As an avid transport / MRT fan, let me try my prediction for
now:
ERL is known to have 12 stations unless the plans have
changed:
So my guess:
1 - Marina Barrage
No explanation required, except the guess is how the track is
facing which determines the Marina East and Tanjong Rhu
station.
2 - Marina East (It will be within / very close to the existing
golf course. This is because if it is located away from golf
course, it will detour away Tanjong Rhu).
2a – Promenade
Remember the existing CCL the other side is NOT use for DTL. Hence,
it is either a screwed / f***ed up design by lousy designers
(Remember Nicoll Highway incident. Hell, the Downtown line should
not have been there!) OR there is another plan Or actually both.
Well I assume there is another plan but there are a few theories to
it, such as "Holland Line" or CCL Marina Bay extension because
there certainly need a new platform there unless the train from
Marina Bay terminates at Stadium (There is no crossover until
Stadium slidings) or Dhoby Ghaut (More likely a new crossover after
PMN but at a cost of skipping PMN and goes Esplanade straight OR
the train switch direction on PMN which is .....).
2b – Marina East
Seriously, that area is so undeveloped until now except a golf
course. Unless they want build a disneyland resort there, I cant
find justification to build a station there, unless building a
"Mandai station" (Shell station along TSL, much like DT4 on Hume
Ave). Maybe the golf course will move out but this is
uncertain.
Summary: This depends on the ERL Marina Barrage station's facing on
which direction.
3 - Tanjong Rhu
3a -- Tanjong Rhu on Rhu Cross
Only if ERL is interchanging with PMN, it makes a sensible distance
to make a stop there. (About 700m away from PMN but separated by a
river)
3b -- Tanjong Rhu Bridge that links to Stadium
If ERL’s Marina East station is located after the golf course, then
a station located on Rhu cross will require a turn that is
potentially capable to break the train. This spot seemed to have
more open space and it is the middle of Tanjong Rhu estate.
4 - Fort Road
There is a chance that it shift a bit inside to Meyer Road and call
it Meyer station. I think it is a strategically good position to
put a MRT station to serve the nearby HDB blocks (Quite further
down in Kg. Arang Road), students from Dunman High School and the
private estate surrounding it.
4.1 - Tanjong Katong South (Seaview)
Honestly speaking I find the distance from Fort Road to Parkway is
simply more than 2km which is unlikely to be true. Yes, this is
inner Meyer or Jalan Seaview area surrounded by private properties.
I think they may make a shell station if it is not possible /
justified to add one such by 2020. Personally, I see a need of
station there not only ERL in between station distance only, but
see it as an interchange station that links up with "Circle Line
Branch Line" [Extend from middle track of PYL as it is a dead end
now.] that connects upwards to Paya Lebar (And between Paya Lebar
and this station will call Tanjong Katong, located somewhere near
Tanjong Katong Girls)
5 - Parkway
Tell you what, most likely LTA will name it as Marine Parade (Me
too). But there will be people suggesting names like Amber too. 3
names for it have suggested. Bingo! There is a chance that this
station will be an interchange for "Circle Line Branch Line" if it
exists because the usage will certainly higher than "Tanjong Katong
South" station mentioned previously.
6 - Telok Kurau
This station is named after the station is located near Telok Kurau
Road junction with Marine Crescent. This is the station that is
nearest to my house. No, they won’t name after a Police / Fire
station or Hospital anyway and hence Telok Kurau is by far the best
name.
7 - Siglap
The station is possible to stay close with Victoria School because
it benefits the students there and I dont see much potential
development along the hilly areas in Siglap Shopping Centre except
private apartments which is less likely to have comparable usage
than one near Victoria School and the Mosque.
8 - Bayshore
Chai Chee Sec is close (next) to Bayshore Road. In between Siglap
and Bayshore I really cant see any sense to build a station as it
is well served by bus without massive development. This will be one
of the Yio Chu Kang ~ Khatib station
9 - Bedok South
About 3 bus stops away from Bayshore, here’s another station to
serve Bedok South residents, Temasek Pri + Sec students. It is
potential interchange station to interchange a DTL branch line from
Bedok Town Park, if the plan of having it a 3 track station still
exists.
