The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has released the Draft Master Plan 2019 today. The station outlines of the Jurong Region Line (JRL) are readily available on the master plan maps and show the detailed alignment of the line. Several questions previously left unanswered by information furnished by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) have since been answered through the maps in the draft master plan - one such example being the set up of Bahar Junction station.
Do take a look at the maps of the stations and we'll unveil some of the secrets of JRL. For the purpose of this post, we will be referring to the JRL system by the West route and the East route.
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A map of the Jurong Region Line system. West route is indicated by the full block colour and alphanumeric codes JS and JW. East route is indicated by the striped portion and alphanumeric code JE.
Source: LTA |
JRL West route
From the map we can determine easily that the Choa Chu Kang station will be of an island platform configuration. Due to limitations of space, it seems that the over-run tracks north of the station will be rather short in comparison to that located at other stations.
Contrary to our expectations in an
earlier post on Choa Chu Kang West, the station will also feature an island platform where the tracks lie on either side of a single platform that serves trains travelling in both directions.
As Tengah is the point at which the JRL East and West routes diverge, this station will see three tracks. According to the maps though, it appears that the East and West routes will share the same mainline tracks whilst the third track appears to be a non-revenue track.
While Hong Kah station is not a station that serves as an interchange or route transfer point, it too will have three tracks although it is highly probable to only have a single island platform. The third track is likely to be a reception track to the Tengah main depot for the JRL.
Corporation station is a regular station with an island platform. The reception tracks split from the mainline east of the station, not giving this particular station any outstanding, differentiating features.
Similar to Corporation as a sister station, Jurong West will feature a single island platform with no other differentiating features.
One of the most noticeably different stations though, is Bahar Junction. Due to the lack of detail in the LTA-issued maps, many have wondered how the station would function as it is a diverging point between the JRL West route towards the west and south branches. As predicted by y2koh, the station will see 3 platforms - an island platform serving 2 bounds and another side platform serving a third track.
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| Diagram showing prediction of Bahar Junction station's service layout by y2koh. |
y2koh's prediction of the layout of services at the station has since been confirmed with the latest updates in the draft master plan maps.
Boon Lay station is an interchange station connecting to the East West Line (EWL). There is a lack of certain details such as the connections available between the stations. However, the map does show that the JRL platform is expected to be on top of the EWL tracks.
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Render of an undetermined JRL station - potentially at Boon Lay.
Source: LinkedIn |
Earlier unconfirmed renders seen of a JRL station show a link bridge below the JRL concourse level that would fit to a link bridge between the EWL platform level and a JRL station sitting above the EWL viaduct.
Enterprise and Tukang stations are located in the industrial precincts of the Jurong Industrial Estate. Both stations will feature island platforms and be rather standard stations with no distinguishing features.
Jurong Hill station, whilst also located with a predominantly industrial precinct of Jurong Industrial Estate, will feature a side platform arrangement. This is likely due to the proximity of the Jurong Pier flyover which may affect the positioning of pier columns to support a track that diverges sufficiently for an island platform configuration.
Jurong Pier, while a likely station for interchange with the Cross Island Line (CRL), seems to lack discernible details at the moment.
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A map of Jurong Pier station showing an entrance with link bridge across Jurong Pier Road.
Source: LTA |
For instance, one of the exits visible on the LTA maps does not appear on the URA draft master plan 2019 maps. Nonetheless, from the maps we can tell that the station will feature a single island platform with two tracks.
Gek Poh continues the West route on the western end. This station is one of the several stations that features side platforms.
Tawas station will also feature a side platform. To get to Tawas station, the line skirts the compound of the existing Pioneer Primary School, squeezing in next to the residential blocks to cross over the Pan Island Expressway.
The maps also show that Nanyang Gateway, located within Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will utilise an island platform layout.
Meanwhile, Nanyang Crescent station which is located in the heart of NTU, will feature side platforms. This will enable the station to fit into the narrow but undulating terrain where the station is located in. We will cover this in greater detail during the pre-construction segment in time to come.
The last station on the West route, Peng Kang Hill, will feature an island platform and is co-located with a remote stabling facility. It is interesting to note that the stabling facility will be larger than the station itself.
