Welcome to the first installment of a new series, Rail Archives, where we look into the past, present, and future of our MRT lines. Today, I’ll be looking at the North-East Line, which has a history dating way back to the first phase of the NSL..

This year, 2023, marked the 20th Anniversary of the North-East Line.

25 years ago, the NEL commenced construction. Next year, the line would get its very first extension, after 21 years.

This post would share what the plans are, what the plans were, will be and should be now and in the future.

What the plans are:

In 1996, the plans were finalised for a line starting at World Trade Centre (HarbourFront), going to Dhoby Ghaut, then skipping Sennett (Potong Pasir) and Woodleigh before heading up towards Punggol. Potong Pasir opened with the rest of the line in 2003.

In 2005, Buangkok opened, and Woodleigh opened in 2011. The NELe was announced in 2013 and will open in 2024.

2025 update: Visited Punggol Coast on its opening day, really nice station and well-integrated with facilities around the district!

These facts I’m sure most of you know. But, I dug deeper… (I guess most of you also know this)

What the plans were:

The NEL dated back to 1986 when a $1.79m study had been established. The line started at Outram Park. The line was also supposed to be elevated after Woodleigh. Moreover, the line had a branch to Jalan Kayu from Hougang. The line was also supposed to be connected to Bishan Depot

In 1991, the line had a second study and had an additional 10 stations, eight of them in Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, which was once-in-a lifetime chance to put HDBs on Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin.

Then, after 10 years, the plan would be finalised to what it is today.

You may be asking,”keilucatz, how can we make it better?” Enter…

What the plans should be

It’s never too late to start again. Fixing Jurong East, to giving a second chance on the BPAPM (give AMC a break!), to list a few. So, how can we fix this?

…

The NEL is unique in its own ways, with OCR, the last MRT to be a true MRT, etc. Remember 82?

As I said many times before (and by extension, everyone) we need to have alternatives! So, what’s the plan?

(Update: Embed does not seem to be working last minute. Will be fixed later tonight. Meanwhile, here’s the link to the map: link)

114 has a lot of potential we could use, so why don’t we use it?

Looking to the future

After the NELe commencing service next year hopefully, can Keppel (NEL) and the Pulau Ubin extension ever materialise?

Firstly, the Pulau Ubin extension. The extension would not likely be materialised, at least the Pulau Tekong sector. And plus, some people would not allow this. So, would the extension materialise? Likely not.