Upper Thomson MRT station
{{Short description|Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox Station
| background =
| name = {{SMRT Infobox Colour
| enname = Upper Thomson
| taname = அப்பர் தாம்சன்
| msname = Upper Thomson
| line = thomson-east coast
| line2 =
| line3 =
| code = {{SMRT code|TE|8}}
| terminicode =
}}
| type = Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
| image = File:TE8upperthomson.jpeg
| image_caption = View of the station platform
| address = 1 Jalan Keli
Singapore 577937{{Cite web |title=Upper Thomson MRT Station (TE8) |url=http://www.onemap.gov.sg/main/v2/?lat=1.35441643365401&lng=103.832898468504 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=OneMap |publisher=Singapore Land Authority}}{{cbignore}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|1.3542|103.8332|type:railwaystation_region:SG|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| line = {{rail color box|system=SMRT|line=Thomson-East Coast}}
| other =
| structure = Underground
| platform = 2 (1 island platform)
| depth =
| levels = 1
| tracks = 2
| parking =
| bicycle =
| passengers = 8,878 per day{{cite web |title=Land Transport DataMall |website=Datamall |publisher=Land Transport Authority |url=https://www.mytransport.sg/content/mytransport/home/dataMall.html |access-date=14 August 2024 |archive-date=14 August 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240814080443/https://datamall.lta.gov.sg/content/datamall/en.html |url-status=live|url-access=registration}}
| pass_year = June 2024
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| opened = {{start date and age|df=yes|2021|08|28}}
| closed =
| rebuilt =
| electrified = Yes
| accessible = Yes
| operator = SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
| owned = Land Transport Authority
| zone =
| former = Thomson Village, Thomson Park{{Cite web |title=Public Poll for Thomson Line Station Names |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2013/5/2/public-poll-for-thomson-line-station-names.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425010122/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2013/5/2/public-poll-for-thomson-line-station-names.html |archive-date=25 April 2020 |access-date=25 April 2020 |website=LTA}}{{Cite web |title=Thomson Line Station Names Finalised |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2014/6/2/thomson-line-station-names-finalised.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106112333/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2014/6/2/thomson-line-station-names-finalised.html |archive-date=6 January 2020 |access-date=25 April 2020 |website=LTA}}
| services = {{Adjacent stations |system=SMRT |line=Thomson-East Coast |left=Bright Hill |right=Caldecott}}
| mpassengers =
| map_type = Singapore Rail
| map_caption = Upper Thomson station in Singapore
| map_dot_label = Upper Thomson
| map_alt = Singapore MRT/LRT system map
| map_size = 300px
}}
Upper Thomson MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) in Thomson, Singapore. As the name suggests, it is located along Upper Thomson Road. The five entrances of the station serve various developments such as Soo Chow Estate, Thomson Plaza and the Church of the Holy Spirit.
First announced in August 2012 as part of the Thomson line (TSL), the station was constructed as part of TEL Phase 2 (TEL2) with the merger of the TSL and the Eastern Region line (ERL). The station's construction required multiple traffic diversions along Upper Thomson Road along with a canal. Opening on 28 August 2021 along with the TEL2 stations, Upper Thomson station features Lost In Our (Concrete) Jungle by Troy Chin as part of the Art-in-Transit programme.
History
File:TE8 Upper Thomson MRT construction DJI 0009.jpg
File:TE8 Upper Thomson MRT Exit 1 20210928 191714.jpg
Upper Thomson station was first announced as part of the 22-station Thomson line on 29 August 2012.{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Royston |date=29 August 2012 |title=New Thomson MRT line to open from 2019, and have 22 stations |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/new-thomson-mrt-line-open-2019-and-have-22-stations-20120829 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829233715/http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/new-thomson-mrt-line-open-2019-and-have-22-stations-20120829 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |access-date=30 June 2021 |website=The Straits Times}}{{Cite web |date=30 August 2012 |title=Thomson Line to open from 2019 with 22 stations |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1222777/1/.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830140407/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1222777/1/.html |archive-date=30 August 2012 |access-date=30 June 2021 |website=Channel NewsAsia (CNA)}} In November 2013, the contract for the station's construction was awarded to Sato Kogyo (S) Pte. Ltd. The S$374 million (US${{ToUSD|374|Singapore|year=2013|r=1}} million) contract included building the associated tunnels. The station's construction began in 2014, with a scheduled completion of 2020.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2013 |title=LTA Awards Two Contracts for Thomson Line's Springleaf and Upper Thomson Stations |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2013/11/2/lta-awards-two-contracts-for-thomson-lines-springleaf-and-upper-thomson-stations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003064744/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2013/11/2/lta-awards-two-contracts-for-thomson-lines-springleaf-and-upper-thomson-stations.html |archive-date=3 October 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=LTA}}
