North East Line

The North East Line (NEL) is a high-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore. Operated by SBS Transit, the line is the MRT's shortest.Template:Efn It runs from HarbourFront station in southern Singapore to Punggol Coast station in the northeast, serving 17 stations via Chinatown, Little India, Serangoon and Hougang. Coloured purple on official maps, it is Singapore's third MRT line and the world's first fully-automated underground driverless heavy rail line.

The NEL was planned during the 1980s to alleviate traffic congestion on roads leading to the northeast suburbs of the country. However, the project was delayed due to a lack of demand at that time. After the government's decision to go ahead with the project at an estimated cost of Template:Currency, its alignment and stations were finalised in 1996 and construction began the year after. The line began operations on 20 June 2003. Two mid-line stations initially did not open with the rest of the line; Buangkok station opened on 15 January 2006, and Woodleigh station began operations on 20 June 2011. A one-station extension to Punggol Coast station opened on 10 December 2024.

The driverless line uses the moving-block Alstom Urbalis 300 CBTC signalling system. Three types of Alstom rolling stock – C751A, C751C and C851E – run on the NEL, which is powered by an overhead line. The NEL is Singapore's first Art-in-Transit line, with 19 artworks displayed across its 17 stations. The stations are wheelchair-accessible, and most of them are Civil Defence shelters designed to withstand airstrikes and chemical attacks.

History

Planning

A map showing proposed stations along the North East Line running from HarbourFront to Punggol with proposed extensions to Jalan Kayu and the two outlying islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong

Planning map for the line

The Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) first proposed an additional MRT line serving the northeastern areas of Punggol and Jalan Kayu in September 1984. In its preliminary studies, the Communications Ministry concluded that existing roads would be inadequate for projected traffic into housing estates set to be built in the 21st century. To minimise the impact on other development, the Ministry developed plans to determine which parcels of land would be needed for the new MRT project. In December of that year, a British consultancy team consisting of Sir William Halcrow and Partners, Merz & McLellan and London Transport International was appointed by the MRTC to look into possible routes for the line.

In March 1986, the British consultants drew up a tentative route from Outram Park to Punggol. The line would connect to the existing MRT system at Dhoby Ghaut station and pass through Kandang Kerbau and Hougang, paralleling the major Serangoon and Upper Serangoon Roads. A branch line from Hougang to Jalan Kayu was also proposed. The segment of the line in the city would be underground, and the northern portion after Braddell Road would be elevated.

The MRTC, which approved the project in October 1986, proposed that the line link to Bishan Depot (which would maintain and service its trains). In February 1991, a proposal was made to extend the line to Pulau Tekong via Pulau Ubin to serve future residential and industrial developments in the long-term plans for these islands.

Delay

Although the government approved the NEL "in principle" in January 1989, Communications Minister Yeo Ning Hong said that the line's construction was dependent on development in the northeast. The Woodlands extension,Template:Efn which cost S$1.35 billion (US$

1. REDIRECT Template:To USD billion), took precedence over the S$4.3 billion (US$
2. REDIRECT Template:To USD billion) NEL. According to Yeo's successor, Mah Bow Tan, there were firmer plans for development around the Woodlands extension, unlike in the northeast, where the low population meant that the NEL would not be as cost-effective. The four Members of Parliament (MPs) for the northeast called for the line to be built sooner, saying that there would be sufficient demand (given the area's population) and it would relieve traffic congestion.

Reviewing the line's feasibility, the Communications Ministry said in 1995 that the NEL could be completed in 2002 if construction began promptly. It was projected to cost S$5 billion (US$

1. REDIRECT Template:To USD billion) and would operate at a loss of S$250 million (US$
2. REDIRECT Template:To USD million) during its first four years, with lower daily passenger numbers (240,000). The ministry recommended the construction of the NEL to the Cabinet, citing "wider benefits" such as reduced travelling time and reliance on cars.

There's no question about our desire or willingness to bring this extension forward. I believe it's worth the effort. It's worth doing. I believe residents will show their commitment and willingness to help us bring the gap in operating costs.

– Mah Bow Tan, engaging with grassroots leaders at the Punggol Community Club on 22 October 1995

Mah, engaging with grassroots leaders in October 1995, said that residents would have to be prepared to pay higher fares on the NEL to cover the line's cost and initial losses. His position was divisive; some leaders felt that it would be unfair to the residents, and others were confident that residents would be willing "to pay for a better quality of life". Increased fares for the entire network were also suggested, but Mah said that it would be more difficult to implement. He assured leaders that he would recommend construction of the line to the government.

