What Does It Take to Build a New MRT Line?

What happens before a new MRT line opens, and who’s involved in the process? We got an exclusive look behind the scenes of Singapore’s newest MRT lines, some of which are still being built. Let’s find out what it takes to get the job done and who’s behind it all.
This video was made in collaboration with the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
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[@user-pm5qq2kx9r]

My sis was a Civil Engineer, she participate in the Dhoby Ghuat MRT, hers is tough cos above the station there already an existing large building...n her team needs to take care of avoid hitting tat building core structure 😊😊😊i m so proud of her🥰🤗

[@Slime_on_a_rock]

Ex-civil engineer here too, to add up, even civil engineers are subdivided into many teams to focus on our specialties i.e. geotechnical team, who runs analysis to ensure MRT tunnel construction's impact to surrounding buildings and their foundation is within Eurocodes design allowance. There are many more teams, example: structural team, alignment team, civil team, etc. in which we work with each other to build 3D models to ensure that all our design elements are in sync. 🙂

[@RonLarhz]

the u all can explain how, in layman terms, a tiny island like singapore.....how can it tahan all the drilling and weight? not forgetting the constant rainfall. how have we not sink? and i believe some time ago sinkhole already appeared in sg.

[@certifiedbruh2180]

​@@RonLarhz Sinkholes can happen anywhere. When engineers design underground stations, they treat it as building a tall tower, so they place structural support pillars and reinforce walls to ensure that the ground above is held up and the pressure exerted is equally distributed. That's how underground construction is done.

[@Slime_on_a_rock]

@@RonLarhz I dont think I can fully explain to you as I wasn't geotechnical engineer, so may take it as one of the many generic idea. That being said, reffering to your first part of query: 1. Imagining building sand castle at the beach (beach being earth, and castle being our island) and keep on adding weight on top. While doing so, keep on compacting the sand make it firm to a point that the sand collapse sideway. Putting this idea to our ground, as earth is round, our sideway is always connected all round, so it has no where to collapse to. 2. Drilling wise, again imagine doing it at the beach, we shove a tubular pipe into the sand first, then we "drill inside this pipe only", the pipe will prevent sand from collapsing inward. 3. To add on, Singapore is carrying out (we can call it "anti-sinking programme") upgrade/increase of road levels and MRT entrance level to cater for rising sea level (To emphasize, this is not due to us sinking, but due to rising sea level as a result of global warming). As for your second part of your query, if sink hole are discovered (whether caused by construction or form by nature), they can be in layman's term "be filled" and compacted to desired "hardness".

[@lxy315lxy]

A woman in civil engineering? That is so cool to know! But unfortunately most of the construction work projects are mostly done by man so I'm so happy to hear that women are leading civil engineering works!

[@MDroid-bn6eb]

What commuters don’t see is that, there is a whole entire complex hidden behind the walls to keep the operations running. The planning behind to keep the station running even during emergencies is beyond what you can imagine. Source: I was a SCDF shelter operator. I was mind blown during my first exercise. The sheer scale of what goes behind.

[@amirahismail9592]

Mad respect for these engineers!

[@philipgumm9243]

Those new train display systems are way better than the old ones! Kudos!

[@user-cl3ke3gy2f]

we r so proud of u engineers......

[@hyfishboiboi2664]

LTA always takes the spotlight but the real heroes are contract engineers, design engineers and consultants. they work tirelessly and are in charge of everything from designing and planning to planning the work, communicating with workers and ensuring their safety. if anything happen its the main contractors problem, whether the subcon or design consultant cock up LTA will directly hold the main con liable. These engineers are the real ones that work from 9AM until late at night to ensure operations are smooth. LTA just give design criteria then sometimes go to site and tekan for not working fast enough or safety. even if the worker ownself dont follow given instructions and take shortcut, get injured LTA IS NOT LIABLE BUT THE CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS. site engineers be working an office job AND sweating at site all day and LTA still takes the limelight

[@tan.kai.000]

Really excited about the Jurong regional line!

[@playmakersmusic]

Thanks OGS for making such an informative video!