On 15 August 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that TSL would merge with the ERL to form the TEL. Upper Thomson station, being part of the proposed line, would be constructed as part of TEL2, which consists of six stations between Springleaf and Caldecott.{{Cite web |date=19 August 2014 |title=Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority & Singapore Land Authority – Thomson-East Coast Line: New MRT Links in the East |url=http://app.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=3cc2e460-06ea-4245-a37f-df11b602ec7d |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084445/http://app.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=3cc2e460-06ea-4245-a37f-df11b602ec7d |archive-date=19 August 2014 |access-date=13 February 2020|website=LTA}}{{Cite web |date=13 February 2020 |title=Thomson–East Coast Line |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/upcoming_projects/rail_expansion/thomson_east_coast_line.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213075700/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/upcoming_projects/rail_expansion/thomson_east_coast_line.html |archive-date=13 February 2020 |access-date=13 February 2020 |website=LTA}}
The road above the station, Upper Thomson Road, had to be diverted through seven stages,{{Cite sign |title=T212 Upper Thomson Station |publisher=LTA |year=2020 |place=Singapore |type=Infographic poster at TEL2 Project Information Centre}} along with utilities and a canal.{{Cite web |last=Abdullah |first=Ahmad Zhaki |date=16 August 2021 |title='More than a day to bore through 10cm of rock': Making Stage 2 of the Thomson-East Coast Line a reality |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/thomson-east-coast-line-making-stage-2-reality-lta-2114226 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828074607/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/thomson-east-coast-line-making-stage-2-reality-lta-2114226 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=CNA}} Barriers were installed to minimise noise pollution, with workers draping noise curtains on heavy machinery. A linkway to one of the station's entrances was constructed using a retractable micro-tunnel boring machine.{{Cite web |last=Wei |first=Toh Ting |date=16 August 2021 |title=Treading a fine line in building Thomson-East Coast Line stations |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/treading-a-fine-line-in-building-thomson-east-coast-line-stations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828080153/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/treading-a-fine-line-in-building-thomson-east-coast-line-stations |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=The Straits Times}} This machine installed a series of interlocking underground pipes around the passageway, allowing one side of the Upper Thomson Road to remain open as workers excavate the linkway. In order to reduce carbon emissions during construction, the station was built using environmentally-friendly materials.{{Cite web |last=Wei |first=Toh Ting |date=20 August 2021 |title=Unique designs, seats with backrest among features at new Thomson-East Coast Line stations |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/unique-designs-seats-with-backrest-among-features-at-new-thomson-east-coast-line |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828074555/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/unique-designs-seats-with-backrest-among-features-at-new-thomson-east-coast-line |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=The Straits Times}}
In December 2016, shops along Upper Thomson Road were affected by a flood, which severely impacted their businesses as their goods were damaged.{{Cite web |last=Liew |first=Isabelle |date=28 December 2016 |title=Shops in Upper Thomson Road hit hard by Christmas floods |url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/shops-upper-thomson-road-hit-hard-christmas-floods |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=The New Paper |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003084612/https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/shops-upper-thomson-road-hit-hard-christmas-floods |url-status=live }} Through an inspection by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), the contractor, Sato Kogyo, was fined S$14,000 (US${{To USD round|14000|Singapore|year=2013|round=yes}}) for altering the draining systems around the station's site without informing the PUB. Fourteen other contractors working on other construction works were also penalised on similar charges.{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Kelly |date=7 December 2017 |title=Contractor behind last December's Upper Thomson floods fined S$14,000 |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/contractor-behind-last-decembers-upper-thomson-floods-fined-s14000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211003084323/https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/contractor-behind-last-decembers-upper-thomson-floods-fined-s14000 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=TODAYonline}}
With the restrictions imposed on construction works due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TEL2 completion date was pushed to 2021.{{Cite web |date=4 September 2020 |title=Second stage of Thomson-East Coast Line to open early 2021 after delays due to COVID-19: Ong Ye Kung |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-second-stage-of-tel-to-open-early-2021-delay-13083284 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913075617/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-second-stage-of-tel-to-open-early-2021-delay-13083284 |archive-date=13 September 2020 |access-date=4 September 2020 |website=CNA |language=en}} On 14 December 2020, it was further announced that the opening of TEL 2 was delayed to the third quarter of 2021 so the rail system software for the line could be reviewed.