A white paper released on 2 January 1996 said that the NEL would be built earlier to address congestion in the northeast corridor, which would also be relieved by express bus service. The government's announcement during a 19 January parliamentary debate on the report that it had decided to build the NEL "immediately" was greeted with applause.

Construction and opening

Exterior of the Punggol station, seen from an empty field

The Punggol station's construction was expedited to serve the area's new developments.

North East Line stations timeline

Date	Project	Description
20 June 2003	North East Line	HarbourFront – Punggol (14 stations)
15 January 2006		Opening of Buangkok station
20 June 2011		Opening of Woodleigh station
10 December 2024	North East Line Extension	Punggol – Punggol Coast (1 station)

The 16 NEL stations and their locations were announced on 4 March 1996. Many residents and politicians welcomed the announcement, since the line was expected to relieve traffic congestion, improve transport in the northeast and stimulate development around the stations. Thirteen civil contracts for track work and construction of the stations, Sengkang Depot and associated tunnels were awarded for a total of S$2.8 billion (US$

1. REDIRECT Template:To USD billion). Sixteen more contracts related to electrical and mechanical work were awarded for a total of S$1 billion (US$
2. REDIRECT Template:To USD billion).

To construct the line, of private land was acquired and of government land was returned to the state. Several rental HDB blocks, private homes and shops were acquired,Template:Sfn dismaying many affected residents. Those who had been asked to relocate in July 1996 requested more time to find new premises.

Construction of the line began with a groundbreaking ceremony at Farrer Park station on 25 November 1997. On 20 May 1999, SBS Transit (then Singapore Bus Service) was appointed to operate the line along with the Sengkang and Punggol LRT system. Parsons Brinckerhoff (through PB Merz and McLellan; now WSJ USA) was appointed to be the consultant for the line's engineering and design.

Construction challenges on the line included diverting the Eu Tong Seng canal for construction of the Chinatown station,Template:Sfn and avoiding flooding the tunnels and stations while boring tunnels under the Singapore River between the Clarke Quay and Dhoby Ghaut stations.Template:Sfn At the Outram Park station, an arched roof of cement-filled steel pipes was laid underneath the EWL tunnels to minimise movement.Template:Sfn Jet-grout arches were used to support the North–South Line (NSL) tunnels when explosives were used to remove rock while tunnelling from Clarke Quay to Dhoby Ghaut.Template:Sfn Roads around the line had to be temporarily diverted for construction.

When the 16 stations were announced, Potong Pasir (then named Sennett), Woodleigh and Punggol were planned to be built as shell stations due to lack of development around the station sites. It was later decided to build these stations in full as it would have been more costly to wait until later to complete the stations from the structural shells.Template:Sfn In 1998, the timeline for Punggol station was moved up because of planned housing developments in the area.Template:Sfn The decision not to build Sennett station generated political controversy, however, with claims by residents and opposition MP Chiam See Tong that the station would only open if the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) secured the constituency. In 2002, after a revised ridership study, the government decided to open the station with the other NEL stations due to projected developments around the site; the station also received its present name.

The NEL was initially expected to be completed by the end of 2002, with SBS staff trained in train maintenance and other technical aspects of the automated system. However, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in September 2002 that the line might be opened in April 2003 to allow sufficient time for testing. The line's systems were handed over to SBS Transit on 16 December, and the operator conducted further tests. The NEL's opening was delayed until June due to a glitch in the signalling system, however, with tests briefly handed over to the LTA. Since it had to bear the costs of maintenance and manpower, SBS Transit sought compensation from the government for the delay.

Except for two stations (Buangkok and Woodleigh), the NEL began operations on 20 June 2003. About 140,000 people rode the line on its opening day. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong visited the NEL on 28 June 2003 and travelled between Sengkang and Chinatown station. The line's opening ceremony was held on 28 August by Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Although the NEL has experienced a few glitches since its opening, it has been reliable and generally well-received by commuters. The International Association of Public Transport called the NEL a model public-transport system for the future in July 2003, with other driverless systems planned around the world. SBS Transit reported in June 2004 that the line averaged one 15-minute delay every six weeks, compared to expected twice-a-week delays. Average daily ridership has risen to 174,000 in 2004, with highest at 268,000 during Lunar New Year celebrations on 3 January that year.

