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Cantonment MRT station

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Cantonment
 CC31 
广东民[1][a]
கெண்டொன்மன்[2]
Image
MRT platforms of Cantonment station with the analogue clock
General information
Location100 Everton Road, Singapore 089395[3]
Coordinates01°16′22″N 103°50′12″E / 1.27278°N 103.83667°E / 1.27278; 103.83667
SystemMass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
OwnerLand Transport Authority
OperatorSMRT Trains
Line
  Circle Line
Platforms2 (1 island platform)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, taxi
Construction
Structure type
Underground
Depth28 metres (92 ft)
Platform levels
1
ParkingYes
Cycle facilities
Yes
AccessibleYes
History
Opened12 July 2026; 2 months ago (2026-07-12)
Former namesOld Railway Station, Spottiswoode Park[4]
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station
Keppel
Clockwise
 Circle Line Prince Edward Road
Anticlockwise
Keppel
towards Dhoby Ghaut
 Circle Line
 Prince Edward Road
Terminus
Location
Cantonment is located in Singapore Rail central area
Cantonment
Cantonment
Location within Singapore Rail central area

Cantonment MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Circle Line (CCL), situated in Bukit Merah, Singapore. Located underneath the former Tanjong Pagar railway station, the station serves the Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore Art Museum, Cantonment Primary School and the Police Cantonment Complex.

The station was first announced in October 2015 as part of Stage 6 of the CCL (CCL6). Construction of the station began in 2017, and involved the relocation of the railway station's platform canopies and dismantling part of the platforms. Steel supports and protective sheets were erected to protect the railway station and its heritage elements. The station commenced operations on 12 July 2026 along with the CCL6 stations.

Cantonment station's design drew inspiration from the former railway station, featuring a curved ceiling, murals and an analogue clock at the platforms. It is also a designated Civil Defence shelter. The artwork The Journey Between by Han Sai Por is displayed along the station's concourse as part of the Art in Transit programme.

History

[edit]

The station was first announced on 29 October 2015 by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as part of CCL6, which LTA said would "complete the circle" by connecting HarbourFront and Marina Bay stations.[5][6] The project, which has three stations in total, was aimed at increasing the connectivity of the southern edge of the Central Business District, as well as reducing travel times within the MRT network.[7]

Contract 883 for the construction of Cantonment station was awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (Singapore Branch) for S$205 million (US$148.5 million) in November 2017. Construction began that year, with an expected completion date of 2025.[8][9][10]

Construction

[edit]
Image
Construction site of the station in August 2022

To facilitate construction of Cantonment station, the platform canopy structures of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station were relocated to a nearby restoration yard in November 2017.[11] Subsequently, a 580 m (1,900 ft) segment of the old railway platforms were dismantled in March 2018 as part of a S$33.5 million (US$24.3 million) heritage preservation effort.[12]

The tunnels between this station and the adjacent Prince Edward Road station were constructed only 6.7 metres (22 ft) below the piles of the former station.[13] Prior to the tunnelling works, an extensive survey was conducted to prevent the tunnels from crossing through the building's foundations. Steel supports and protective sheets were erected to protect the railway station's key heritage elements, facade, and interior, with more than 600 monitoring instruments installed to watch out for any building settlement.[14]

In September 2020, the Sun Wu Tunnel Boring Machine managed to tunnel underneath the old Tanjong Pagar Railway station building.[15] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, transport minister Ong Ye Kung announced in March 2021 that the completion of CCL6 would be delayed by one year to 2026.[16] Tunnelling works for the CCL6 were completed on 12 January 2022 with a final tunnel breakthrough from Prince Edward Road station into this station.[17]

To construct the tunnels from Cantonment station to Keppel station, the Keppel viaduct had to be closely monitored while underpinning the viaduct with new micro piles. Three bored piles were removed for the tunnelling works.[18] The platform canopy shelters were restored to their original places in March 2024 via self-propelled modular transporters that were typically used to lift heavy loads at construction sites.[13][19] Previously cut during the dismantlement,[11] they were stitched together with new steel reinforcement bars embedded in concrete.[19]

Opening

[edit]

Transport minister Chee Hong Tat announced in December 2024 that CCL6 was targeted to open in the first half of 2026.[20] In February 2026, transport minister Jeffrey Siow said that the extension's opening is dependent on the completion of current CCL tunnel strengthening works so that final testing and preparation for CCL6 can proceed.[21]

On 14 May 2026, Lasalle College of the Arts hosted a fashion show, themed DE:CENTERING, for graduating students at Cantonment station. The station platform was converted into a runway, and the show was attended by Siow as the guest of honour.[22][23] Siow announced that the stations of CCL6 would commence operations on 12 July 2026, with a public preview on 4 July.[23][24][25] The public preview allowed members of the public to travel for free between the three CCL6 stations, and also featured many activities and booths for the public to participate in. Official merchandise, designed to commemorate the completion of the Circle Line, was also sold at this station with special promotions during the public preview.[26][27]

