Kim Chuan Depot Opens
(From ST)
KIM Chuan Depot, the centre of operations for the upcoming
Circle Line, was officially opened on Wednesday.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) handed over the $295 million
depot to public transport operator SMRT, which will run the Circle
Line.
Besides housing the operation control centre of the new line,
the depot will provide maintenance and washing facilities for the
Circle Line trains.
Occupying 11 hectares of land, it is the world's largest
underground depot, said the LTA. It is four storeys high, but half
of these are below ground.
The depot has space for 77 three-car trains.
Calling the new facility a 'minor engineering marvel', LTA
chairman Michael Lim said: 'The depot is also a showcase of the
wide-ranging expertise of the LTA, from engineering and
construction, to IT.'
Among the features of the depot is a 23m high automated
warehouse storage system that can store over 24,000 spare parts for
the trains.
The first phase of the Circle Line is due to open on May 30,
with five stations in operation. These are Bartley, Marymount,
Serangoon, Bishan and Lorong Chuan.
The remaining 24 stations will open from 2010.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_345756.html
They should open Stg 2 at 3rd-4th Quarter of 2009. MacPherson,
Tai Seng and Dakota is just collecting dust while Paya Lebar is
just 3/4 complete.
