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| 10 January 2024 - A view of Tengah depot at the beginning of Q1. |
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| 18 February 2024 - A view of Tengah depot in the middle of Q1. |
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| 18 March 2024 - A view of Tengah depot at the end of Q1. |
As we reach the tail end of Q1 2024, we're beginning our quarterly updates with the Jurong Region Line (JRL) depot at Tengah. Built as part of contract J101, there still appears to be some way to go. According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA)'s press release, the J151 trains for the line are anticipated to arrive in the second half of the year. Judging from the work progress on site, 2025 might be a more appropriate window to see the arrival of the JRL trains instead. We'll take a dive in to the progress of the various elements at the depot during Q1.
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A view of the stabling shed from the north, showing its location near to the expressways.
Source: SAA Architects |
Reception Track ramp
An important part of the depot is the track access ramp that allows trains to enter and leave the depot, connecting it to the main line. Without the ramp, trains will not be able to access the line nor come in to the depot to be serviced and cleaned. Progress has been creeping along over the past quarter with formwork being installed followed by rebar. We look forward to the eventual casting which will connect the section of at grade track in the depot to the reception tracks on elevated viaducts.
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| 18 February 2024 - The formwork has been put in place for the casting of the ramp. |
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| 18 February 2024 - Columns to support the ramp as it elevates visible. |
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18 February 2024 - The first viaduct pier columns that will support the transition from at grade
track to viaducts. |
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| 18 March 2024 - Form work on site for installation to give the ramp the typical viaduct look. |
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| 18 March 2024 - Rebar installation atop of the form work previously installed. |
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| 18 March 2024 - More form work connecting the viaduct pier columns. |
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| 18 March 2024 - The transition from at grade to elevated viaduct tracks. |
Load Centres
Supporting infrastructure is typically not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about rail system infrastructure. However, these play a big role in allowing for the smooth operation of the system. Load centres are where the power equipment such as transformers and distributors are housed. These will eventually serve to regulate the amount of electricity coursing through the cables at the depot, allowing most interfaces and equipment to function.
Over the past quarter, these have been the first buildings to reach completion at the depot site. At the beginning of the year, the buildings were mainly shell structures. However, by the end of the quarter, most of the external work had been completed with details such as louvres installed and painting of the building completed.
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| 10 January 2024 - The 2 load centres at the beginning of the quarter. |
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| 10 January 2024 - The more advanced building seen from a distance. |
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| 10 January 2024 |
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| 10 January 2024 |
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| 18 February 2024 - The 2 load centres in the middle of the quarter. |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 - The 2 load centres at the end of the quarter. |
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| 18 March 2024 - Details such as louvres have been installed. |
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| 18 March 2024 |
Trackworks
One of the more exciting parts of the depot construction has been the commencement of trackworks under contract J150. While there is a still a large amount of earth-moving going on, the contractor for the depot - China Railway Bureau No 11 - has allocated a small portion of the site for trackworks to begin. Located near the junction ahead of the workshop sheds, a series of turn outs will be laid in a fan-shape.
Over the course of the past quarter, the progress on site has shifted from the laying of ballast to the installation of sleepers to actual rails appearing on site. A mobile flash butt welder can be seen at the location at the end of the quarter as well. While this represents a small section of the entire track needed to be laid at the site, it also is a good step forward in progress given that most of the depot site still has a long way to go till it reaches completion.
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| 10 January 2024 - Ballast can be seen in the midground of the photo - a large patch of white. |
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| 10 January 2024 - A close up view showing the compacting of earth and laying of ballast. |
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| 10 January 2024 - The site stretches to the workshop sheds. |
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10 January 2024 - A panoramic view showing the site where trackworks are to begin at the
beginning of the quarter. |
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| 18 February 2024 - The appearance of sleepers at the site. |
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18 February 2024 - The extent of the work progress is not great by any means, but nonetheless
presents a start. |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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18 March 2024 - Rails are now on site at the end of the quarter, along with the mobile flash butt
welding machine. |
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| 18 March 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 |
Workshop Sheds
An important role of the depot is to conduct maintenance on the trains housed within. These can range from minor repairs to major overhauls as parts need to be changed out due to wear and tear. Workshops are where all this heavy lifting takes place. At Tengah depot, the workshops are located next to the Pan Island Expressway. Over the past quarter, columns for the sheds have begun to appear, allowing for the completion of the eventual facility.
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10 January 2024 - Rebar stubs for the workshops visible in the midground at the beginning of the
quarter. |
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18 February 2024 - Columns in place at the back of the workshop in the middle of the quarter. At
the front end, a metal structure can be seen. |
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18 February 2024 - Another view of the workshop shed columns. The stabling sheds are in the
background. |
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18 March 2024 - Columns now appearing at the front of the workshop sheds as well. Installation
of the precast beams between the columns has commenced at the back. |
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| 18 March 2024 |
Stabling sheds
The stabling sheds at Tengah depot are located right at the back of the site, almost abutting the Kranji Expressway. As the sheds are expected to house approximately 50 tracks, this will be the largest structure within the JRL depot. Progress has been constant with the columns coming up from the south and moving northwards. The southern portion, with the columns installed the earliest, has also seen the commencement of precast beam installation to form the roof structure which has been progressing further north as well.
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| 10 January 2024 - Columns at the northern end of the stabling shed visible. |
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| 10 January 2024 - Precast beam installation at the southern end for the roof slab. |
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| 18 February 2024 - The progress of precast beam installation as of the middle of the quarter. |
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| 18 February 2024 - Further columns on the northern side. |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 - A view of the stabling sheds at the back of the site. |
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| 18 March 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 - A closer view of the work at the stabling sheds. The middle section is the most complete, with work on the roof slab well underway. |
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| 18 March 2024 - Columns on the northern end of the stabling sheds. |
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| 18 March 2024 |
Bus park
Tengah depot will also feature an integrated bus park, a common feature in rail depots these days. Progress on this facility though, has been a bit more stagnant in comparison to that of the rail depot infrastructure.
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| 10 January 2024 - Rebar bases for the bus park facility at the beginning of the quarter. |
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| 18 February 2024 - Appears to be the same as of the middle of the quarter. |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 February 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 - There does not appear to be much progress, understandably. |
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| 18 March 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 |
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| 18 March 2024 |
Admin & Operations Control CentreOne of the last components of the depot is the admin & Operations Control Centre (OCC) building. The OCC houses both the Depot Control Centre and the line's operations centre. This allows for the supervision of operations along the line and within the depot, handled by separate control centres. A back up OCC will be located near Expo station for exigencies.
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