Branch MRT line

The Branch MRT line, also known as the Bukit MRT line, was originally the third Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore, initially operating as a branch to the existing East–West Line. The line was 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) long with four stations, and was operated by SMRT Corporation.

Branch line
Overview
Native name	Malay: Laluan MRT Cawangan Chinese: 地铁支线 Tamil: கிளை எம்ஆர்டி வரி
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Corporation
Termini	Jurong East Choa Chu Kang
Stations	4
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Services	1
Operator(s)	Singapore MRT Limited
Rolling stock	Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151 (KHI) Siemens C651 (SIE)
History
Opened	10 March 1990 (1990-03-10)
Closed	10 February 1996 (1996-02-10) (merged with the North South line)
Technical
Line length	6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Character	Fully elevated
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	Limit of 80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map  B3  Choa Chu Kang Choa Chu Kang Avenue Bukit Batok Road  B2  Bukit Gombak  B1  Bukit Batok Pan Island Expressway to Boon Lay  W9  Jurong East to Pasir Ris

Travelling from one end of this line to the other end took about ten minutes, and the line was coloured brown and khaki on the rail map. The line now forms a part of the North–South Line, making it the only defunct line in Singapore. The line used to terminate at the centre track at Jurong East (then platforms C/D, now D/E). Trains operated at a six-minute frequency.

History

The line was conceptualized as the Western line during the early planning stages of the Singapore MRT network.

On 7 January 1986, the Taiwanese RSEA International and Hock Lian Seng Joint Venture were awarded the contract for the Branch MRT line stations – Bukit Batok, Bukit Gombak, and Choa Chu Kang. The line started operations on 10 March 1990, and was named the Branch line, consisting of four stations.

The branch line (from Jurong East station to Choa Chu Kang station in khaki and brown) and on a recreation of the old MRT map (1989-1996)

Fate

The line was subsequently merged into the North–South Line when the Woodlands MRT Extension opened on 10 February 1996, connecting the existing North–South Line at Yishun to the Branch line at Choa Chu Kang. The station codes for Bukit Batok to Choa Chu Kang stations were changed to N23, N22 and N21 respectively, subsequently to their current code on the North South line with the revamp of the system map on 31 July 2001.

Stations

Station Number	Station Name	Interchange
W9	Jurong East	East West line
B1	Bukit Batok	N/A
B2	Bukit Gombak
B3	Choa Chu Kang