Opening of reserved stations

Buangkok station entrance with a white canopy. The entrance faces an open field.

An entrance to Buangkok MRT station in August 2006, shortly after its opening

On 17 June 2003, SBS Transit announced that the Woodleigh and Buangkok stations would not open with the other NEL stations. Due to the lack of development, the operator said keeping the stations closed would reduce operating costs by S$2–3 million. At the time, housing demand declined due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the economic downturn following the September 11 attacks. Consequently, the Housing and Development Board cut back on its development plans in the Singapore northeast area. Residents around the line were upset by the sudden decision to keep Buangkok station closed, since they had been assured by MPs and grassroots leaders that it would be opened.

The government initially stood by SBS Transit's decision to keep the station closed, planning to open it in 2006 when more residential flats would be in the area. The opening was further postponed to 2008, following projected housing-development plans for the area. In August 2005, during a visit by youth minister Vivian Balakrishnan visit to Punggol South, eight white cardboard elephants were put up in protest, and a grass-roots leader was sternly warned after a police investigation into the incident. Following another evaluation by the LTA, SBS Transit announced at the end of 2005 that it would open the station on 15 January 2006.

The Buangkok station opened as scheduled "with much fanfare". Since its opening, however, the station averaged only 1,386 daily riders instead of the expected 6,000. Many residents still traveled to the adjacent Sengkang and Hougang stations due to their amenities. SBS Transit, after saying that it was still "too early to draw a conclusion" about ridership, remained committed to keeping the station open to serve future developments nearby.

Woodleigh station, built near the former Bidadari cemetery, was scheduled to open seven or eight years after the rest of the line. In January 2011, The Straits Times reported that preparations for the station's opening had been ongoing since the second half of 2010; the newspaper speculated that the station would open in mid-2011 to serve new developments in the area. In a March parliamentary session, Transport Minister Raymond Lim confirmed that the station would open on 20 June 2011. SBS deployed several staff members to assist confused commuters who alighted at Woodleigh station instead of the adjacent Serangoon station. Others alighted to view the station's interior or try an alternative route from the station.

North East Line extension (NELe)

View of the construction site with construction equipment and cranes around an excavated hole

Construction of connecting tunnels to the Punggol Coast station

On 17 January 2013, transport minister Lui Tuck Yew announced a one-station extension of the NEL to serve upcoming developments in Punggol North. Although it was initially planned to extend the line by 2030, Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng announced on 7 June 2017 that the extension would be moved up to 2023 in conjunction with development plans for the area, later delayed to 2024 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contract for the extension was awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (Singapore Branch) in December, and construction began that month. Although tunneling was completed on 13 November 2020, transport minister Ong Ye Kung said at the tunnel breakthrough ceremony that the Punggol Coast station's completion would be delayed until 2024 due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In June and July 2024, NEL operations began later at 8am on Sundays to integrate testing and commissioning works with the new station. As previously announced by the LTA on 10 October 2024, Punggol Coast station opened on 10 December.

Network and operations

Service

See caption

Map of the line

In 2022, the NEL had a daily ridership of 527,000. The line operates between 5:30am and 12:30am. On weekdays and Saturdays, the first train leaves Punggol Coast (the northern terminus) at 5:39am; the last train leaves HarbourFront (the southern terminus) at 11:56pm. Trains run every 2.5 to 5 minutes, and the line's total travel time is 35 minutes.

The NEL initially had a higher fare than the North–South and East–West lines due to greater operating costs. On 30 December 2016, however, fares were lowered to match the other lines with a "purely distance-based approach". This revision, made after a fare review by the Public Transport Council, was intended to minimise commuter confusion. To ease the morning crowds riding on the NEL, from 27 December 2025, free fares will apply to those tapping in at any of the stations from Kovan to Punggol Coast on weekday mornings before 7.30am, or between 9am and 9.45am.

The first line operated by SBS Transit, the NEL has been part of the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF) since 2018. Previously, the operator (the owner of the rail assets) had to bear the cost of maintaining and upgrading trains and signalling. Under the NRFF, the LTA and SBS Transit will share the profits and financial risks in operating the line and the LTA will take control of its operating assets on 1 April 2033. SBS Transit will operate the line under a 15-year licence which will expire on 31 March 2033.

