Woodleigh MRT station

Woodleigh MRT station (NE11) is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North East line, located in the planning subzone of Bidadari, in Toa Payoh, Singapore underneath Upper Serangoon Road, at the junction with Upper Aljunied Road and Youngberg Terrace. The station is built on part of the former Bidadari Cemetery, and will serve the upcoming Bidadari estate.

 NE11 
Woodleigh
兀里
உட் லீ
Woodleigh
Rapid transit
Platform of Woodleigh station on 20 June 2011.
Location400 Upper Serangoon Road
Singapore 347695
Coordinates1°20′21″N 103°52′15″E
Operated bySBS Transit Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation)
Line(s)
  North East line
Platforms2 (1 island platform)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
ParkingNo
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station code NE11 
History
Opened20 June 2011 (2011-06-20)
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station
towards HarbourFront
North East line
towards Punggol
Location
Not to be confused with Woodlands MRT station.
Platform area of NE11 Woodleigh MRT station taken from a Punggol bound train when the station was closed

Woodleigh station currently has one of the lowest riderships on the MRT network, particularly due to the lack of development in its vicinity.

By 2022, Woodleigh station will be connected to a mixed development shopping mall nearby, and a new Bidadari Bus Interchange, which will be located under the mall, with direct access to the station concourse. Many HDB Blocks and condominiums in the vicinity are currently under constructions, and once they are completed, Woodleigh MRT would serve the new Bidadari residential estate. [1]

History

When the North East line opened, it was one of the 2 completed MRT stations in the entire system that was non-operational, the other being Buangkok which was opened on 15 January 2006 prior to the opening of the Circle line. It was closed for 8 years because of low development in the vicinity. Art In Transit artwork in this station is Slow Motion by April Ng Kiow Ngor. Part of the station's interior was shown on an episode of Building the Biggest on Discovery Channel.[2]

It was estimated that if the station was opened, its daily ridership would be under the 2,000 general benchmark deemed necessary for a station to make economic sense to operate. However, on 8 March 2011, SBS Transit announced the opening of the station on 20 June that year.[3]

On the eve of the grand opening, maintenance on the lifts, escalators and fare gates was conducted and the platform was polished. The station was officially opened on that day by Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew to celebrate the 8th anniversary of the opening of the North East line in 2003.[3]

Published information in the Singapore Master Plan as well as several reports in the newspapers have mentioned a planned major housing project where the former Bidadari Cemetery sat. Existing nearby condominiums include Avon Park, Euro-Asia Park and Blossoms at Woodleigh. There are also several new condominium projects under development in the area including, Parc Mondrian, Park Colonial, The Woodleigh Residences and 8@Woodleigh. Other buildings around it include a Salvation Army stockhouse and a few shophouses.

The station is close to several schools such as Maris Stella High School, Stamford American International School permanent campus, Cedar Primary School and Cedar Girls' Secondary School. The Central Expressway, Pan Island Expressway and Potong Pasir MRT station are just minutes away, allowing quick and easy access to the city and the CBD. Mount Vernon, which is nearby, houses the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Mount Vernon Camp.

Cash top ups are not accepted at the passenger service centres from 5 January 2018 at this station.[4]

Security incident

On 18 April 2017, Woodleigh station was closed for about three hours after a suspicious substance was found in various areas in the station. At 1.49pm, SBS Transit announced that all trains will skip Woodleigh station due to a "security incident". The station subsequently reopened at 4.20 pm after police established the substance to be baking flour.

A 69-year-old man has been arrested for causing public alarm. Two other men, aged 53 and 70, are assisting police with investigations. This was the second security incident in more than two weeks after Hougang MRT station was temporarily shut down on 2 April 2017. Preliminary investigations show that the trio were helping to mark a hashing trail before a run organised by the Seletar Hash House Harriers took place.[5][6]

Accessibility

Woodleigh MRT currently has three exits along Upper Serangoon Road. However, in the future, two more exits are planned to be built, with one alongside Upper Aljunied Road, and another linking to the future Bidadari Bus Interchange

References
  1. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/advertorial/the-rise-of-bidadari-11496836
  2. "Underground Singapore – Part 5 (Discovery Channel)".
  3. "SBS Transit Opens Woodleigh and Damai Stations". SBS Transit. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  4. Min Zhang, Lim (31 August 2017). "11 train stations will no longer accept cash-top ups at counters from Sept 1". The Straits Times.
  5. "Woodleigh MRT station reopens after suspicious substance found to be baking flour". 18 April 2017.
  6. "Woodleigh MRT incident: 3 men involved are part of running group using flour to mark out jogging trail". 18 April 2017.
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