10 (9a) - Upper East Coast
By 2020, it is hard to predict but expects that Upper East Coast
bus terminal will be integrated with a MRT station based on the
design on that terminal. (I think that is only one terminal with
such big "bus" logo). The distance is a bit too short with Bedok
South (1 bus stop) and hence it is likely to be shifted somehow to
Bedok Junction / Eastwood and Bedok Camp has to be moved.
Hopefully by then, the terminal is upgraded to a full-fledge bus
interchange.
11 – Tanah Merah Pier
Instead of going straight towards Xinlin / Changi South, the map
shown on the press seemed to hint that it moves southwards after
some distance away from Bedok South. I expect the distance between
the 2 (Between Upper East Coast to this station) stations to be
about 3.2km and largely run below the existing golf course which is
impossible to add stations there and even if they move out, the
development of the area still won’t justify even a LRT system.
Perhaps this is another Yio Chu Kang ~ Khatib case? The reason for
not using Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) as the name is because
of the word “Terminal” that may makes passengers confused,
especially foreigners (TMFT’s ferry goes to Indonesia and Malaysia)
that this is the end of the line. “Tanah Merah Ferry” or “Tanah
Merah Coast” (Derived from the nearby road name) does not sound
nice to me either. Inspired from Marina Pier, hence the name
comes into it.
11a – Changi Airport Terminal 4
I am certain that between Tanah Merah Pier and Aviation Pier is a
big gap that another shell station has to be filled in. This will
be the station that interchanges with Changi Airport Extension if
present Changi Airport station gets to be extended. But I hope that
this station can be named as Changi East station.
12 – Aviation Park
Inspired by Outram Park, the next station away from Tanah Merah
Pier should be near to Aviation Park Road. If we can have Farrer
Road station, so this name is certainly possible. This position
fits the press’s image of the arrowhead position with the future
possibility to extend it towards Changi Village, and intersect
future North Shore Line in Loyang if North Shore Line interchanges
at Changi Airport. If ERL goes to Changi Airport Cargo, it would
have to interchange with Changi Airport station, which is unlikely.
By the way, when viewing north-eastwards towards Pulau Ubin, the
left of it is Loyang and not Changi Village, which is right above
Changi Airport. This means even North Shore Line, to connect Changi
Airport to Changi Village then Loyang and Pasir Ris towards Punggol
and Sembawang will involve a big left U turn in Changi – Pasir Ris
sector. Personally, I think it would be better off using it as ERL
extension to North Shore Line. An alternative name to it is Nicoll
Drive station (Or “Nicoll station”) which I avoided it to prevent
potential confusion between this and Nicoll Highway station.
13 – Changi Village
This is a speculated future station extension. It will integrate
with Changi Village Bus Terminal and will only be built after North
Shore Line is completed (Or along with North Shore Line).
14 – Loyang
This is a speculated future station extension that interchanges
with North Shore Line. It will be near the junction on Pasir Ris
Drive 3. I doubt in between station 13 and 14 is ever justified to
have a station. It will only be built after North Shore Line is
completed (Or along with North Shore Line).
Depot: (It can be a combination of multiple depots, but smaller in
size)
1) Changi East Depot
Right after “Tanah Merah Pier” station the line has to turn and run
parallel with Changi East Drive in order to approach Aviation Park.
This area is relatively undeveloped and has the potential and space
to build a depot. The only downside is it is too close to Changi
Naval Base and Changi Airport that poses a security risk of putting
all eggs into a basket.
2) Bedok South Depot
Further south from Bedok South that runs parallel along with Upper
East Coast Road has a big grass patch. It might be cleared for a
depot purpose. The only downside is the available space might not
be sufficient to hold all ERL trains and additional depot might be
required.
3) Tanjong Rhu Depot
Most likely won’t be too near to Marina East. It will be located
right after Fort Road. Similar to Changi East Depot option, but the
only downside is this area might be a prime location and it would
be a waste of land.
Any other ideas?
[Update]: Theres also some saying LTA dont want to face signal
interference, rojak between lines, so no use of the other side. It
is possible that this theory holds true, but that wont warrant a
death to PMN because they simply can go B6 / B7 as Marina East is
really like no demand to even justify LRT line even if a station on
Rhu cross sounds "stupid".