The station opened as planned on 12 July. A few commuters boarding at Cantonment remarked that the CCL6 had cut their travel times to destinations such as Botanic Gardens or VivoCity at HarbourFront.[28]

Station details

[edit]

Cantonment station is located between Keppel and Prince Edward Road stations on the CCL. The station code is CC31.[10][29] It kept its working name in a naming poll conducted by the LTA. Other names included in the poll were "Old Railway Station" and "Spottiswoode Park".[4] On most days, the first train departs the station at around 6 am and the last train departs shortly before midnight.[30] Trains arrive at intervals of two to three minutes during peak hours and up to seven minutes during off-peak hours.[31]

The station is located underneath the former Tanjong Pagar railway station and between Keppel Road and Spottiswoode Park Road.[32] The station also serves the Tanjong Pagar Distripark, where the Singapore Art Museum is located,[33] as well as Cantonment Primary School.[3] Other landmarks surrounding the station include Singapore General Hospital, Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal, Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road Silk Temple, Tanjong Pagar Community Club and the Police Cantonment Complex.[34]

Architecture

[edit]
Image
Zoomed-in image of the analogue clock

Cantonment is a three-level underground station with a depth of 28 m (92 ft).[33][35] Designed by RDC Architects, the station's design drew inspiration from the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.[35][36] To protect the historic terminal's shallow foundations, Cantonment was built deep underground, creating a spacious double-volume hall featuring a curved roof and 24 vertical glass murals above the platforms.[33][35] Installed at one end of the platform is a large analogue clock featuring the interchanges of the CCL, framed by two circular rings representing the line.[35] The entrance's walls and roofs have green accents that matches the hue of the old terminal’s roof.[33][35] Siow remarked that the CCL6 stations were among the "most beautifully designed stations on the MRT network".[37][38]

The centralised cooling system for the CCL6 stations is located at Cantonment station.[39] The station has 102 bicycle parking spaces.[40] It is also a Civil Defence shelter, with reinforced structures and heavy steel blast doors designed to protect the public during emergencies such as wartime attacks and security crises.[41]

Artwork

[edit]
Image
The Journey Between

The Journey Between by Han Sai Por is displayed at the station concourse as part of the MRT network's Art in Transit programme.[33][35] Comprising variably coloured flowing sculptures made of stainless steel,[33] the artwork conceptually examines the themes of transit, passage, and stillness. The sculptures were shaped to resemble train tracks with their polished surfaces reflecting passing commuters,[33][35] and the coloured dots between the wave stripes represent MRT stations.[42] Han initially sculpted the forms in clay before scanning and enlarging them into stainless steel.[35] The work is intended to pay tribute to the Cantonment area's history as a site of transit, connection and transformation along the former coastline.[43]

Additionally, there is a community mural titled Wheels of Momentum, featuring drawings created by residents of Cantonment Towers residents and students of Cantonment Primary School.[44][45]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ pinyin: Guǎngdōngmín

