History
Buangkok station was originally planned to be opened with the other of the 16 stations on the North East Line in 2003. A few days before the opening, SBS Transit decided not to open the station as the area around the station is relatively undeveloped and the company claimed that the number of passengers would be too low to cover operating costs.
On 12 November 2005, then Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong announced that the station would open in mid January 2006 to much approval from the public, and on 29 December, SBS Transit revealed the opening date to be 15 January 2006. The station was well maintained like any other station throughout the time before it was opened. To get ready for the station's opening, the programming had to be updated to include Buangkok. Residents had said they would be willing to walk 400 metres to the station every day.
The station opened with much fanfare on 15 January 2006. SBS Transit had expected around 3,500 commuters using the station daily, which would be the lowest among all the NEL stations and result in the station making a loss.
Even so, ridership on this station was much lower than expected on its opening week. It had an average of only 1,386 passenger trips per day, which was much worse than other NEL stations with low ridership. For example, Clarke Quay, the next lowest station in terms of ridership, had already more than 6,000 commuter trips per day. However, Clarke Quay was located in the Central Business District with considerable development in the area. THis was because the station was located over 400m from most residents' homes.
SBS Transit has since said it is still too early to draw a conclusion on Buangkok Station's ridership and viability. However, with construction of flats behind the station expected to be completed by end 2007, ridership should increase substantially.
Read more about this topic: Buangkok MRT Station
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