Dover MRT station

Dover
 EW22 


杜弗
டோவெர்
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
A side platform which is separated from the train with half-height platform screen doors.
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]
AccessibleYes
History
Opened18 October 2001; 23 years ago (2001-10-18)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesSingapore Polytechnic
Passengers
June 20247929 per day[2]
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 (EWL) in Singapore. Located along Commonwealth Avenue West, the station is directly linked to Singapore Polytechnic and serves various residential developments in the area. The station is operated by SMRT Trains.

The station was first planned in 1988 before construction of the station was announced in 1997. The first infill station on the MRT network, contractors had to ensure safety without disrupting services on the EWL, which included building a temporary steel tunnel over the tracks. The station opened on 18 October 2001. Designed by RSP architects, the station has a distinctive arched roof supported by steel columns and floor-to-ceiling glass panels along the concourse.

History

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Side view of the Dover station with ceiling-to-floor glass cladding along the concourse level
Exterior of Dover station

The East West line (EWL) segment from Tiong Bahru to Clementi station opened on 12 March 1988.[3][4] Plans for a station between Buona Vista and Clementi to serve Singapore Polytechnic were first announced by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation general manager Colin Cray in May 1988. The station was not built due to projections of low ridership.[5] On 28 July 1997, Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan announced that the station would be built, with a completion date of 2001.[6] 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.[7] On the other hand, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the station would serve the enlarged student body at Singapore Polytechnic and relieve traffic congestion around the area.[8]

As the station, then named Singapore Polytechnic, was the first to be 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.[9]

When Minister of State John Chen visited the station on 4 October 2001, he announced it would open on the 18th of that month.[10][11] From 13 to 17 October, trains stopped at the station with in-train announcements as part of trial tests.[12] An official opening ceremony was held on 23 October.[13]

In 2012, half-height platform screen doors was installed at this station as part of the LTA's programme to improve safety in MRT stations.[14][15][16] High-volume low-speed fans were installed above the platforms of the station between 2012 and 2013 as part of a national programme to improve ventilation at station platforms.[17][18]

Details

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Dover station serves the EWL of the Singapore MRT and is between the Buona Vista and Clementi stations. The official station code is EW22.[19] Being part of the EWL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains.[20] Dover station is located along Commonwealth Avenue West and is directly linked to Singapore Polytechnic via a linkbridge.[13] The station also serves the School of Science & Technology and New Town Secondary School. Other nearby residential developments include Fontana Heights and Marbella Condo.[21][22][23] The station will also serve future developments in Dover Forest.[24]

The station was designed by RSP Architects.[25][26] At a height of 21 metres (69 ft), the three-level station has an arched metal roof supported by stainless steel columns to give a more spacious interior. The station concourse level was clad in floor-to-ceiling glass panels.[10][25] Unlike most MRT stations, Dover station has a side platform configuration.[5][9] Dover is one of the first MRT stations to be wheelchair-accessible; it has been retrofitted with lifts and ramps for barrier-free access.[27] A tactile flooring system, consisting of tiles with raised, rounded-or-elongated studs, guides visually impaired commuters through the station.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Dover – Amenities". SMRT Journeys. SMRT Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Land Transport DataMall". mytransport.sg. Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Riding the MRT train to Clementi". Business Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 12 March 1988. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2017 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b "MRT has provision for station outside Poly". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 14. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Kua, Harn Wei (11 August 1997). "New MRT station opposite poly not necessary". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 30 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b "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.
  10. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ "Doorstep train". Today. Mediacorp. 5 October 2001. p. 8. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ "Trial runs at Dover". Today. Mediacorp. 13 October 2001. Retrieved 6 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ a b "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.
  14. ^ "Platform screen doors for all above-ground MRT stations by 2012". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008.
  15. ^ "Speech by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport, at the Visit to Kim Chuan Depot, 25 January 2008, 9.00am" (Press release). Ministry of Transport. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  16. ^ "LTA completes installing elevated MRT station screen doors early". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Enhancing Connectivity and Comfort for Commuters". Land Transport Authority. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Connect – April 2012" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  19. ^ "MRT System Map" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Getting Around – Public Transport – Rail Network". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Dover MRT Station (EW22)". OneMap. Singapore Land Authority. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  22. ^ "SMRT > Journey with Us > Trains > NetworkMap > Dover". SMRT Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Dover – Map". SMRT Journeys. SMRT Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  24. ^ Tan, Audrey; Ng, Gene (30 July 2021). "Dover Forest to be used for both housing and nature; first housing project to be launched in 2022". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Dover MRT Station". RSP Architects. 1 October 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Dover MRT Station". RSP Architects. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  27. ^ "More MRT Stops Ready for Disabled". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 24 December 2002. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Tactile Guiding System: Studs and Strips to Guide Your Way". Land Transport Authority. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
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