Caldecott MRT station

When the Circle line (CCL) was initially planned, this station, tentatively named "Thomson", was planned to be a shell station, to be opened only when the surroundings are more developed.[2][3] The contract for the construction of rapid transit system facilities for Thomson station was awarded to Taisei Corporation at a sum of S$391.59 million (US$231.71 million).[lower-alpha 1][4]

The station was announced to be opened with the Stage 4 CCL stations,[3][5] and the station name was renamed to "Caldecott".[1][6] The station opened on 8 October 2011.[7][8][9][10]

The former entrance of the station closed for the construction.

On 15 August 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed that Caldecott station would be part of the proposed Thomson East-Coast line (TEL). The station will be constructed as part of Phase 2, consisting of 6 stations between the Springleaf and Caldecott stations.[11][12][13] The station is to be the terminus of the TEL until the line extension to Gardens by the Bay station in 2021.[14]

Contract T213 for the design and construction of Caldecott TEL Station and associated tunnels was awarded to Samsung C&T Corporation at a sum of S$285 million (US$228 million) in July 2013. Construction started in 2014, with completion initially targeted to be completed in 2020.[15][16] However, the restrictions on the construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays in the TEL line completion, and the date was pushed to 2021.[13]

To facilitate the construction of the interchange station, Exit A of the station was permanently closed from 15 November 2020.[17] On 14 December 2020, it was further announced that TEL Stage 2 opening will be delayed to the third quarter of 2021 so as to review the rail system software for the line.[18][19][20]

Caldecott station CCL platform level with the artwork on the lift shaft.

As part of the MRT network's Art-in-Transit (AiT) Programme,[lower-alpha 2] The Cartography Of Memories by Hazel Lim is displayed on the lift shaft in the station. The artwork depicts a cartographic map of the Thomson area, where the station is located, using written recollections from some 100 local residents and friends recalling their memorable experiences in Singapore.[21][22][23]

Originally, Lim proposed a collage showing pictures of the station's surroundings seen through frames such as grilles on a bridge or through a window. However, the Art Review Panel, in charge of the AiT programme, was not impressed with this initial idea, since the work would be less effective on the vertical lift shaft.[24] Realising the impact of the station's and line's construction on the surrounding landscape, the artist decided to capture people's responses towards this, using text as an artistic medium.[24] At the same time, the artist was looking for faraway places on Google Maps for another artwork. Looking at the satellite view of Thomson, the artist saw the possibility of framing the area depicting the landmarks around the station. Lim then combined these two ideas into this work mapping Thomson using written memories.[25]

The artist went on to collect responses from friends, relatives and LTA staff, from which she selected 40 unique recollections for the work.[25] As the artist tried to fit the sentences of the recollections in the work, she put the more interesting recollections in the lower panels where they could be viewed up close by commuters. For more depth in the artwork, some of the words overlap to represent the developed areas, resulting in a map of "interweaving memories". The artist later explained that the fragmentation of the sentences reflects memories being fragmented as people move on, recalling only "bits and pieces" of such memories.[25]

Lim took up the suggestion from an LTA architect to print the 9.1-metre (30 ft) by 2.9-metre (9.5 ft) artwork without a background, so that the work could be seen in detail from the other side. When it was put up, however, the work was not clearly visible, so a manila background was used. The artist has considered other colours like grey or white, but find grey to be "too cold" and white to be "too stark". Manila, according to the artist, resembles the colours used on envelopes.[26]

This artwork could be seen as a reflection of the artist's response to life in the rapidly changing landscape of Singapore.[26] Through this work, the artist addressed the notions of displacement and the creation of histories, maps and landscapes especially those linked to Singapore.[26] Observing the changes in Singapore, the artist portrays the memories that "slipped through" the gaps of the recent past.[22] In addition, through the concept of framing, the station surroundings could be seen through a less commonly used angle, also used in the artist's works.[26]

Caldecott CCL station is one of eleven stations along the Circle line designated as Civil Defence (CD) shelters, which will be activated in times of national emergency. Apart from reinforced construction, the stations are designed and equipped with facilities to ensure the shelter environment is tolerable for all during shelter occupation. These facilities include protective blast doors, decontamination facilities, ventilation systems, power and water supply systems and a dry toilet system.[27]

The site of Caldecott station, with the TEL station nearing completion.

Located underneath Toa Payoh Link,[28] the station is located near schools such as the Marymount Convent School, Lighthouse School and the Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped. It is also within walking distances to community and health-related centres such as the Assisi Hospice, Mount Alvernia Hospital, Orange Valley Nursing Home and the Singapore Asssociation of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH).[29][30]

Caldecott station currently serves the CCL between the Marymount and Botanic Gardens stations. The station code is currently CC17 as reflected on official maps.[31] The station operates between 5:28 am and 12:30 am.[32] Train frequencies range from 3.5 to 7 minutes depending on peak hours.[33]

When the TEL extends to Caldecott in the third quarter of 2021,[18][34] the station will be an interchange between the CCL and TEL. The station will be the southern terminus of the TEL after Upper Thomson station, until the extension to Gardens by the Bay station. The station will be before Mount Pleasant station.[35]