Marilyn Moore
POLITICAL_SCIENCE
POLITICAL_SCIENCE_135_SURVEY
The history of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system of Singapore commenced with its
planning in the 1960s, which finally led to its opening in 1987 with the launch of a 6 km
section of the North–South Line (NSL) from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh.Since its inception,
the rapid transit system has played a crucial role in the public transportation network and
the wider development of the country as a whole, providing a fast and efficient means of
transportation for millions of Singaporeans daily.At the time, it was the largest
infrastructure project undertaken by the country during its early days of independence, and
when completed was the first such metro system in Southeast Asia.The only choices of
public transport available in Singapore during the 1960s were buses, taxis and trishaws and
the lack of seamless connectivity of the public transport system resulted in long and
inconvenient journeys throughout the country.The idea for a rapid transit system in
Singapore was first mooted in the late 1960s.The government recognised the need for a
comprehensive public transportation system to accommodate the country's growing
population.Debates and feasibility studies were carried out throughout the 1970s and
1980s.In 1982, the MRT was greenlit and the government established the Mass Rapid
Transit Corporation (MRTC) to oversee the construction and operation of the MRT
system.The construction of the MRT system, which began in 1983, was a massive
undertaking.The first section, known as the North–South Line (NSL), began construction in
1983.The line opened in stages, with the first section from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh
commencing operation on 7 November 1987.Following the opening of the NSL, subsequent
lines were constructed, including the East-West Line (EWL) which began operation in
1989.Over the years, more lines and extensions were added, including the North East Line
(NEL), Circle Line (CCL), and infill stations added to existing lines.In 2000, the MRTC was
privatised, and two companies were formed – SMRT Corporation, which is responsible for
operating the NSL, EWL, CCL and the Thomson–East Coast Line (TEL), and SBS Transit,
which is responsible for operating the NEL and the Downtown Line (DTL).Since the 2010s,
it was semi-renationalised into a hybrid regulatory framework; construction and
procurement would fall under the purview of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a
statutory board of the government that allocates operating concessions, with these
companies responsible for asset maintenance on their respective lines.Since the 2000s and
beyond, the government has continued to invest heavily in the expansion and improvement
of the MRT system.Newer lines such as the DTL and the TEL were constructed throughout
the 2010s and 2020s, extending the reach of the network and to cover additional parts of
the country.Throughout the years, the MRT system has also underwent various upgrades to
enhance safety, efficiency, and passenger comfort.Of these, they include the implementation
of new signaling systems which has allowed for shorter headways, the addition of platform
screen doors (PSDs), the introduction of more spacious and modern trains, as well as
stations being retrofitted or constructed with facilities catered towards the elderly or
people with disabilities.As of 2024, the network has six operational lines in operation with a
total combined route length of approximately 241 km (150 mi) and 141 operational
stations.Two additional lines and 46 stations are currently under construction, namely the
Jurong Region Line (JRL) and the Cross Island Line (CRL).The MRT system is integrated
with other modes of public transportation in Singapore, such as buses and light rail systems
which act as a feeder service to the MRT network, the latter known as the Light Rail Transit
(LRT), which first opened in 1999.== Construction of backbone network ==
=== Conceptualisation ===
The idea of constructing a rapid transit line in the country was initiated in 1967 when a
four-year State and City Planning Study was conducted by the Singapore government and
the United Nations Development Programme.It was part of an urban renewal and
development project which aimed to formulate a long-term comprehensive concept plan for
guiding the country's future physical development.It was concluded that physical land
constraints faced by the island nation, were not able to accommodate more roads to meet
the rise in transportation demands.It was noted that the country needed a rail transit
system by 1992.=== Bus vs. rail debate ===
It took 10 years from 1972 to design the MRT system, which continued all the way until the
government gave permission to build the MRT.When future president Ong Teng Cheong
became the then-Minister for Communications (now the Ministry of Transport), he had to
convince the cabinet in a debate in early 1980, that the S$5 billion needed for the system
would be beneficial for the long-term development of Singapore.He argued that:
Therefore, a provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority was established in July 1980, after
the debate.However, Ong faced strong opposition from other members of the cabinet,
including Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee and Tony Tan, due especially to the heavy
investments involved.A team of specialists from Harvard University, recommended that an
all-bus system would be sufficient into the 1990s, and would cost 50% less than a rail-based
system.Later on, two independent American transport and urban planning specialist teams
were then appointed by the government to conduct their own independent reviews as part
of the Comprehensive Traffic Study in 1981.This debate was also brought to national
television in September 1980, which was rare at that time.
