What is the Cross Island Line?
Scheduled to open by 2029, the Cross Island Line (CRL) is a fully underground MRT line that will run to the eastern and western ends of Singapore. The MRT line will run initially with six cars. With plans for an increase to eight cars, the CRL line will have the longest trains in Singapore.
The trains will also be fully automated and driverless, but there’s no need to worry about the safety of the MRT. In fact, driverless trains have already been in operation for years.
Upon its completion, the CRL will connect Changi Aviation Park to Clementi, as well as the future MRT station Gul Circle in Jurong. The final termination point will be in Tuas Industrial Estate.
Phases of the Cross Island Line
The CRL was first announced as part of the Land Transport Master Plan in 2013. Following that, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out from 2014 to 2016 to determine if the MRT line would damage local flora and fauna.
As of 2019, only the information for Phase 1 of the CRL has been made available. Although we are unable to estimate the completion date for future MRT stations along the CRL, the table below shows a list of all the MRT stations that will likely be on the CRL.
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2029
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CR2 Aviation Park
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CR3 Loyang
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CR4 Pasir Ris East
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CR5 Pasir Ris
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CR6 Tampines North
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CR7 Defu
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CR8 Hougang
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CR9 Serangoon North
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CR10 Tavistock
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CR11 Ang Mo Kio
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CR12 Teck Ghee
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CR13 Bright Hill
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Completion Date Unconfirmed
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King Albert Park
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Clementi
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Gul Circle
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Possible extensions to the Cross Island Line Stations
There are currently two extension plans for the MRT stations along the CRL. One would run directly from Punggol to Pasir Ris, while the other would continue on from Bright Hill to Gul Circle in Jurong. Unfortunately, the latter would mean that the CRL has to run through a Central Catchment Nature Reserve. As a result, plans for that phase have been put on hold.
What are the environmental impacts of the Cross Island Line Stations?
In an unprecedented act of environmental governance, the LTA has put the entire EIA report available for the public to view online. Potential damages to flora and fauna were outlined, as well as ways to mitigate damage.
Despite countermeasures in place, the EIA has stated that there would be a moderate impact to the environment even after taking mitigation measures into account.
Animals are much more sensitive to sound compared to usOne of the more salient issues with the CRL would be the high amount of noise generated from the boring of the train tunnels. As there hasn’t been much research on how noise affects wildlife, the general consensus has been that it is better to err on the side of caution.
How will the Cross Island Line benefit citizens?
The CRL will shorten the travel time from the East to the West side of Singapore, even more so than the current East-West Line. Almost half of the CRL MRT stations will be interchange stations, allowing commuters to utilise shorter routes to get to their destinations. This will also help to ease the load on several existing MRT lines.
Those living in the central area such as Ang Mo Kio will benefit greatly from this, as they can now reach almost any part of Singapore in less than an hour. Residents in Punggol will also be able to access Pasir Ris within a quarter of an hour.
Properties to consider along the Cross Island Line
According to a study carried out on the prices of properties along the Circle Line, non-landed housing properties saw an uptick of 1.6% in value. Properties within 400m of the Circle Line can cost up to 13.2% more than those outside the radius.
Ang Mo Kio has long been a popular residential area among SingaporeansThis means that properties located in central and mature estates would likely see a large jump in value, especially those situated near interchanges. Ang Mo Kio’s The Panorama might be worth checking out, due to the large amount of amenities that have built up around Ang Mo Kio.
As a mature estate, Pasir Ris’s Coco Palms and D’Nest are two other developments that may likely see an increase in price. The future train line leading to Punggol would also be a bonus for residents in these areas.
To get more guides like this, check out PropertyGuru.