The Jurong Region Line (JRL) is Singapore’s seventh MRT line that will serve the western part of Singapore. It is expected to connect key activity nodes in Jurong, such as the Jurong Industrial Estate, Jurong Innovation District, and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). To fast track the JRL construction process, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded $682.5 million to four contractors.

First Contract - Awarded to a joint venture between Daewoo Engineering and Construction and local contractor Yongnam Engineering and Construction. The contract is worth $320.4 million and includes the design and construction of three stations - Toh Guan, Jurong Town Hall and Pandan Reservoir. The joint venture will also be responsible for the construction of 3.6km elevated viaducts between these stations.

Second Contract - The second contract has been awarded to a consortium between Singapore's Siemens Mobility and Spain's Siemens Rail Automation. The contract is worth $215.5 million and includes the provision of the signalling system and half-height platform screen doors for the Jurong line.

Third and Fourth Contracts - LTA awarded two contracts to ST Engineering Electronics. The contract is worth $146.6 million in value. ST Engineering willprovide the integrated supervisory control system (ISCS) and the communications system for the JRL.

Minister of Transport, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, said, “Residents will benefit from improved connectivity in the northwest. More direct journeys from North to West will become possible. For instance, a PSA worker from Choa Chu Kang West can half his journey time to Tuas Link station to around 30 minutes. An NTU student from Boon Lay MRT station will similarly half his journey time to around 15 minutes.”

The upcoming seventh MRT line, Jurong Region Line, is expected to relieve pressure on the crowded Jurong East Interchange Station. The Jurong Region Line will support the Government’s urban decentralisation strategy and car-lite policy. Also, Hyundai Rotem Company will be supplying 62 trains for the Jurong Region Line project. These trains will feature emergency batteries, wider train doors, and much more.

Earlier, LTA transferred six Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 (TEL2) stations to rail operator SMRT. The civil and structural works for the stations have been completed along the TEL2 lines. SMRT and other partners are still carrying out some architectural, mechanical, and electrical works. SMRT will commence services in the third quarter of 2021. SMRT Chairman, Seah Moon Ming, commented on the operational aspect of the TEL line, “We have increased our maintenance and engineering capability to strengthen commuter touchpoints, and prepare for the next phase of the Thomson East Coast Line.”

Conclusion
The Jurong Region Line is expected to help the Jurong Lake District (JLD) to become the largest commercial hub outside of the Central Business District. It will shorten the travel time for passengers and boost the prices of properties in the Jurong area. As LTA awarded four contracts for the construction and design of the JRL, this can be viewed as a quantum leap in the government’s improvement of transport infrastructure for Jurong.

About the Author
Robert Lee
Robert is a design engineer at a leading metro car manufacturing company in South Korea. He has a keen interest in railway infrastructure and loves to share his views on them. When he is not writing, he loves to explore new places.