JRL East route
The Tengah Plantation station is the first station on the east route of the JRL. A typical, nondescript station, it features a single island platform served by two tracks. From the maps it appears to be sited in the road median.
On the other hand, whilst Tengah Park station also features an island platform, it sits to the side of Bukit Batok Road as opposed to the median.
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A map of Tengah Park station showing a link bridge entrance across Bukit Batok Road.
Source: LTA |
A link bridge should connect across to the other side of the road as shown in earlier LTA maps.
Bukit Batok West station, which also serves the northern part of Yuhua neighbourhood, features an island platform. Likewise, a link bridge across the Pan Island Expressway is missing from the maps.
Although Toh Guan station is located in a narrow corridor, the planners managed to fit in an island platform. Running parallel to the existing North South Line, it will be a wonder of engineering upon completion.
Jurong East interchange will also be another engineering feat, with the JRL crossing over the EWL to reach its platforms located south of the existing station. Unlike the current lines, the JRL section will feature side platforms. In view of the length of the station indicated on the URA draft master plan maps, the platform length may be similar to that of the current westbound platforms at the existing station to
potentially offer cross-platform transfer.
Jurong Town Hall station will also be located to the side of the road, as opposed to being located in the road median. Similar to other generic stations on the line, it features an island platform.
Arguably one of the most interesting discoveries from the maps is the layout at Pandan Reservoir station. While featuring an island platform, the southern end of the station shows stub tracks terminating before reaching the reservoir proper. The current purpose, elevation and layout of these stub tracks is unknown as there also exists another set of tracks that turns eastwards beyond this station.
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An aerial view of the Jurong Lake District. The JRL can be seen continuing eastwards after Pandan Reservoir, the current end terminal of the JRL east route. However the stub tracks are not seen in this image.
Source: Today |
This pair of tracks continues eastward to the a future station at West Coast where the line will presumably interchange with the CRL. Both the map and aerial render show the tracks running by the side of the road as opposed to the road median. Not present on the render though, are the stub tracks. This is possibly the line's planners leaving options open for future developments like extending the line or allowing future stabling and support facilities to be constructed nearby.
We now better understand the layouts of the stations with respect to their individual locations. Do follow us as we document more about the various stations prior to construction commencing.
I'm inclined to think that the "stub tracks" at Pandan Reservoir are just a mapmaking error, like how various linkways are missing from other JRL stations. But if it were a real provision for another branch, where would it go? Do gymnastics to get to Jalan Buroh?
ReplyDeleteThere are still plenty more unanswered questions, given that URA's maps don't show crossovers and other interlockings for the JRL, as compared to some TEL and even CRL1 stations.
I guess the Stub Tracks are provisions for the possible West Coast Extension
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ReplyDeleteFor Boon Lay, there is a possibility that the site, labelled light blue; for commercial and residential integrated development, may be required to include a paid connection between the JRL and EWL station in the development.
ReplyDeleteRight now it looks like the EWL-JRL paid link will connect directly to the EWL platform a la Paya Lebar.
DeleteThe issue here is if they might need to build a new platform to relieve post-JRL congestion there.
The stub tracks going Eastward isn't just for West Coast.
ReplyDeleteWasn't LTA doing feasiblity study for JRL potentially going all the way to CC25 HPV to interchange?
Honestly, do you think it is logical, that there is no bidirectional through-service between Peng Kang Hill, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong Pier, where commuters have to transfer at Bahar Junction once when they travel on the Jurong Region Line? No other system has such an ambiguous requirement. The closest example to us is the KTM between Butterworth, Padang Besar and Kuala Lumpur. Even that one has bidirectional tracks for all connections. What I am inclined to believe is that the JRL alignment on the URA master plan is not the actual alignment that will be implemented when the JRL is constructed. Otherwise, explain the additional tracks at Pandan Reservoir. The actual product may actually be 3 pairs of elevated viaducts at Bahar Junction.
ReplyDeletehow u get the pictures of master plan 2019
ReplyDeleteHello Jon. It's coming 1.5yr since this post. So you have any updates (trenching activities.. Etc) of the possibility of the stub tracks in Pandan, going eastwards towards West Coast estate, and joining Haw Paw Villa? Thank u.
ReplyDelete