History
Land Transport Master Plan 2013
In the Land Transport Master Plan 2013 announced on 17 January 2013, the Cross Island Line will be a 50km line that traverse the island and is expected to be completed by 2030. The line will enhance east-west travel by relieving crowds on the existing East-West Line and Downtown Line.
The line passes through Changi, Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming, Bukit Timah, Clementi, West Coast and the Jurong Industrial Estate. The eastern leg of the Cross Island Line includes a section that extends into Punggol.
Engineering Studies
Express trains
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had conducted a study of running both normal and express trains on the Cross Island Line and also the stations the express trains should serve.
However, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a written reply to a parliamentary question on 19 November 2018 that the benefits from the time savings of express trains will not outweigh the cost of constructing additional tunnels for express services.
8-car trains
The engineering study will also consider whether the high-capacity MRT line should use an 8-car system.
LTA announced on 25 January 2019 that the stations will be designed and built to accommodate 8-car trains but will operate with 6-car trains initially.
Alignment around the Central Catchment Nature Reserve
The Land Transport Authority's (LTA) initial announcement of the Cross Island Line included a rough alignment that runs through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), to which several nature groups and citizens raised concerns. The LTA responded that the detailed alignment has not been decided, and that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be conducted.
Environmental Impact Assessment
There are two phases in the EIA.
Phase 1 of the EIA commenced on August 2014 and has been completed in December 2015. This phase studies the existing ecosystem and conditions, assesses the impact of proposed site investigation works, and proposes mitigating measures for the alignment options. The final Phase 1 report was gazetted by the LTA on 5 February 2016 and it can be viewed on the LTA website.
Taking into account results from the site investigation works between May 2016 and September 2017, the second phase assesses the potential environmental impact on the CCNR arising from the construction and operation of the Cross Island Line, as well as the required mitigation measures for both possible alignments. The final Phase 2 report was gazetted by the LTA on 2 September 2019 and it can be viewed on the LTA website.
Alignments
Two possible underground alignments for the Cross Island Line in the vicinity of the CCNR were being considered:
Direct alignment (Coloured blue in diagram)
- 2km-long tunnel below the CCNR
- Approximately 40m deep
- No construction or physical structure on the surface level
Skirting alignment (Coloured red in diagram)
- 9km-long alignment under homes and businesses
- Supporting ventilation structures on the surface level
After the completion of site investigation works, the full EIA, and taking into account the various concerns and considerations, the Ministry of Transport announced on 4 December 2019 that the Cross Island Line will run 70 metres deep directly under the CCNR.
Cross Island Line 1
The Land Transport Authority announced on 25 January 2019 the alignment for the eastern leg of the Cross Island Line. A depot will also be constructed at Changi East to house the trains for the Cross Island Line.
Phase 1 of the Cross Island Line will be 29km long with 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill, interchanging with other MRT lines at Pasir Ris, Hougang and Ang Mo Kio. Constructions for phase 1 of the line is expected to commence in 2020 and be completed by 2029. A new 57ha depot will also be constructed at-grade at Changi East to provide maintenance and stabling facilities for up to 80 trains. In a written reply by the Minister of Transport on 11 May 2021, the CRL1 is delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is scheduled to open in 2030.
Punggol Extension
The alignment and stations for the 7.3km extension from Pasir Ris to Punggol was announced on 10 March 2020 by the Land Transport Authority, with 4 stations from Pasir Ris to Punggol. The extension will provide better rail connectivity with 3 stations interchanging with the East-West Line, North East Line and the Punggol LRT. Construction is expected to commence in 2022 with the stations opening by 2031. In a written reply by the Minister of Transport on 11 May 2021, the CRL Punggol Extension is delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is scheduled to open in 2032.
Cross Island Line 2
The Land Transport Authority announced on 20 September 2022 the alignment and station locations of the Cross Island Line Phase 2 (CRL2) from Bright Hill to Jurong Lake District. Comprising of six underground stations, it is approximately 15km and will improve public transport connectivity in areas such as Sunset Way and West Coast that are not currently served by the rail network. It will intersect with the Downtown Line and East-West Lines at King Albert Park and Clementi stations.
Construction work for the CRL2 is expected to begin in 2023, with the stations opening by 2032.