Route

As its name implies, the fully-underground NEL runs from Singapore's city centre to the northeastern parts of the island. The line goes northeast from HarbourFront station, paralleling New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Street in Chinatown between the Outram Park and Clarke Quay stations. Passing under the Singapore River and Fort Canning Hill to Dhoby Ghaut station, it continues north to Little India station under Bukit Timah Road. Following Race Course Road and Serangoon Road through Little India and Boon Keng, it crosses the Whampoa and Kallang Rivers before reaching Potong Pasir.

Between the Potong Pasir and Kovan stations, the NEL parallels Upper Serangoon Road before curving north to Hougang station. The line then runs along Hougang Avenue 6 and Sengkang Central to Sengkang station in Sengkang as well as Punggol station in Punggol. It then curves east towards Punggol Coast station. The line is coloured purple on official maps.

Stations

The line has 17 stations from HarbourFront to Punggol Coast. Eight stations (eventually nine upon completion of the Cross Island Line) connect to other MRT/LRT lines. A station designated "NE2", which was included in the 1991 master plan between HarbourFront and Outram Park, may be built if development warrants it.

scope="col" style="color: white; background:#Template:Rcr" | Station code	scope="col" style="color: white; background:#Template:Rcr" | Name	scope="col" style="color: white; background:#Template:Rcr" | Images	scope="col" style="color: white; background:#Template:Rcr" | Interchange; Adjacent transportation	scope="col" style="color: white; background:#Template:Rcr" | Opening
Template:SMRT code	HarbourFront	Symmetrical view of HarbourFront station platform	Template:Rbox ― File:Bus-logo.svgHarbourFront	20 June 2003; Template:Years or months ago
Template:SMRT code	Outram Park	View of Outram Park island platform	Template:Rbox Template:Rbox
Template:SMRT code	Chinatown	View of Chinatown island platform	Template:Rbox
Template:SMRT code	Clarke Quay	View of Clarke Quay island platform	Template:Sdash
Template:SMRT code	Dhoby Ghaut	View of Dhoby Ghaut island platform	Template:Rbox Template:Rbox
Template:SMRT code	Little India	Symmetrical view of Little India station platform	Template:Rbox
Template:SMRT code	Farrer Park	View of Farrer Park island platform	rowspan="3" Template:Sdash
Template:SMRT code	Boon Keng	View of Boon Keng island platform
Template:SMRT code	Potong Pasir	View of Potong Pasir island platform
Template:SMRT code	Woodleigh	View of Woodleigh island platform	File:Bus-logo.svgWoodleigh	20 June 2011; Template:Years or months ago
Template:SMRT code	Serangoon	View of Serangoon island platform	Template:Rbox ― File:Bus-logo.svgSerangoon	20 June 2003; Template:Years or months ago
Template:SMRT code	Kovan	View of Kovan island platform	Template:Sdash
Template:SMRT code	Hougang	View of Hougang island platform	Template:Rbox (2030) ― File:Bus-logo.svgHougang Central
Template:SMRT code	Buangkok	Symmetrical view of Buangkok island platform	File:Bus-logo.svgBuangkok	15 January 2006; Template:Years or months ago
Template:SMRT code	Sengkang	Symmetrical view of Sengkang island platform	Template:Rbox ― File:Bus-logo.svgSengkang	20 June 2003; Template:Years or months ago
Template:SMRT code	Punggol	View of Punggol island platform	Template:Rbox Template:Rbox (2032) ― File:Bus-logo.svgPunggol
Template:SMRT code	Punggol Coast	File:Punggol Coast MRT station.jpg	File:Bus-logo.svgPunggol Coast	10 December 2024; Template:Years or months ago

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

Refer to caption

Alstom Metropolis C751A trains stabled in Sengkang Depot

View of the underground tunnel with the overhead lines powering the train

The NEL is the only line that uses an overhead catenary electrification system.