{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Grace |date=14 December 2020 |title=Stage 2 of Thomson-East Coast Line to be delayed by another six months to Q3 2021: LTA |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/stage-2-of-thomson-east-coast-line-to-be-delayed-by-another-six-months-to-q3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217125359/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/stage-2-of-thomson-east-coast-line-to-be-delayed-by-another-six-months-to-q3 |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=14 December 2020 |website=The Straits Times}}{{Cite web |date=14 December 2020 |title=Stage 2 of Thomson-East Coast Line to be delayed by another six months |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/transport/stage-2-of-thomson-east-coast-line-to-be-delayed-by-another-six-months |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217124647/https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/transport/stage-2-of-thomson-east-coast-line-to-be-delayed-by-another-six-months |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=17 December 2020 |website=The Business Times}}{{Cite web |date=14 December 2020 |title=Second stage of Thomson-East Coast Line further delayed to third quarter next year |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/second-stage-thomson-east-coast-line-further-delayed-q3-13770372 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217124747/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/second-stage-thomson-east-coast-line-further-delayed-q3-13770372 |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=17 December 2020 |website=CNA}} As announced during a visit by Transport Minister S. Iswaran at Caldecott station on 30 June 2021,{{Cite web |last=Abdullah |first=Zhaki |date=30 June 2021 |title=Second stage of Thomson-East Coast Line to begin operations on Aug 28 |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/thomson-east-coast-line-stage-2-open-aug-28-six-mrt-stations-15122660 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630033627/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/thomson-east-coast-line-stage-2-open-aug-28-six-mrt-stations-15122660 |archive-date=30 June 2021 |access-date=30 June 2021 |website=CNA}} the station began operations on 28 August 2021.{{Cite web |last=Begum |first=Shabana |date=28 August 2021 |title=Commuters on first trains at new TEL2 stations reminisce about inaugural 1980s MRT rides |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/commuters-on-first-trains-at-new-tel2-stations-reminisce-inaugural-1980s-mrt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828191125/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/commuters-on-first-trains-at-new-tel2-stations-reminisce-inaugural-1980s-mrt |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=29 August 2021 |website=The Straits Times}}
Station details
Upper Thomson station serves the TEL and is between the Bright Hill and Caldecott stations. The official station code is TE8.{{Cite web |title=MRT System Map |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/dam/ltagov/getting_around/public_transport/rail_network/pdf/tel2_sm-20-03-en-exp.pdf |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=LTA |archive-date=3 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903005548/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/dam/ltagov/getting_around/public_transport/rail_network/pdf/tel2_sm-20-03-en-exp.pdf |url-status=live }} Being part of the TEL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains.{{Cite web |title=Getting Around – Public Transport – Rail Network |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/getting_around/public_transport/rail_network.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101093543/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/getting_around/public_transport/rail_network.html |archive-date=1 November 2019 |access-date=27 April 2021 |website=LTA}} Train frequencies on the TEL range from 3 to 6 minutes.{{Cite web |title=LTA {{!}} MRT/LRT |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/map/train.html# |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.lta.gov.sg}} The station has five entrances, serving Soo Chow Estate and various landmarks along Upper Thomson Road, including Thomson Plaza, Church of the Holy Spirit and the LTA office at Sin Ming.{{Cite web |title=Upper Thomson – Exits |url=http://journey.smrt.com.sg/journey/station_info/upper-thomson/exits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210928123946/http://journey.smrt.com.sg/journey/station_info/upper-thomson/exits/ |archive-date=28 September 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=SMRT Journeys }}{{Cite web |date=17 January 2020 |title=Factsheet: Progress Update on Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 |url=https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2020/1/news-releases/Factsheet_progress_update_TEL_stage_two.html |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=LTA |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003120218/https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2020/1/news-releases/Factsheet_progress_update_TEL_stage_two.html |url-status=live }}
The station has a length of {{convert|228|m|ft}} and a depth of {{convert|20|m|ft}}. The station walls have wave-like motifs that reflects the station's proximity to three reservoirs – MacRitchie Reservoir, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Lower Peirce Reservoir.{{Cite web |date=20 August 2021 |title=Banyan trees and bulbuls: How Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 stations were inspired by nature |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/thomson-east-coast-line-mrt-stations-inspired-nature-2125766 |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=CNA |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828074555/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/thomson-east-coast-line-mrt-stations-inspired-nature-2125766 |url-status=live }} The station is decorated by 88 animal figures, which are part of the Art-in-Transit artwork Lost in Our (Concrete) Jungle by Troy Chin. The artwork, primarily depicting long-tailed macaques, took inspiration from the nearby Central Catchment Nature Reserve. With the "hide-and-seek" concept adopted for the artwork, Chin intended for his artwork to be enjoyable and "fun" for commuters. The number of figures signifies Upper Thomson station being the 88th station involved in the Art-in-Transit programme.
References
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External links
- {{commons category-inline|Upper Thomson MRT Station}}
{{Singapore MRT stations|thomson=yes}}