Bukit Panjang LRT Line

BPLRT  Bukit Panjang LRT Line Laluan LRT Bukit Panjang 武吉班让轻轨线 பக்கிட் பஞ்சாங் வரி
Overview
Type	Light rail
System	Light Rail Transit (Singapore)
Status	Operational
Termini	Choa Chu Kang Ten Mile Junction
Stations	14
Services	3
Operation
Opened	6 November 1999
Owner	Land Transport Authority
Operator(s)	SMRT Light Rail (SMRT Corporation)
Rolling stock	Bombardier INNOVIA APM 100 C801 Bombardier INNOVIA APM 100 C801A
Technical
Line length	7.8 km (4.8 mi)
Electrification	600V AC Third rail
Route map Template:LRT route/Bukit Panjang

A view of Senja LRT station.

LRT platform of Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT station.

Bukit Panjang LRT Line is a 7.8 km light rail line opened on 6 November 1999 and part of Singapore's LRT system. It is fully automated, and the project was contracted to Adtranz, Keppel Corporation and Gammon Construction. The line uses the Bombardier Innovia APM 100 rolling stock supplied by then Adtranz, now Bombardier, and is similar to the ones used in the Changi Airport Skytrain service during until 2006. A complete loop journey on the line (excluding Ten Mile Junction LRT station) takes 28 minutes and all stations, except Choa Chu Kang and Ten Mile Junction have two opposing side platforms, like Dover, Braddell MRT stations and Fernvale LRT station. Choa Chu Kang LRT Station has an island platform layout like most MRT stations but Ten Mile Junction Station only has a single platform and the only station with platform screen doors. Both Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang stations are the only stations with half-height platform screen doors.Choa Chu Kang station will have 2 additional platforms and a set of new fare gates to ease the crowding during peak hours.

Coupling is usually done in Ten Mile Junction depot and the trains are coupled with the same car type, example, C801-C801, or C801A-C801A. But sometimes the trains are coupled differently due to reasons like breakdowns or testing.

As of 2015, the majority of Bombardier Innovia APM 100 trains are in two-car formations. Two-car formations are no longer operating during peak hours only and are now being converted to full-day operation including off-peak, public holidays and weekends. This is due to the high number of apartments around Bukit Panjang and the increase in ridership.

History

In the morning of November 19 2000, train car 111 collided with 117, marking the first and only LRT accident involving head to tail collision. The Train Controller initially had to attend to a train not being able to depart from the depot. Then operation control receives an alarm noting that train 117 was missing from Phoenix LRT Station. The Track Circuit could not detect the train and till this day the reason is unidentified. The Train Controller ignored the alarm and allowed train 111 to depart for Phoenix station while 117 was still there, thus allowing this incident to happen. Train 111 collided with train 117 at the speed of 16km/h, injuring 5 passengers.

Plans by the Land Transport Authority have indicated a Mass Rapid Transit station (Bukit Panjang MRT station) near Bukit Panjang LRT station as part of the Downtown Line, which is expected to open in December 2015. It was revealed by the authorities in 2009 that the existing bus interchange could be moved closer to the upcoming MRT station. Previously, the LTA had explained that the MRT station could not be moved next to the LRT station owing to technical constraints. Residents had pointed out that transfers would be inconvenient as the MRT station will be sited about 120m from the existing Bukit Panjang LRT and bus interchange.

Stations

Station Number	Station Name	Interchange/Notes
BP1  NS4	Choa Chu Kang	Change for the North South Line Terminus for Services A & B
BP2	South View
BP3	Keat Hong
BP4	Teck Whye
BP5	Phoenix
BP6  DT1	Bukit Panjang	Change for the Downtown Line Service A & B bound for Choa Chu Kang Service C bound for Ten Mile Junction
BP7	Petir
BP8	Pending
BP9	Bangkit
BP10	Fajar
BP11	Segar
BP12	Jelapang
BP13	Senja
BP14	Ten Mile Junction	Service C terminus

Rolling Stock

Trains operating on the Bukit Panjang LRT Line are the Bombardier Innovia APM 100 "people-movers" coded C801 and C801A. C801 trains have been in operation ever since the start of service on the line in 1999, and C801A trains were delivered and started operations in late 2014. The trains, however, only have the ability to be coupled into a 2-car train formation due to station length.

Train Formation

The configuration of a C801/C801A in revenue service is M in single car mode and M-M is dual car mode

Cars of C801/C801A
car type	Motor	Collector Shoe	car length
			mm	ft in
M	✓	✓	12,800	41 ft 11.9 in|

Train Control

The Bukit Panjang LRT Line is equipped with Bombardier CITYFLO 550 fixed block signalling system with Automatic train control (ATC) under Automatic train operation (ATO) GoA 4 (UTO). The subsystems consist of Automatic train protection (ATP) to govern train speed, Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) to track and schedule trains and a Computer-based interlocking (CBI) system that prevents incorrect signal and track points to be set.

External links

• Bukit Panjang LRT Line

Bukit Panjang LRT Accident