Expanding Capacity for a Shorter Waiting
Time
1.
Come 2012, with the completion of the Jurong East Modification
Project (JEMP), commuters will have a shorter wait for trains along
the North-South and East-West Lines and a more comfortable ride
during peak periods. JEMP is one of the broad range of initiatives
announced under the Land Transport Review in January 2008 to
promote public transport as a choice mode.
2.
Currently, trains travelling to and from the Jurong East and Bukit
Batok stations have to take turns arriving and departing from the
shared middle platform at Jurong East station. This slows down the
trains running through the Jurong East interchange station. JEMP,
which entails adding a new track alignment and platform at the
Jurong East interchange station for the North-South MRT Lines, will
overcome this infrastructural constraint. As a result, trains can
be put through Jurong East station at shorter intervals.
3.
Concurrently, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will also add
another 17 trains to the North-South and East-West Lines by end
2012 to take full advantage of the shorter train intervals through
Jurong East made possible by JEMP.
4.
With the completion of the JEMP and the purchase of additional
trains, the carrying capacity of the North-South and East-West
Lines will increase. SMRT would be able to run additional train
trips, particularly during peak periods, to shorten waiting times
and reduce crowding on trains.
5.
Mr Yam Ah Mee, LTA Chief Executive said, "MRT ridership has
increased significantly over the last decade. JEMP is a timely
initiative to meet our travel needs. With JEMP and the additional
trains, commuters can look forward to shorter waiting times and a
more comfortable journey."
6.
Commuters can expect a shorter waiting time of around two minutes
at stretches that experience heavy loading during the peak within
peak periods, compared to the current 2.5 to 4.5 minutes at some
stretches of the North-South and East-West Lines today. JEMP and
the additional trains will boost passenger carrying capacity by 15%
to ensure a more comfortable ride.
7.
Civil works for JEMP are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of
2009. Measures will be put in place to minimise disruption to
commuters using the Jurong East Station as well as residents in the
vicinity. For instance, the new 2.5 km viaduct will incorporate
precast concrete beams that would be cast off-site.
Enclosures