Jurong East Modification Project
The Jurong East Modification Project (JEMP) was a key infrastructural upgrading project involving the construction of two new platforms and a new track at Jurong East MRT Station, allowing two trains along the North South Line to enter and depart the station at the same time. Previously, trains had to take turns to arrive and depart from the station using a shared middle track. The new platforms and track allow for shorter train intervals, reducing waiting times and reducing the crowding in trains. It was built in conjunction with the purchase of 22 C151A trains, which together, would increase the carrying capacity of the North South Line and East West Line.
Originally projected to be opened in 2012, former Minister for Transport, Mr Raymond Lim, announced on 12 February 2009 that the date was pushed forward by a year, to 2011. Construction started in 2009 and was completed and handed to the operator at around the first quarter of 2011, with the new platforms and track being tested since then, before the announcement on 16 May 2011 about its operation date on 27 May 2011.
In addition, the original platforms; A (East-bound), B (West-bound), C and D (South-bound), were renamed to C (Eastbound to Pasir Ris), F (Westbound to Joo Koon), D and E (Southbound to Marina Bay) respectively, with the new platforms being named A (Peak-hour Southbound train service on the former Branch Line or North South Line to Marina Bay) and B (Eastbound train services to Pasir Ris and Changi Airport via Tanah Merah interchange).
The new platforms and track began operations in the morning of 27 May 2011 with the first MRT train to enter the new platform is trainset 109/110. During the initial operation period, the new platforms and track were only operated on weekdays except public holidays, during the morning peak hour period, from 7 am to 9 am, as there were only five new C151A trains ready for revenue service. Evening peak hour operation from 5 pm to 8 pm on weekdays started from 27 December 2011 while the morning peak hour period was extended to end one hour later at 10 am after the next batch of trains became ready for revenue service.
Low noise barriers were also installed to reduce the amount of noise generated for the residents.
With the new platforms and track, Jurong East MRT Station became the only MRT station in Singapore to have six platforms on the same level, and the first and only elevated MRT station to have four tracks as its a triple-island platform station.
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