[@mikeyakasusu]

Good job everyone! I love our train in SG. :D

[@Slime_on_a_rock]

Sandbag trial run is interesting, wondering is there new way of testing. Kudos to the video production giving some insights into MRT station/tunnel and system design.

[@mlvp]

Enjoyed this one OGSxLTA!

[@HTtwentyten]

I'm so happy most of the Jurong Region line runs ABOVE ground, allowing the public to actually see (and grow attached to) the landscape. This breeds ownership and identity among Singaporeans a billion times more than being sucked through a lightless tube.

[@lanaroads69]

You praise until when it is built and you realize MRT trains above ground is loud asf

[@electricsain3558]

Omg! I really inside this video at 3:44. I'm proud of myself. 😊

[@michelereid]

Congratulations….i am from Australia and recently visited Singapore and thoroughly and easily enjoyed using the MRT! Perfect as a foreign visitor to use!!!

[@abujamunafik7941]

rip to the worker who fell to his death on Jan 4

[@desmondchew3585]

Thank you 🙏

[@dimensionalanimations]

Cant wait for TEL4 opening in June! And JRL is so good, cant wait for it in 2027 too :DDD

[@gumballdarwin2330]

Goodbye bus travel?😃😃

[@dimensionalanimations]

@@gumballdarwin2330 maybe

[@seananlinjunxi868]

3:47 love how their pretending that they’re on a normal train service and totally not just in an off service train at Mandai depot

[@apnz4161]

Singaporeans sure are a gifted smart people. Can't say the same about the ppl in my country NZ where its all talk and no action.

[@TheDestroyer-ne1og]

JRL prob has the least amount of interchanges of only having 5, if the west coast extension is built (Jurong East, Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay, Jurong Pier and Haw Par Villa)

[@noproblematallmate]

Juswin has one of the best names

[@hayabusa1329]

Li shan ❤

[@SGrailadventure2004]

With the upcoming Jurong Region Line being fully elevated, it will be exciting and interesting for the public to see how it will be constructed (especially at Interchange stations)

[@raid1010]

MY should learn much from SG! But it's just hopeful thinking atp😂😂😂

[@user-xd2gy5yp5l]

Excellent video. I wish LTA takes the initiative to do such BTS videos ..

[@misssometing]

This BTS video is sponsored by LTA!

[@976buster]

These are LTA officers. I was both a design engineer and also a contractor engineers. Most of the time, these LTA officers are not the real people who construct. It's the contractor engineers and design engineers who made them work. LTA only tekan and sit there to watch. If U ask them hw to design they only tell you civil design criteria. They nvr helped to solve on the the ground issues. Pls dun give them credit

[@certifiedbruh2180]

LTA is the one who finds contractors, gives yall jobs, and consults you for design. They handle the planning, coordination, budget, and financing for the project.

[@sgtjyf01]

Without these folks from LTA, who is going to award you the project, approve budgets and payments? Everyone contributes in their own way, some more, others slightly less. Mostly importantly, if things cocks up, it's LTA that is ultimately responsible. Not you. Remember, you don't make a candle brighter simply by blowing others out.

[@jaywu7078]

This is those that sit behind the Aircon desk, and those actually building is those sweating inside the tunnel ?

[@YouMadBro237]

True bro, I'm contractor engineer also. However it's always the lta engineer that get the limelight. 😂😂😂

[@Ihatelifebruh]

Need to plan route also what

[@leehyunsong7001]

Now i am confused about the role of LTA and its two mrt operators SMRT and SBS

[@alui5362]

guys, be good colleagues and buy juswin a bigger shirt la. (hahaha jk)

[@DisplayNameOptional]

What is Billy’s @?

[@AKIRA-we4hd]

Singapore men online complain that Singapore women are Changi Airport. Now they can convert to choosing MRT, very big and long.

[@mvtildvz]

Lishan? Attorney Woo?

[@mautest1427]

Singapore MRT NUMBER 1, SINGAPORE SAAFETY NUMBER 1, SINGAPORE NUMBER 1. SAVE YOUR LIFE, SAVE YOUR FAMILY, SAVE YOUR COUNTRY.

