The new Canberra MRT station on the North-South Line (NSL) will open for service on 2 November 2019.  This was announced by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan when he visited the station site today to observe the final day of the three-day staged NSL closures to facilitate works for Canberra station.

2.   Construction works for Canberra station commenced in April 2015. As part of the project, a new 72-metre long rail crossover track is being constructed near the station to connect the existing tracks leading to and from the station. The crossover track will enhance the resilience of the NSL by allowing trains to cross from one track to another when the need arises. A three-day staged closure (May 18 to 20) of up to five MRT stations between Admiralty and Yio Chu Kang was planned to facilitate the construction of the crossover track.

3.   Over the first two days, works were carried out to remove the existing tracks and install the new crossover track. The existing tracks were first isolated from the rest of the rail system to provide the project team with a safe work environment. This was followed by the removal of trackside equipment such as the power rail, track circuits and signalling equipment. The existing tracks were then cut and removed before the crossover track was installed. New trackside equipment was then installed and tested.

4.   System integration testing and certification works are being carried out today before passenger service resumes tomorrow morning (May 21).

5.   Canberra station is located between Sembawang and Yishun MRT stations on the NSL. It is the second station, after Dover station opened on the East-West Line in 2001, to be built on an existing MRT line. When operational in November 2019, Canberra station will serve upcoming residential developments as well as existing public housing estates such as EastLink I and II @ Canberra and Eastwave @ Canberra. Over 17,000 households will be within a 10-minute walk of the new Canberra MRT station. This is expected to save nearby commuters up to 10 minutes in travel time towards the city centre or Jurong East.
 

Canberra MRT station footprint

6.   Canberra station will have five entrances providing accessibility to nearby housing estates. It is also the first elevated MRT station to provide commuters with direct access to the city-bound train platform via an elevated link bridge across Canberra Link. For added convenience, the new station will be connected by sheltered walkways to nearby bus stops, pick-up and drop-off points, and will have more than 500 bicycle parking lots.

7.   With the new Canberra station, the North-South Line will now have 27 MRT stations, connecting commuters from Jurong East to Marina South Pier.