You believe the Straits Times? I sure don't.
Changi Point, definitely it has to be so, afterall the old
planned maps showed an MRT line branching from Tanah Merah, to
Changi Airport and further up to Changi Point and then turning like
a U turn back following ECP route to CBD.
Whether if that was meant a train (EWL / CGL) U-turning in CGL
on the original plan, I am not guessing, but it is more likely to
be a 2 lines interchanging (Such plans does not reveal station
alignment, specific colour and name of the line) at Changi point
before breaking a long caterpillar (A.k.a trains) if a u turning
was really planned.
On top of that, it serve some strategic purpose for having a MRT
there, which is useful for building a depot (Might be on somewhere
near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal as well, or one next to Upper East
Coast Terminal) and maybe even serve as North Shore / Coast Line as
Changi Point is closer to Shore / Coastal lines rather than the
Airport. Neither am I going to speculate if ERL is going to
interchange at CG2, but the chances are quite high, because most
likely, ERL has to go past TNM Ferry Terminal, possibly with no
solid source supporting it, that DTL Stage 3 has to be extended
further down (ERL really lacks of interchange and Expo overrun is a
bit longer than usual) and ERL furthers proceed towards Upper East
Coast, Siglap - Bedok South (With a possibility of DTL or any
future fantasy line serving Bedok cut through from Bedok North to
Bedok South and interchange it.), Marine Parade (Whether if CCL PYL
middle track be extended to it is a question as such plans are
revealed in 1996 one and NOT the 2001 but on the other hand, I have
a solid proof of a picture showing "Future ECP" room, which I am
not sure what it is for. Such staff only room can be seen on the
exit that is nearest to EWL PYL.), Tanjong Rhu (158 only, really
CMI area. Go to a Suntec which literally a swim across to it also
must detour to Kallang / Stadium areas and head to Lavender etc),
and the Marina East area.
Ok, some people felt that the line might be extended further
Westwards (Which has already served mainly by CCL especially the
envision of the closed loop, maybe not so if the route extends from
Marina to Kampong Bharu towards Radin Mas / Depot Road etc towards
West Coast / Teban [Interchange with Jurong Region LRT if it has
built] / Benoi - Jurong Island? and Tuas South) but I doubt so
because even if technically it is feasible to do so, then the line
should have named as Southern Region Line instead of Eastern.
Anyway, since any Westwards from Marina areas is considered as
South West / West. So it cant be. I dont blindly follow concept
plans, neither I blindly follow Straits Times. But the only time
where ERL does not terminates at Marina Barrage / Marina areas is
when ERL merges with TSL, which is again unlikely as I dont see the
demand and certainly hope NOT so since TSL using 4 train cars and
doing so, means CCL PYL middle track cannnot go to ERL like EWL/NSL
even if it is extended.