Tanah Merah MRT station

Tanah Merah MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line (EWL). Located in Bedok, Singapore, the station is along New Upper Changi Road and serves various residential developments, including Casa Merah. It is the terminus of the EWL branch to Changi Airport station.

Tentatively named Changi MRT station during its construction, the station opened on 4 November 1989. The station began to serve the Changi Airport branch on 10 January 2001 following the opening of Expo station. In 2014, the station will be expanded to four platforms to increase frequency for the Changi Airport branch. On 25 May 2019, it was announced that Tanah Merah station would interchange with the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) when TEL takes over the Changi Airport branch following its extension to Changi Airport Terminal 5 by 2040.

History
The station was named Bedok in the early plans of the MRT network published in May 1982. The station was officially confirmed as "Changi" station when the Phase II stations were announced in October 1983. The contract for the construction of Changi station and associated viaducts was awarded to a joint venture between Wah Chang International Corporation and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co Ltd for S$68.76 million(US$ million in ).

The station's name changed to Tanah Merah in March 1987. The station opened on 4 November 1989 as part of the MRT segment from Bugis to this station, with the official opening ceremony hosted at this station by deputy prime minister Goh Chok Tong.

Half-height platform screen doors were installed at this station between 2008 and 2012 as part of the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) programme to improve safety in MRT stations. Between 2012 and 2013, high-volume low-speed fans were installed at this station as part of a network-wide programme to improve ventilation at the platforms of elevated stations.

Changi Airport branch
While a branch to Changi Airport from this station was included in the early plans of the MRT network in May 1982, the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) concluded through a feasibility study in 1983 that there might not be sufficient passenger traffic to justify such a branch. The proposals for an MRT extension from this station to Changi Airport was revisited in August 1994 following a surge in airport usage.

Finalised plans for the 6.4 km branch were announced by deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong on 15 November 1996. The branch, projected to be completed in 2001, would run from this station and have an intermediate stop at Somapah to serve the Changi Business Park and the exhibition centre. The branch opened on 10 January 2001, with shuttle services running from this station to Expo station.

Additional platform and future plans
In 2014, the LTA announced that Tanah Merah station would be expanded with a new platform to increase frequency for the Changi Airport branch. The new platform will be constructed next to the existing eastbound platform. When completed, the middle two tracks will be used to serve the Changi Airport branch. Additional tracks will also be constructed to connect the station to the East Coast Integrated Depot. This will be LTA's second project to construct new tracks and platforms for an existing station after Jurong East station.

The contract for the construction of the new platform and viaducts was awarded to Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte. Ltd. for S$325 million (US$ million) in October 2016. Construction works were scheduled to begin at the end of that year with an expected completion date of 2024. On 25 May 2019, the LTA further announced that the Changi Airport branch will be converted to be part of the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) when TEL extends to Changi Airport from Sungei Bedok station via Terminal 5 in 2040. In November 2022, transport minister S Iswaran announced that, as part of efforts for sustainable transport infrastructure, studies are ongoing to convert an existing 1 km viaduct set to be decommissioned to a green corridor for pedestrians and cyclists. On 29 April 2024, the LTA called a tender to modify the existing station, along with Expo and Changi Airport stations, in preparation for their conversion to being part of the TEL.

Details
Tanah Merah station serves the East–West line (EWL) and is between the Simei and Bedok stations. The station is also the terminus of the Changi Airport branch, with the next station being Expo. The official station code is EW4/CG. Being part of the EWL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains. Tanah Merah station is located along New Upper Changi Road and serves various private residential developments including Casa Merah, Optima @ Tanah Merah and The Glades. The station is also close to Simpang Bedok, and schools such as APSN (Katong School) and Bedok View Secondary School.

The station operates daily between 4:55am and 12:45am. Mainline train frequencies range from 2 to 5 minutes. Since 22 July 2003, Tanah Merah station became the terminus for shuttle services to Changi Airport station, with frequencies for the service ranging from 7 to 13 minutes. The station has three tracks with two island platforms; this will be upgraded to three island platforms and four tracks in 2024. The existing middle track is used for shuttle services to Changi Airport station.