years to come and to generate thousands of new jobs for Singaporeans.

As such, homeowners residing in Jurong East, Toh Guan, Teban Gardens, Taman Jurong, Punggol and Changi areas will benefit the most from the opening of the CRL line.