[@HarrisonLuiEKYiss]

2:20 They are using Windows 7 in 2023/2024???

[@iOSalltheway]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

[@Ethan777100]

The OS locked in during the Design Stage was Windows 7 as of 2013/14. This is specific for the North-South East-West Line new signalling control system you see there, which underwent Design Approval during 2013/14. Like what @iOSalltheway mentioned, "not broken, don't fix it". The OS is meant to last longer in a closed environment, until a decision to do OS Refresh.

[@HarrisonLuiEKYiss]

@@iOSalltheway 🤣good compromise!

[@dimensionalanimations]

@@HarrisonLuiEKYiss Whats wrong with using old computers huh

[@3asonchan]

windows XP was still being used few years ago...

[@sgmei]

I can't wait for the JRL!! I don't know who decided, but just wanna say thank you for choosing our line colour to be sky/light blue!! I love it so much 😂💙

[@tommyfield8449]

Ikr. Public kpkb about JRL when it will be useful. Like imagine those living near Brickland Road/CCK ave 5,you don't have to opt to drop at Bukit Gombak mrt & take bus 991 or drop off at CCK Interchange. Obviously for those living around Cck ave 1,2,3, you still need take bus. A good option for shortcut to JE without the need to go to CCK mrt/BG mrt. Taking MRT in front of your house mean you can get a seat faster & eliminate congestion during peak hour.

[@sgmei]

@@tommyfield8449 A typical local attitude bah, build this, they complain, never build that, they complain. Haha! The JRL Hong Kah station will be just behind my house and probably walkable, I would be so happy to have "unlocked" another new method to travel around. After few years then I would get my BTO at Tengah so JRL would be so much involved in my life. JRL will be very convenient for most of Jurong/CCK residents.

[@beefwhale]

I love the blue too, it's such a pretty and slightly muted shade

[@P53eud0nym05]

珊珊 😍🤪

[@sktoh4469]

Common Singaporean error. The lady said, "alphabets". Say "letters" instead!

[@dtac_10_29]

I clicked for Li Shan

[@scorpioszn69]

bring back the alphabetical exits 😭😭

[@3asonchan]

numbers easier tho, due to the number of exits, its easier to say exit 12 compared to exit L

[@glenn.c]

why? other than a short period of getting used to the change, it's objectively more convenient. Raffles Place was hell, I think it went to Exit L or something and hope it changes to numbers lol

[@BaySean]

This lady looks like actress Julie Tan

[@SuperValue350]

Li Shan seems to be a cute cougar

[@jrukawa11]

no money no building

[@user-mq3mq4ng8n]

The Jurong Region Line is partly routed this way to bring energy from the higher ground NTU, to the lower ground Tengah and Jurong Port. At the same time, the Jurong Region Line is meant to provide a MRT connection from Tengah and Teban Gardens to Jurong East, where there is the EWL connection to the city centre. In a way, the Jurong Region Line is meant to provide a network for the energy to flow throughout the Jurong Region. Next time, when the Jurong Region Line is operating, the Jurong Region will definitely become a successful metropolitan area.

[@michaeleverson9465]

just curious what do you mean by 'energy from the higher ground'?

[@user-pv6vn5vy2l]

MRT stations throughout the island are boring and dull looking structures without much architectural design. Run of the Mill, ordinary and uninteresting. Look at MRT stations in Moscow, Budapest and some China cities of their amazing architectural beauties. Singapore can do better with impressive architecture design of stations instead of repeating those dull boring structures.

[@oofran012]

first

[@SingZeon48]

Who asked?

[@user-os2hv9lj8n]

i did@@SingZeon48

[@bobocharchar]

The people who deserve real credit are the foreign workers who toil in sweat and dirt to build the new MRT systems - not the paper warriors who mostly sit inside air conditioned rooms to “conceptualise” the construction process.

[@Unidentified1990]

Without the "sit inside office" people, the foreign workers would have no jobs to construct anything because there would have been no concept/plan. All play a role. Next time before you type/open your mouth, maybe use your limited brain and respect everyone from those who toil and sweat all the way to the designers (be it LTA or contractors)

[@MrPorkered]

wow looks japanese from thumbnail