Merdeka MRT station
SBK17 Merdeka | |||||||||||
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MRT station | |||||||||||
The interior design of the station incorporates the theme of "independence" as shown by this decoration that is inspired by the 14-pointed star of the Malaysian flag. | |||||||||||
Other names |
默迪卡 (Chinese) மெர்தேக்கா (Tamil) | ||||||||||
Location | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 3°8′31.09″N 101°42′7.38″E / 3.1419694°N 101.7020500°ECoordinates: 3°8′31.09″N 101°42′7.38″E / 3.1419694°N 101.7020500°E | ||||||||||
Owned by | MRT Corp | ||||||||||
Line(s) |
9 Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line 3 Ampang Line via Plaza Rakyat 4 Sri Petaling Line via Plaza Rakyat | ||||||||||
Platforms | 1 island platform | ||||||||||
Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
Connections | Integrated station to AG8 SP8 Plaza Rakyat via a 180 metres paid-to-paid pedestrian walkway. | ||||||||||
Construction | |||||||||||
Structure type | Underground | ||||||||||
Parking | Not available | ||||||||||
Bicycle facilities | not available | ||||||||||
Other information | |||||||||||
Station code | SBK17 | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 17 July 2017 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
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The Merdeka MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) underground station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of the stations of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line and serves as an interchange station with Plaza Rakyat LRT station for LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines. The station was opened on 17 July 2017 under Phase Two operations of the MRT line.[1]
The station's name translates to "Independence" in English and is taken from its location near the historic Stadium Merdeka (Malay; English: Independence Stadium), where the independence of the Federation on Malaya was declared on 31 August 1957, and the covered Stadium Negara (English: National Stadium). The station is located beneath Jalan Hang Jebat (English: Hang Jebat Road).
Station layout
Station location
The Merdeka station is an underground station located beneath Jalan Hang Jebat.
The station has four underground levels beneath there street level where the two entrances and ventilation shafts are located. The four levels are the Upper Concourse Level where the famous Rukun Negara (national principles or ideology) and Merdeka (independence) feature walls are located, Lower Concourse Level; Plant Room Level where there is no public access; and the Platform Level, where the island platform with 2 platforms are located.
Station layout plan
G | Street level | Jalan Hang Jebat: Escalators, lifts and staircases to Upper and Lower Concourse; Taxi lay-by; Kiss and ride lay-by |
B1 | Upper Concourse | Escalators, lifts and staircases to Entrance A and Entrance B and to Lower Concourse; Merdeka and Rukunegara feature walls |
B2 | Lower Concourse / LRT-MRT Linkway | Escalators, lifts and staircases to Upper Concourse; ticket vending machines; customer service office; fare gates: escalators, lifts and staircases to platform level: Entrance C leading to paid-to-paid walkway to SP8 AG8 Plaza Rakyat LRT station |
B4 | Platform 1 | Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line 9 towards SBK35 Kajang |
Island platform | ||
Platform 2 | Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line 9 towards SBK1 Sungai Buloh |
Exits and Entrances
The station can be accessed via two entrances (Entrance A and Entrance B) located along Jalan Hang Jebat, as well as the paid-to-paid walkway from the Plaza Rakyat LRT station via Entrance C (see below). Entrance A is located on the north side of Jalan Hang Jebat near the YWCA and Olympic Hotel while Entrance B is located near Stadium Negara.
The linkway between LRT and MRT station is accessed via Entrance C at the Lower Concourse Level of the station. There is a flight of escalators and two travellators which only travel in one direction. The linkway is air conditioned and has natural lighting through skylight.
Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line station | |||
Entrance | Location | Destination | Picture |
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A | North side of Jalan Hang Jebat | Olympic Council of Malaysia, YWCA, SJK (C) Jalan Davidson | |
B | South side of Jalan Hang Jebat | Stadium Negara, KL118 and Merdeka Stadium | |
C | LRT-MRT Linkway | Plaza Rakyat, Pudu Sentral |
Interchange with Plaza Rakyat LRT station
The station is connected with the SP8 AG8 Plaza Rakyat LRT station via a 180-metre pedestrian linkway. The linkway connects the paid areas of both stations, thus allowing commuters to transfer between the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line and the LRT Ampang Line and the LRT Sri Petaling Line.
