Kembangan MRT station


Kembangan MRT station is an above-ground Mass [Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit] station on the East–West Line in Bedok, Singapore. Operated by SMRT Trains, the station serves the eponymous Kembangan subzone of Bedok. Other nearby landmarks include the Kembangan Community Club and the Masjid Kassim.
First announced in May 1982 as Frankel, the station was constructed as part of Phase II of the MRT system. The name was later changed in 1983. Kampongs Kembangan and Pachitan were acquired for the station's construction. It commenced operations on 17 December 1988 along with the other stations on the Tanah Merah–Pasir Ris Stations stretch. Half-height platform screen doors and high-volume low-speed fans were installed by August 2011 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively.
Like many stations of the EWL eastern stretch, the station has a domed roof design. As a part of a heritage-themed art exhibition, there are two murals by students from St. Joseph's Institution displayed in the station, which details the history of nearby landmarks.

History

Kembangan station was first included in the early plans of the MRT system as Frankel station in May 1982. It was later announced to be part of Phase II of the MRT as Kembangan station in October 1983. Several joint ventures were shortlisted for Contracts 303 and 304 by May 1985. Contract 303 covered the construction of viaducts from Eunos station to Kembangan station, while Contract 304 covered the construction of Kembangan station and Bedok station.
Contract 303 was awarded to a Japanese–Singaporean joint venture between Okumura Corporation and Oh Teck Thye for S$60 million in December 1985. In January 1986, Contract 304 was awarded to a partnership between Obayashi Corporation and Resources Development Pte Ltd for. Works for Contract 304 began in March 1986.
To construct the station, Kampongs Kembangan and Pachitan were acquired. The subcontract for the supply of post-tension cables and pre-cast beams for the viaducts was awarded to Swiss company VSL Systems in July 1986. On 30 December 1986, the joint venture for Contract 303 was terminated, with Okumura taking over the project. It was later disclosed that Oh Teck Thye was placed under receivership when it failed to repay its debts. Kembangan station opened on 4 November 1989 along with all other East–West Line stations from Bugis to Tanah Merah.
On 22 March 1997, a man jumped in front of an oncoming west-bound train, where he sustained head, arm, and foot injuries. The man was pronounced dead afterwards. Train services between Eunos and Tanah Merah stations were disrupted for two hours. Following a rise in track intrusions as well as commuters slipping when rushing for the train, the LTA and SMRT decided to install platform screen doors. After several tests at different stations, works for the half-height platform screen doors were expected to start in 2010, with eventual installation and operations commencing at Kembangan station by August 2011. High-volume low-speed fans were installed in the station by the first quarter of 2013. In 2018, Kembangan was one of ten stations of the eastern portion EWL that fully closed on 21 and 28 January as part of works for rail maintenance and checks for a new signalling system.

Details

Kembangan station is on the EWL with the station code of EW6, situated between Bedok and Eunos station. When it opened, it had the station code of E7 before being changed to its current station code in August 2001 as a part of a system-wide campaign to cater to the expanding MRT System. The station is elevated and like many stations on the initial MRT network, has an island platform configuration. The station operates around 5:40am to 12:30am daily, with train frequencies varying from 2 to 5 minutes. As part of the EWL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains. It is also wheelchair-accessible and has bicycle facilities. The station runs alongside Sims Avenue East and has two exits serving amenities in the area such as Kampong Kembangan Community Club, Masjid Kassim, and Bethesda Chapel.
Similar to other EWL stations in the east, Kembangan station has a dome-shaped roof, with The Straits Times comparing it to a caterpillar in one article and a rib cage in another article. The design was an attempt by the MRT Corporation to give the stations on the EWL an "attractive look". Additionally, as a part of SMRT's heritage-themed artwork showcase Comic Connect, the station features two murals created by students from St. Joseph's Institution. The first mural depicts the Church of [Our Lady of Perpetual Succour] and Kembangan CC while the second mural depicts Masjid Kassim and the site of the Buddhist Union.