The NEL's rolling stock has six-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, with four doors per side on each carriage, and can accommodate up to 1,920 passengers per trainset. Twenty-five first-generation Alstom Metropolis C751A trains were ordered, built in France by Alstom in 2000 and 2001. An additional 18 second-generation Alstom Metropolis C751C trains, an updated version of the C751A, were delivered to Singapore beginning in July 2014 and were built in Shanghai between 2014 and 2016. To increase the line extension's passenger capacity, an additional six third-generation Alstom Metropolis C851E trains were ordered. Built in Barcelona, the first trainset arrived in Singapore on 4 April 2021 and entered service on 28 July 2023.

The automatic trains are controlled by an operations control centre (OCC) at Sengkang Depot. The fleet's brake systems permit smooth, quiet stopping. Train speeds can reach . Safety features include closed-circuit television cameras for train interiors and a passenger emergency communications system which allows communication between passengers and the OCC. The trains have wide seats and dedicated space for wheelchair users.Template:Sfn

The trains are made of fire-resistant materials and include fire and smoke detectors and a fire barrier under its frame. They have a pair of beams (rail guards) which detect obstacles in the train's path; smaller debris is swept away, and the train automatically stops if the beams detect larger objects. A 1,500V overhead catenary system (OCS) powers the trains,Template:Efn the MRT network's first electrical system of that type. The OCS provides a safer environment for maintenance workers on the tracks and is less expensive, with a smaller conductor.Template:Sfn In an emergency when the train is stopped, the doors on both sides can be opened easily without electricity and ramps lower for passenger evacuation in the tunnels.Template:Sfn

In 2019, the first-generation trains began undergoing a mid-life refurbishment which is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2024. Upgrades include the replacement of interior parts and the installation of a new condition-monitoring system which will monitor train performance. The first refurbished train re-entered service on 28 February 2022.

With the passenger trains, the NEL tunnels and tracks are maintained by a fleet of engineering trains. There are four types of engineering trains: the locomotive, for towing wagons with equipment; the heavy crane vehicle, for changing tracks; the multi-function vehicle, for detecting flaws on rails and in tunnels; and the rail-grinding machine, for grinding rails back into shape. The engineering trains are manufactured by Plasser & Theurer, Speno, and Harsco Rail. A new fleet of engineering trains has been supplied by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive.

Depot

View of a glass-covered blue building (the depot administrative building) along a road

Sengkang Depot administrative building

The Sengkang Depot, located along Sengkang East Avenue between the Buangkok and Sengkang stations, is the service and storage area for NEL trains.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Built by Hyundai Engineering and Construction for S$350 million (US$

1. REDIRECT Template:To USD million), the depot includes the OCCTemplate:Sfn which monitors the line's train and station operations.Template:Sfn

The depot can accommodate up to 44 trains,Template:Sfn with three additional stabling tracks being built for the NELe as of 2019. It also houses LRT trains for the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines above the depot.Template:Sfn

Its facilities include a four-storey administrative building, maintenance bays, a workshop and an automated warehouse. The depot's workshop has equipment which can raise an entire train for repairs, Singapore's first such workshop. Using the NEL's signalling system, train movement in the depot is mainly automatic. Staff members access the area via three dedicated tunnels for safety reasons.Template:Sfn

The OCC also controls the equipment and systems of tunnels, stations, power substations and the depot, which are integrated into one terminal. The systems are managed by four or five rotating teams working around the clock. Alongside a training and software-development room, the OCC has a depot control centre to monitor and supervise its operations.Template:Sfn

Signalling

The NEL is fully automatic, using Alstom's Urbalis 300 moving-block signalling system. The NEL is the world's first fully automated heavy-rail system. Its construction allowed the LTA to explore, integrate and implement new and existing technology as part of its vision of a fully-automated system.Template:Sfn The line's automatic train control (ATC) is based on Alstom's MASTRIA software, which also manages its automatic train protection (ATP) and automatic train operation (ATO) GoA 4 (UTO). The Urbalis system also includes a computer-based Interlocking system which controls the track switches and interfaces with the ATC and the data-management system. The DMS, monitored by station staff, oversees the signalling equipment, platform doors and trains.

The ATP system maintains a buffer between trains.Template:Sfn The minimum permitted distance is , although the average distance between trains is at least . Using microwave technology, the IAGO waveguide (Informatisation et Automatisation par Guide d'Onde or waveguide transmission line system for computer and automation applications)Template:Sfn allows two-way communication between trains and monitors the trains' positions and movements. If a train enters the buffer, the ATP automatically adjusts the train's speed.Template:Sfn

At least 500 computer systems control the NEL. In case of a glitch, backup systems would take over; the system would "go to sleep" if it experiences a severe malfunction. In the event of system failure, drivers would be deployed to manually operate the trains. The NEL maintains its "mean kilometres between failures" target of one million train-km ( train-miles). As part of an NEL refurbishment programme announced on 17 December 2018, parts of the power and signalling systems were serviced and new rail crossings and tracks installed.

