Braddell MRT station

Braddell MRT station (NS18) is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station located on the North South Line in Toa Payoh, Singapore. Unlike the other stations on the NSL (apart from Canberra), the station has side platforms due to engineering constraints. Located underneath the traffic junction of Lorong 1 Toa Payoh and Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, Braddell station primarily serves the estates in the northern part of Toa Payoh New Town.

 NS18 
Braddell
布莱德
பிரேடல்
Braddell
Rapid transit
Exit A of Braddell MRT station.
Location377 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh
Singapore 319756
Coordinates1°20′25.22″N 103°50′48.21″E
Operated bySMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)
  North South line
Platforms2 (2 side platforms)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station code NS18 
History
Opened7 November 1987 (1987-11-07)
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station
towards Jurong East
North South line
Location

Opened on 7 November 1987, Braddell station is one of the five stations that collectively make up Singapore's oldest MRT stations.

History
Track layout
to Bishan
to Toa Payoh
Exit B of Braddell MRT station at night.
Platform A of Braddell MRT.

When the MRT system was under planning since 1981, MRTC tried to design the track system and position in order to enable the station to have a common platform, like in the mainstream MRT stations. However, the closely built HDB Blocks in Toa Payoh estate meant that the MRT system tunnels had to be constructed directly under Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, following the bend of the road, in the area between Lorong 1 Toa Payoh and Toa Payoh MRT Station. The result made it impossible for tracks to diverge at a common platform station, as the angle Southbound trains would turn when approaching and leaving the station would be too great. Additionally, it would be unfeasible to change the position of the station, because moving it south would render it too close to Toa Payoh MRT station, while moving it north would be impossible because of surrounding HDB blocks and JTC Flatted factories. It was thus built with side platforms unlike other NSL stations. Construction of this station was awarded to Singapore Belgium Contractors Limited under Contract 103A on 7 April 1984.[1][2] To facilitate the construction, two of the six lanes at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 and 2, were temporarily closed from February 1985 to February 1986.[3] Braddell was among the first of five stations opened for operation on 7 November 1987.

Incidents

On 7 May 2008, a robber tried to rob from the 7-Eleven convenience store within the station at 3.10 pm, but was instead locked in the shop by the cashier who dashed out of the shop. The robber could not escape and the Police arrived shortly but the robber threatened to commit suicide. The robber was finally apprehended by the police's taser gun and arrested.[4]

On 7 October 2017, water got into a section of the tunnel from Bishan to Braddell MRT stations during the heavy downpour in the afternoon, which has disrupted train services along 13 stations on the North-South Line for several hours. This case of water entering MRT tunnels is believed to be the first time it has affected train service along the NSL. Separately, at about 5.55pm, a small fire was spotted trackside in the tunnel between Marina Bay and Raffles Place MRT station, but it has died down by itself. It is not clear if it is linked to the flood, although electrical short circuits caused by water had sparked tunnel fires before.[5][6] Train services between Marina South Pier and Newton were restored on the day itself at about 9.20pm. Train services between Newton and Ang Mo Kio were fully resumed at around 2pm the following day after overnight efforts to clear the water in the tunnel, after 20 hours of service disruption, being the worst in SMRT's history.[7] It was revealed that the overflowing in the tunnel was caused by a malfunction in the water pumping system, which has since been repaired.[8]

References
  1. "S'pore-Belgium venture to build Braddell Station". Singapore Monitor. 7 April 1984.
  2. Braddell MRT Station construction awarded
  3. "Roads partly closed for a year for MRT". Singapore Monitor. 24 February 1985.
  4. "打抢便利店 歹徒被反锁束手就擒". Channel News Asia Chinese. 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  5. "Water in the tunnel, trackside fire caused train disruption on NSL: SMRT". Channel Newsasia. 8 October 2017.
  6. "NSL disruption: Train services between Ang Mo Kio and Newton will not be available until earliest Sunday". The Straits Times. 7 October 2017.
  7. "NSL disruption: No train services between Ang Mo Kio, Newton 'till further notice', says SMRT". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  8. "NSL disruption: Malfunctioning water pumping system resulted in flooded MRT tunnel, says LTA". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
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