Orchard MRT station

Orchard MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North South line, located on the boundary of Orchard and River Valley planning areas, Singapore.

Not to be confused with Orchard Boulevard MRT station.

 NS22  TE14 
Orchard
乌节
ஆர்ச்சர்ட்
Orchard
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
Platform A of Orchard MRT station
Location437 Orchard Road
Singapore 238878 (NSL)
301 Orchard Boulevard
Singapore 237974 (TEL)
Coordinates1°18′12″N 103°49′54″E
Owned byLand Transport Authority
Operated by SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)
  North South Line
  Thomson–East Coast Line
Platforms4 (2 island platforms) (2 U/C)
Tracks4 (2 U/C)
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels2 (1 U/C)
ParkingYes (Ngee Ann City, Wisma Atria, ION Orchard)
Disabled accessYes
History
Opened12 December 1987 (1987-12-12) (North South line)
Opening2022 (2022) (Thomson–East Coast line)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesOrchard Boulevard, Scotts[1][2]
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station
towards Jurong East
North South Line
Thomson–East Coast Line
Future service
Location
Orchard
Orchard station in Singapore

Being one of the three MRT stations that serve the popular shopping district along Orchard Road, Orchard station is one of the network's busiest stations. In 2021, Orchard station will become an interchange with the Thomson–East Coast line which is currently under construction.

History
A former entrance to the station, which has since been removed due to developments in the area.
The new entrance into Orchard MRT station.

Prior to the construction of Orchard MRT station, it was named Scotts from 1967 to 1982, and then renamed to Orchard Boulevard. The station was subsequently renamed to Orchard in 1985. On 1 October 1983, the MRTC awarded the contract for the MRT tunnel from Newton to Somerset as well as Somerset MRT station to Borie SAE and Ong Chwee Kou Building Contractors Limited.[3]

On 10 May 1984, Orchard Turn, the existing slip road from Orchard Boulevard to Orchard Road, was realigned to facilitate MRT construction works.[4] On 27 April 1985, there was a MRT construction accident at Orchard MRT station which caused 15 workers to be treated for shock.[5]

The construction of the lifts began in 19 June 2002 and completed on 20 August 2004. The lifts from the concourse to the street level existed for a short while before it was replaced by another lift in October 2007 due to ION Orchard's construction. Additionally, on 29 October 2006, the bus stop on the right side of Orchard Boulevard was shifted to Orchard Turn.

On 15 January 2008, Exits C and E that connects to Wisma Atria and ION Orchard were closed, and reopened on 21 July 2009 due to the building works of ION Orchard. The western concourse, linked to Exit E and ION Orchard, opened on 20 July 2009 as part of the ION Orchard development.

Thomson-East Coast Line
Entrance to the TEL station nearing completion.

On 15 August 2014, LTA announced that Orchard station would be part of the proposed Thomson East-Coast line (TEL). The station will be constructed as part of Phase 3, consisting of 13 stations between Mount Pleasant and Gardens by the Bay, and is expected to be completed in 2021.[6][7]

Contract T219 for the design and construction of Orchard Station and associated tunnels was awarded to Penta-Ocean Construction Co Ltd – Bachy Soletanche Singapore Pte Ltd Joint Venture at a sum of S$498 million on July 2014. Construction started in 2014, with completion expected in 2021.[8]

The linkway between the TEL and NSL platforms was constructed using the pipe-roofing method, while the mining and underpinning method was adopted to construct the new box structure underneath the existing NSL station. Special drilling machines from Europe are being used, capable of drilling in all directions in a low headroom confined space. To minimise disruptions to the current NSL operations, mining works must be carried out strictly according to the approved design, sequence and method in a safe manner without compromising the stability and serviceability of existing surrounding structures.[9]

Station details

Due to the station's location in the Orchard Road shopping belt, the station was intended to be the MRT system's showpiece, with S$24 million spent on aesthetic elements. The station's circular concourse has a dome 11 metres (36 ft) in diameter and an atrium design, and its floor consists of alternating granite tiles laid out in a radial arrangement. To contrast with the concourse floor, burgundy red vitreous panels were installed on parts of the concourse wall, while other walls in the station concourse and at platform level were clad in polished blue granite tiles.[10]

References
  1. "Names for 42 MRT stations". Singapore Monitor. 20 September 1984.
  2. "New names for eight stations". Singapore Monitor. 30 November 1982.
  3. "Local firm gets a slice of MRT deal". The Straits Times. 1 October 1983. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  4. "New slip road at Orchard Bivd". Singapore Monitor. 11 May 1984.
  5. "MRT accident: 15 workers treated for shock". The Business Times. 27 April 1985.
  6. "Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority & Singapore Land Authority - Thomson-East Coast Line: New MRT Links in the East | Press Room | Land Transport Authority". www.lta.gov.sg. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. "LTA | Upcoming Projects | Rail Expansion | Thomson-East Coast Line". www.lta.gov.sg. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. "LTA Awards Four Contracts for Thomson Line". www.lta.gov.sg. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  9. "LTA | News Room | News Releases | Factsheet: Thomson-East Coast Line's Orchard Station: Challenges in Constructing the Platform Link". www.lta.gov.sg. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  10. "Orchard station will be $24 m showpiece". The Straits Times. Singapore. 12 November 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 12 May 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
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