Dover MRT station

Coordinates: 1°18′40.73″N 103°46′43.17″E / 1.3113139°N 103.7786583°E / 1.3113139; 103.7786583
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 EW22 
Dover
杜弗
டோவெர்
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
Platform A of Dover station.
General information
Location200 Commonwealth Avenue West
Singapore 138677
Coordinates1°18′40.73″N 103°46′43.17″E / 1.3113139°N 103.7786583°E / 1.3113139; 103.7786583
Operated bySMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)     East–West Line
Platforms2 (2 side platforms)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Platform levels1
ParkingYes (Singapore Polytechnic)
Bicycle facilitiesYes[1][2]
AccessibleYes
History
Opened18 October 2001; 22 years ago (2001-10-18)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesPolytechnic
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station
Buona Vista
towards Pasir Ris
 East–West Line Clementi
towards Tuas Link
Location
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Dover
Dover station in Singapore

Dover MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line in Queenstown planning area, Singapore, located along Commonwealth Avenue West.

It was the first infill station added to an existing line on the Singapore MRT network.[3] It is also the first elevated station in Singapore with two side platforms on either side of the tracks, as opposed to having an island platform commonly found in other elevated MRT stations. A similar layout was adopted at Canberra MRT station.

As the second above-ground MRT station built in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, it has a distinctive architectural design. Like most projects of this period, the use of glass and steel is extensive.

Dover station provides MRT access to students and staff of Singapore Polytechnic, as well as residents of the nearby Mount Sinai and Dover estates such as condos like The Trizon, Montview, Rigdewood and Pinetree Hill.[4]

History[edit]

Exterior of Dover station

The East West line (EWL) segment from Tiong Bahru to Clementi station opened on 12 March 1988.[5][6] Plans for a station between Buona Vista and Clementi to serve Singapore Polytechnic were first announced by MRTC general manager Colin Cray in May 1988. The station was not built due to projections of low ridership.[7] On 28 July 1997, Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan announced that the station would be built, with a completion date of 2001.[8] However, some residents criticised the plans, saying the station was expensive and unnecessary since the area was sufficiently served by existing bus services. They also objected that the infill station would increase travel time on the East West line.[9] The Land Transport Authority said the station would serve the enlarged student body at Singapore Polytechnic and relieve traffic congestion around the area.[10]

As Dover station was the first station built on an operational MRT line, contractors had to ensure safety without disrupting services on the EWL. Trains slowed down when approaching the station site. A temporary steel tunnel, assembled by a hydraulic crane, was built over the tracks to prevent debris from falling onto the tracks. The tunnels were also supported by a reinforced steel structure that would also support the station's platforms and concourse. Some lanes of Commonwealth Avenue West were closed and traffic was diverted to the service road in Singapore Polytechnic. Most of the construction took place at night to minimise noise near the polytechnic using smaller piling machines.[11]

When Minister of State John Chen visited the station on 4 October 2001, he announced it would open on the 18th of that month.[12][13] From 13 to 17 October, trains stopped at the station with in-train announcements as part of trial tests.[14] An official opening ceremony was held on 23 October.[15]

Station details[edit]

Originally, the station was not assigned a station code. On 18 July 2001, with the introduction of the new MRT map, including new station codes, Dover was assigned with EW22.[16] Test runs occurred from 13 to 17 October 2001 when the trains stopped at this station but did not open their doors.[17]

Shuttle buses were provided from this station to National University Hospital (NUH), previously from Buona Vista. However, shuttle bus services ceased on 1 November 2011 due to the opening of Kent Ridge MRT station on the Circle line, which is located within NUH premises.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "SMRT > Trains > NetworkMap > Dover". www.smrt.com.sg. SMRT. 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017. Station Amenities
  2. ^ "SMRT Journeys". journey.smrt.com.sg. SMRT. 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017. Amenities
  3. ^ Lau, Fook Kong (13 July 2001). "Next Stop: Dover". The Straits Times. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Pinetree Hill | Luxurious Condominium at Pine Grove By UOL". Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Riding the MRT train to Clementi". Business Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 12 March 1988. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2017 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ Dhaliwal, Rav (12 March 1988). "PM to Open the MRT System Today". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "MRT has provision for station outside Poly". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 14. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "New MRT station at S'Pore Poly to be Ready by Year 2001". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 29 July 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ Kua, Harn Wei (11 August 1997). "New MRT station opposite poly not necessary". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 30 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ Ibrahim, Zainual (21 August 1997). "Studies justify MRT station at S'pore Poly". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 37. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ "Extra care taken for building of poly station". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 7 April 1999. p. 41. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ Soh, Natalie (5 October 2001). "Dover MRT station to open soon" (PDF). The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via Nexis Uni.
  13. ^ "Doorstep train". Today. Mediacorp. 5 October 2001. p. 8. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "Trial runs at Dover". Today. Mediacorp. 13 October 2001. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ^ "Speech by Mr Yeo Cheow Tong at the Official Opening of Dover Station on 23 Oct 2001". Ministry of Transport. 23 October 2001. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  16. ^ "LTA | East-West Line". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  17. ^ "Trial Runs at Dover". Today. 13 October 2001. p. 6.
  18. ^ "Take the Circle Line to NUH". Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2017.

External links[edit]

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