Station facilities

Every station has a passenger service centre (PSC) on its concourse.Template:Sfn The PSCs are generally curved, unlike the boxier designs of those in older MRT stations.Template:Sfn In addition to assisting passengers and checking and topping up their fare cards, the PSC staff monitors and controls the functions of connecting tunnels and communicates with the OCC at the depot. When a station is used as a civil-defence (CD) shelter, the PSC becomes the command centre.Template:Sfn

Each NEL station is equipped with "energy-smart" Otis escalators connecting its levels. Their speed is reduced by half when not in use, reducing energy consumption and wear and tear. The Woodleigh station has one of the longest sets of escalators at . In addition to escalators, Dhoby Ghaut is the first MRT station with a set of travellators which link the NEL and NSL platforms.Template:Sfn

All NEL stations have lifts which provide step-free access to their platforms. Most of the lifts have glass doors, which improve appearance and enhance security. Each lift has a communications system, connected to the station's PSC. If a lift stalls during a station blackout, a battery-powered backup system provides lighting and ventilation for four hours.Template:Sfn

Accessibility

Refer to caption

Tactile tiles on the floor linking to the station lift at Outram Park station. The station, being close to Singapore General Hospital, has wheelchairs provided for the elderly.

In compliance with Singapore's Code on Barrier-Free Accessibility, NEL stations have wheelchair-friendly facilities.Template:Sfn Each station has an entrance that was built with barrier-free access via lifts and ramps,Template:Sfn in contrast to older stations on previous lines which are being retrofitted.

The NEL has the MRT's first tactile system. Consisting of tiles with raised rounded or elongated studs, the system intends to guide visually-impaired commuters through a station on a dedicated route from entrance to platforms.Template:Sfn Station seats have armrests to assist those who have difficulty getting up.Template:Sfn

These accessibility features were part of the recommendations of a LTA working group set up to improve accessibility on the MRT network. Associations representing the disabled were also consulted. The group completed its findings in 1999; only some of its recommendations had been adopted by 2003, since station infrastructure was nearly completed by then.Template:Sfn

Safety

The station platform is separated from an incoming train by the platform screen doors.

Platform screen doors at Boon Keng station

Westinghouse supplied 768 pairs of platform screen doors (PSDs) to the NEL's original 16 stations. The PSDs are a safety barrier between passengers on platforms and trains. The PSDs enable climate control in a station, minimising the loss of cool air from the platforms and preventing warm air from entering the station from the tunnels.Template:Sfn The Punggol Coast station's PSDs are supplied by ST Engineering Electronics. The platforms have emergency-stop plungers (ESPs) to halt trains in an emergency.Template:Sfn

More than 10,000 smoke and heat detectors are installed in the NEL's stations as part of the line's fire-alarm system.Template:Sfn The alarm, which automatically alerts SBS Transit of any faults in the system, is integrated with the public address system; instead of alarm bells, pre-recorded messages would assist commuters in evacuating. In addition to the detectors, sprinkler and hose reel systems, dry riser pipeworks and an inert-gas system would contain a fire.Template:Sfn

During a fire, escalators could be shut down remotely from the PSC and the fare gates opened for evacuation. The air-conditioning system would be shut down to minimise re-circulation of smoke.Template:Sfn An installed "smoke curtain" system controls smoke movement, and automatic smoke-extraction fans remove any contained smoke.Template:Sfn

Civil defence

An opened door leads into the decontamination facilities.

The decontamination facilities at Potong Pasir station

All NEL stations except Dhoby Ghaut, Sengkang, Punggol and Punggol Coast are designated civil-defence (CD) shelters. Each CD station is designed to accommodate at least 7,500 people and withstand airstrikes and chemical attacks. Equipment essential for shelter operations is mounted on shock absorbers to prevent damage during a bombing. When electricity supply to the shelter is disrupted, backup generators are used.Template:Sfn

During emergencies, large sliding doors would seal the entrances and the tunnel portals would be manually sealed by blast doors.Template:Sfn The shelters have built-in decontamination chambers and dry toilets, with collection bins which would remove human waste from the shelter. The toilets are next to an exhaust ventilation outlet to remove odors.