The station is located about 600 metres and is within walking distance of the SP9 AG9 MR4 Hang Tuah LRT and monorail station.
Station Features
As the underground station is near the historic Stadium Merdeka where Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman declared the independence of the Federation of Malaya from the British Empire on 31 August 1957, the theme "independence" was chosen for the interior design for this station.
The theme is manifested through several features such as a wall at the Upper Concourse Level bearing a relief of the Rukunegara, the Malaysian national pledge. The ceiling above the escalator leading down from the Upper Concourse Level to the Lower Concourse Level bears a motif of the arms of the 14-pointed star on the flag of Malaysia.[2][3]
At the Lower Concourse Level, each pillar bears the flag and emblem of one of the states of Malaysia.
Around the station
The station is located near the Stadium Merdeka, currently being refurbished as part of the KL118 Tower project. Directly next to Entrance B of the station is Stadium Negara indoor stadium.
Several schools are located within 500 metres of the station:
- SJK(C) Jalan Davidson
- SMK (Lelaki) Methodist (Methodist Boys' Secondary School)
- SMJK Konfucian
- Confucian Private Secondary School
- SMK Victoria (Victoria Institution)
Several places of worship are also located nearby:
- Gospel Hall Kuala Lumpur
- Wesley Methodist Church
- Al-Bukhary Mosque
Other buildings of interest nearby:
- YWCA
- Hotel Grand Olympic
- Olympic Council of Malaysia
- Malaysian Basketball of Malaysia
- Chin Woo Stadium
- Rumah B-P, the headquarters of the Scout Association of Malaysia
The 118 storey KL118 Tower, which will be the tallest building in Malaysia when completed, is currently under construction adjacent to this station.
Bus Services
Being in the city centre, MRT feeder buses do not operate from this station. However, it is adjacent to Pudu Sentral, a city bus station in Kuala Lumpur.
Gallery
Station
- Platforms of the Merdeka MRT station.
- Bench at the Platform Level of the station which was designed by student Chong Chin Sheng as part of a bench design competition.[4]
- View of the Lower Concourse Level of the Station.
- Flags and emblems of Malaysian states on the pillars at the Lower Concourse Level of the station.
- Another view of the pillars at the Lower Concourse Level of the station.
- Terengganu flag and emblem displayed on a pillar inside the Merdeka MRT station.
- The Rukunegara feature wall at the Upper Concourse Level of the station.
- The Declaration of Independence feature wall at the Upper Concourse Level of the station.
- Escalators from the Upper Concourse Level to Entrance A.
- Entrance A of the station at Jalan Hang Jebat.
- Entrance A of the station.
- Entrance A of the station.
- Entrance B of the station at Jalan Hang Jebat near the Stadium Negara.
Linkway to Plaza Rakyat LRT station
- View of the linkway heading towards the Merdeka MRT station.
- View of the linkway heading towards the Plaza Rakyat LRT station.
- Travellator at the linkway towards the Plaza Rakyat LRT station.
- Another view of the linkway heading towards the Plaza Rakyat LRT station.
- Entrance to the linkway at the Plaza Rakyat LRT station.
- Another view of the entrance to the linkway at the Plaza Rakyat LRT station.
- Station signage at the Plaza Rakyat LRT station pointing to the Merdeka MRT station.
See also
References
- ↑ "SBK Line Full Opening Boosts Coverage of Kuala Lumpur's Urban Rail Network" (PDF). Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ↑ "Seven hidden gems of the MRT". Thestar.com.my. 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ↑ "MRT stations designed to tell the story of M'sia". Thestar.com.my. 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ↑ "Innovative designs for transit furniture". Thestar.com.my. 2016-05-01. Retrieved 2017-09-04.