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "System Map / 地铁路线图" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "System Map / ரயில்பாதை வரைபடம்" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Cantonment MRT station". OneMap. Singapore Land Authority. Archived from the original on 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Vote for Names of Circle Line 6 Stations". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Closing the loop on Circle Line in 2025 with 3 new stations: Keppel, Cantonment, Prince Edward". The Straits Times. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "With final 3 stations, Circle Line will come 'full circle' by 2025". CNA. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Joint Release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & SLA – Circle Line 6 – Becoming A Full Circle". Land Transport Authority. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Zhaki, Abdullah (20 September 2019). "Circle Line's Cantonment MRT station contract goes to China State Construction for $205m, Transport News & Top Stories". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "LTA Awards Final Construction Contract for Circle Line 6". Land Transport Authority. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Upcoming Projects – Rail Expansion – Circle Line 6". Land Transport Authority. 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  11. 1 2 "News Room – News Releases – Factsheet: Circle Line 6 Construction to go into Full Swing". Land Transport Authority. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Work to preserve Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on track". The Straits Times. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  13. 1 2 Ong, Justin (Guang-Xi) (18 June 2026). "Tunnelling under an overpass, preserving a monument: The engineering challenges behind the Circle Line loop". CNA. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Circle Line 6 tunnelling works complete, 3 new stations set to open in 2026". CNA. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "【Singapore News】The "Sun Wu" TBM of C885 Project of CRTG has successfully undercrossed 100-year-old historical and heritage building". China Railway Tunnel Group Co. Ltd. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Speech by Minister For Transport Mr Ong Ye Kung at MOT Committee of Supply Debate 2021 on A Tale of Three Connections". Ministry of Transport. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  17. ↑ Tan, Christopher (12 January 2022). "Tunnelling works for Circle Line MRT extension completed". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Factsheet: Completion of Circle Line 6 Tunnelling Works". Land Transport Authority. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  19. 1 2 Ng, Keng Gene (12 March 2024). "Platform shelters of former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station brought back after 6 years in storage". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  20. ↑ Kok, Yufeng (6 December 2024). "Hume MRT Station to Open in Q2 2025; Circle Line Stage 6 to Be Ready in First Half of 2026". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  21. ↑ "Update on Progress of Train Lines Under Extension and Construction". Ministry of Transport. 12 February 2026. Archived from the original on 26 March 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Media release: LASALLE College of the Arts presents a new generation of fashion designers foregrounding Asian culture and lived realities". LASALLE. Archived from the original on 2 August 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  23. 1 2 Hamzah, Aqil (14 May 2026). "Keppel, Cantonment, Prince Edward Road MRT stations on Circle Line to open on July 12". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "3 new Circle Line MRT stations to open on Jul 12, completing its loop". CNA. Archived from the original on 1 September 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Circle Line Stage 6 to Open for Public Preview on 4 July 2026". Land Transport Authority. 14 May 2026. Archived from the original on 5 September 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "CCL public preview: 5 things to do on July 4". The Straits Times. 24 June 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "LTA | Explore Three New Circle Line Stage 6 Stations on 4 July 2026". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "New Circle Line MRT stations open in Singapore". The Straits Times. 12 July 2026. Archived from the original on 31 August 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "System Map" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "LTA | MRT/LRT". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "LTA | Rail Network". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "Cantonment – Map". SMRT Journeys. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ong, Justin (Guang-Xi) (10 June 2026). "Blending form and function: A first look at 3 new MRT stations that will close the Circle Line loop". CNA. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Cantonment – Exits". SMRT Journeys. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hamzah, Aqil (10 June 2026). "New Circle Line MRT stations: A first look". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  36. ↑ "CC31 Cantonment Station". RDC Architects Pte Ltd. 5 July 2026. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  37. ↑ Jacob, Charmaine (4 July 2026). "New Circle Line stations open for public preview, completing MRT line after more than 30 years in the making". CNA. Archived from the original on 1 September 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "Opening Remarks by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow at the Opening Ceremony for Circle Line Stage 6". Ministry of Transport. 4 July 2026. Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "Circle Line Stage 6". AECOM. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "环线第六阶段三新站设脚踏车停放处 提高地铁通勤便利". 联合早报 (in Chinese). 10 June 2026. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026. 广东民站和爱德华太子路站则设有路面脚踏车停放空间，分别最多可容纳102辆和184辆脚踏车。 [As for the Cantonment and Prince Edward Road stations, they have roadside bicycle parks that can respectively accommodate up to 102 and 184 bicycles.]
  41. ↑ "环线三新站开放预览 7月12日通车后可缩短逾万人车程". 联合早报 (in Chinese). 4 July 2026. Archived from the original on 2 September 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026. 环线第六阶段的三个车站当中，广东民站可在紧急时转用为公共防空壕，是环线上第12个具有此功能的地铁站。…… 当局从1983年起，在一些指定地下地铁站、中学、民众联络所等公共设施增辟防空壕。这些空间经过加固后，可在战时等紧急时期为民众提供临时庇护所。…… 民防部队也向公众展示广东民地铁站内的防爆门 …… [Of the three stations on Stage 6 of the Circle Line, Cantonment station can be converted into an air-raid shelter (Civil Defence shelter), and is the 12th station on the Circle Line to be equipped with such a capability. ... From 1983 onwards, [the Singapore Civil Defence Force] started to build Civil Defence shelters below selected public facilities, such as MRT stations, secondary schools, and community clubs. After fortification, these spaces could be used during war and other emergencies to provide temporary shelter for the public. ... The Singapore Civil Defence Force also showed Cantonment station's blast doors to the public ...]
  42. ↑ "环线第六阶段三站艺术品亮相 吉宝站壁画让公众透视过去与未来" (in Chinese). 联合早报. 10 June 2026. Archived from the original on 7 August 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026. 她说，……，"……彩色点代表地铁站，……" [She (Han Sai Por) says, ... , "... the coloured dots represent MRT stations, ..."]
  43. ↑ "Art in Transit". LTA. 14 July 2026. Archived from the original on 31 August 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  44. ↑ Foo, Cexiang (12 July 2026). "The Circle Line finally became a circle today - with trains pulling into..." Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  45. ↑ Putri, Andrea Chandra (8 July 2026). "We Visited All 3 CCL6 Stations Ahead Of Their Opening - Here's Everything You Need To Know". TheSmartLocal. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
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