The Downtown Line (DTL) will be the fifth Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore, with the first stage of construction commencing on February 12, 2008. When fully completed, the line will be about 42-km long with 34 stations. It will be a fully automatic and driverless system similar to the North East Line and the Circle Line, and will be fully underground. Somewhat similar to the East West Line, the line will serve the Bukit Timah area and eastern Singapore and bring commuters to the new downtown area. The line is coloured brown on the rail map.
By 20 August 2010, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore has announced the track alignment and station locations of the entire Downtown Line. Stage 1 of the Downtown Line is targeted for completion in 2013, while Stage 2 is targeted for 2015 and Stage 3 is targeted for 2017. However, it has yet to announce the operator, which according to LTA, is going to be either SBS Transit or SMRT Trains.
When completed, the line is expected to serve some 500,000 commuters daily and reduce travelling time from Bukit Panjang to Expo to just about 65 minutes.
On June 14, 2005, the Land Transport Authority announced that it would construct the (then known as) Downtown Extension of the Circle Line, to serve the Downtown at Marina Bay(DTMB) area, where an integrated resort and Singapore's second botanical garden will be located. The 3.4-kilometre fully underground line was estimated to cost S$1.4 billion. Construction of the extension was slated to begin in 2007, with completion by 2012.
On 27 April 2007, it was announced that Stage 1 of the line will connect Promenade station with Bugis. As such, the former Downtown Extension of the Circle Line became known as the Downtown Line Stage 1, a 4.3 km 6 station segment running fully underground from Chinatown Station on the North East Line to Bugis Station on the East West Line, due to be operational in 2013, a year later than originally planned.
Three new stations will be constructed underground, linking the Bugis station on the East West Line, Promenade station on the Circle Line and the Chinatown station on the North East Line. Two stations, Bayfront and Downtown, will be built to serve the DTMB area. Another station, Telok Ayer, will be built along Cross Street near the Chinatown area.
Usage of KRUGER’s Fans: Ventilation
