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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Eunos MRT Station

Eunos MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East–West MRT line in Geylang, Singapore. Operated by SMRT Trains, the station primarily serves the Eunos subzone of Geylang as well as the Eunos Bus Interchange.

Plans were first outlined in May 1982, and its construction was announced in October 1983 as part of Phase II of the MRT system. The contract for the station was awarded to a joint venture between the Okumura Corporation and Oh Teck Thye. However, during the construction of the station, the joint venture was terminated due to Oh Teck Thye being put under receivership, with Okumura taking over the project. The station opened in November 1989. In 2011, eleven years after a man died after falling onto the tracks and being run over, platform screen doors were introduced, along with high volume low speed fans in 2013.

The station's roof took inspiration from traditional Minangkabau architecture. Additionally, there are two murals created by local artist Erica Wee as a part of SMRT's heritage-themed Comic Connect public art display. The murals showcases the history of Eunos and Katong/Joo Chiat.

History

Eunos station was first announced in May 1982 in the initial MRT plans. It was later announced that the station would be part of Phase II of the MRT system in October 1983.

There were several joint ventures between companies that prequalified for Contract 303 by May 1985, which initially detailed the construction of Paya Lebar station as well as a viaduct from Paya Lebar to Eunos stations. Ultimately, the contract was awarded to a Japanese-Singaporean joint venture between the Okumura Corporation and Oh Teck Thye for S$60 million (1985) (US$27.27 million) in December 1985, with Okumara having 60% interest in the contract whilst Oh Teck Thye having 40%. By then, the contract expanded to include the construction of Eunos station as well as viaducts to Kembangan station. Work began in the same month. However, on 30 December 1986, the joint venture between the two companies was terminated, with the Okumura Corporation undertaking all the responsibilities of Contract 303. It was later found out that Oh Teck Thye owed S$3 million (1987) (US$1.42 million) to the United Overseas Bank (UOB) and was placed under receivership when it failed to repay its debts. Meanwhile, Okumura requested to take over Oh Teck Thye's part of the contract. It was described to have been "the first case of a joint-venture split in the MRT Project". By February 1986, 41% of the contract had been completed. In July of the same year, Swiss-Singapore company VSL Systems Pte Ltd won the subcontract for the supply of post-tension cables and pre-cast beams for the station's viaducts. The station opened on 4 November 1989 as part of a stretch between Marina Bay and Tanah Merah stations.

After its opening, the station had several design problems with its stairs. In February 1996, a flight of stairs from the station's terrace to the ground underwent repairs due to it sinking in the ground. The difference between the concrete of the terrace and the soft soil of the ground resulted in a 40 centimetres (16 in) drop, which posed a risk for the elderly and young children. A similar issues arose in August 2006 along with another stair-related issue. According to a letter by a commuter, the "granite-clad steps of grandiose design" at the station's south front exit "[led] to nowhere". The other flight of stairs was a set of steps connected to a ramp near Eunos Food Centre in the east side of the station, which was criticised for appearing to being "wheelchair accessible". SMRT clarified that the first set of stairs was meant to connect a carpark to the station whilst the ramp was originally not meant for wheelchair users, respectively. It added that works were underway to fix the first set of stairs as it was uneven due to sinking into the ground as well as to remove the ramp's stairs to make it wheelchair accessible.

On 6 December 2000 at 8:15 am, a man fell on the eastbound track just as a train was approaching him. The driver did activate the train's emergency brakes but could not avoid hitting the man. This resulted in the man trapped between two cabins, who was still breathing. He was rescued by the Singapore Civil Defence Force, who transported him to Changi General Hospital where he died an hour later.

As with most of the elevated stations along the East-West line, the station was initially built without platform screen doors. Following a rise in track intrusions as well as commuters slipping when rushing for the train, the LTA and SMRT decided to install platform screen doors. After several successful tests at Jurong East, Yishun and Pasir Ris, they were eventually installed and commenced operations at Chinese Garden station by March 2012. The station was installed with high-volume low-speed fans by the first quarter of 2013. Noise barriers were installed on the viaducts from Eunos Road 2 to Eunos Road 5 by CCK Thomas Pte Ltd as part of a S$17 million (2015) (US$12.37 million) contract awarded in January 2015 to reduce sounds generated by trains. It was completed in 2018.

Details

Eunos station is on the EWL with the station code EW7, situated between Kembangan and Paya Lebar stations. When it opened, it had the station code of E6 before being changed to its current station code in August 2001 as a part of a system-wide campaign to cater to the expanding MRT System. As part of the EWL, it is operated by SMRT Trains.

The station runs alongside with Sims Avenue and is next to Eunos Crescent and Jalan Eunos as well as above a carpark. It has three exits primarily serving the Eunos area and Eunos Bus Interchange. Other landmarks include the Masjid Darul Aman, Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre, Mangal Vira Buddhist Temple, and the Kampong Ubi Police Post.

It is an elevated station with an island platform. The station has a traditional Malay Minangkabau-style roof, which was part of SMRT's idea to give the Phase II stations "an ethnic touch". Specifically, designer of the station Scott Danielson of Parson Brickerhoff said that "the more [he traveled], the more disturbed [he became by] architects failing to reflect their own culture". The Minangkabau roof was initially meant for Khatib station, then Sembawang station before going to Eunos station due to it being a Malay locality.

The roof of Eunos station is based on traditional Minangkabau-style architecture

As a part of SMRT's heritage-themed Comic Connect public art display, there are two murals created by local artist Erica Wee. The first mural depicts the history of Katong and Joo Chiat as well as businessman Chew Joo Chiat (the namesake of Joo Chiat), Zubir Said (who composed Singapore's national anthem Majulah Singapura), and Old Palace Theatre. Meanwhile, the second mural depicts the history of Eunos, including Malay community leader Mohammed Eunos Bin Abdullah (the namesake of Eunos), the Telok Kurau English school, and Geylang Serai Village.

References

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