Culture

Architecture

Each of the NEL stations has a unique design which reflects its location. The HarbourFront station has a maritime theme, with an elliptical ship's-hull motif used for the ceiling and concourse entrances to the platforms.Template:Sfn At Little India, the station walls' metal grills have leaf-shaped patterns similar to the door patterns of Hindu prayer rooms. The station's design was intended to reflect Indian traditions.Template:Sfn

Station entrances use glass, allowing natural lighting during the day. Exit A of the Chinatown station has a transparent pavilion-style roof, which allows natural light and provides an unobstructed view of the shophouses along Pagoda Street.Template:Sfn At Serangoon, each of its four triangular-shaped entrances is painted a different colour and enclosed in a cubic structure. Unlike at the other NEL stations, the entrances to Buangkok do not use glass; white Teflon sheets are supported by metal frames.

Dhoby Ghaut station is the MRT network's largest, and the five-level station is integrated with the twin-towered office complex Atrium@Orchard above it. The network's first such integration of an MRT station with a commercial development, it permits more efficient land use and improves access to public transport. The station's NEL platforms, underground, are some of the MRT's deepest.

The four-level Sengkang station is an integrated hub, with Singapore's three public-transport modes – MRT, LRT and bus – serving the Sengkang area. The MRT/LRT station was the MRT network's first intermodal station for all three transport modes.Template:Sfn In addition to its transport facilities, the station is integrated with the Compass Heights and Compass Point developments.Template:Sfn

Designed by the 3HPArchitects and Farrells architectural firms,Template:Sfn the Punggol station is integrated with the LRT station and the bus interchange. Its curved aluminium and stainless-steel cladding gives the station a futuristic look befitting the Punggol 21 developments.Template:Sfn Covering along Punggol Central to accommodate bus stops, taxi stands and passenger drop-off points along the road, the station is the NEL's longest.Template:Sfn

Artworks

The line introduced the MRT network's Art-in-Transit (AiT) programme, which showcases art in the network. Nineteen works by 20 artists are featured in its stations. Artists were selected by an art-review panel, which reviewed the artists' portfolios and managed conceptual development.Template:Sfn Considered a "significant milestone" for public art in Singapore,Template:Sfn AiT aims to enhance the riding experience. Unlike artwork in the original North–South and East–West Line stations, the works must be integrated into a station's design and reflect the history and heritage of its surroundings.Template:Sfn

Artwork list

Station code	Station name	Artwork name	Artist(s)
Template:SMRT code	HarbourFront	Engimatic Appearances	Ian Woo
Template:SMRT code	Outram Park	Memories	Wang Lu Sheng
		Commuters	Teo Eng Seng
Template:SMRT code	Chinatown	The Phoenix's-Eye Domain	Tan Swie Hian
Template:SMRT code	Clarke Quay	The Reflections	Chua Ek Kay
Template:SMRT code	Dhoby Ghaut	Interchange	Milenko and Delia Prvacki
		Universal Language	Sun Yu-Li
Template:SMRT code	Little India	Memoirs of the Past	S. Chandrasekaran
Template:SMRT code	Farrer Park	Rhythmic Exuberance	Poh Siew Wah
Template:SMRT code	Boon Keng	Metamorphosis	Lim Poh Teck
Template:SMRT code	Potong Pasir	Point of View	Matthew Ngui
Template:SMRT code	Woodleigh	Slow Motion	April Ng
Template:SMRT code	Serangoon	Memories of Childhood	Eng Joo Heng
Template:SMRT code	Kovan	The Trade-off	Eng Tow
Template:SMRT code	Hougang	Hands Up for Hougang	Seck Yok Ying
Template:SMRT code	Buangkok	Water, Nature & Contemporary	Vincent Leow
Template:SMRT code	Sengkang	T.R.A.N.S.I.T.I.O.N.S.	Koh Bee Liang
Template:SMRT code	Punggol	Water, Landscape & Future	Goh Beng Kwan
Template:SMRT code	Punggol Coast	TRAJECTORIES	Zul Othman

External links

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• North East Line (Official LTA website)
• North East Line (SBS Transit)