North South Line

The North South Line (NSL) is the first (Mass Rapid Transit) MRT lines in Singapore. The line is 45 km long with 26 stations, including the upcoming North South Line Extension, slated to be completed by 2014. Traveling from one end of this line to the other end takes about one hour, and this line is coloured  red  on the rail map. It is maintained by SMRT.

As the name implies, the line connects central Singapore to both northern and southern parts of the island. Cross-platform interchange with the East West Line is provided at Jurong East, City Hall and Raffles Place while transfer to the North East Line is possible via a linkway at Dhoby Ghaut. Connections to the Circle Line are provided at Bishan, Dhoby Ghaut and Marina Bay and a linkway via Esplanade. The North South Line will interchange with the Downtown Line at Newton and with the future Thomson Line at Woodlands, Orchard and Marina Bay.

Initial system
7 November 1987: Yio Chu Kang – Toa Payoh (First section opened)

12 December 1987: Toa Payoh – Raffles Place

20 December 1988: Yio Chu Kang – Yishun

4 November 1989: Raffles Place – Marina Bay (start of separate North South Line & East West Line)

10 March 1990: Jurong East – Choa Chu Kang (initially operated as the Branch Line of the East West Line)

Second phase of development (Woodlands Extension)

10 February 1996: Yishun – Choa Chu Kang (the Choa Chu Kang branch of the East West Line became part of the present North South Line)

When the government did the initial planning of the Woodlands extension MRT line, Sembawang MRT station was only intended as a provisional station to be built at a later date due to the underdevelopment of the town and Kranji MRT station was not planned. But on the second round of planning, the government decided to build these station and omit Sungei Kadut station from the plan. Sungei Kadut station will be built later if the town's population justifies the necessity for the station.





Jurong East Modification Project (JEMP)
The Jurong East Modification Project (JEMP) consisted of the construction of a new platform and the addition of a fourth track to Jurong East Station. It has been in use since 27 May 2011. The North South Line currently utilises the new track and platform during the weekday morning peak hours from 7am to 9am only. From 27 December 2011, the platform and track will be utilised during the weekday evening peak hours. The new track and platform allows trains to be run at a higher frequency during weekday peak hours. Waiting time is now reduced from 4.5 minutes to 2.5 minutes. Along with the new platform and tracks, 22 Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151A trains will be added to the fleet to reduce waiting time and increase train frequencies. All 22 trains are in service as of February 2012.



North South Line Extension (NSLe)
A 1 km one station extension from Marina Bay which to be completed by 2014. The new Marina South Pier will be located near the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore in Marina Bay. The then Minister for Transport, Raymond Lim, announced on 12 February 2009 that the completion date for the extension, initially due for completion in 2015, will be brought forward by a year to 2014. On 7 March 2012, Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, gave his speech on Committee of Supply Debate 2012 in Parliament of Singapore that North South Line Extension expected to be completed in 2014.

2014: Marina Bay – Marina South Pier



Possible future stations
<p class="MsoNormal">At least two more stations may be added to the line in the future since alphanumeric codes NS6 & NS12 have been reserved for future use.

<p class="MsoNormal">A station between Yew Tee & Kranji

<p class="MsoNormal">A station between Sembawang & Yishun

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Half-height platform screen door (HHPSDs) installations
<p class="MsoNormal">With incidents of passengers falling into tracks and being hit-and-run by trains, the government announced plans to install half-height platform screen doors in a speech on 25 January 2008,[9] citing lower costs due to it becoming a more common feature worldwide but once rejected. The HHPSD were first installed on the platforms of Jurong East station (original platforms), Pasir Ris station and Yishun station in 2009 as trials and all other elevated stations (together with Jurong East station for JEMP platforms) will have platform screen doors installed eventually.[10] On 7 March 2012, Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, gave his speech on Committee of Supply Debate 2012 in Parliament of Singapore that all remaining elevated stations on NSEWL will be fitted with HHPSDs by March 2012. Preliminary implementation plan for railway noise mitigation to be developed by 3rd Quarter 2012. As of 14 March 2012, all above-ground stations on the North South Line (NSL) are installed with HHPSDs and operational.

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