Somerset MRT station

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This article is about the MRT station in Singapore. For the SEPTA station in Philadelphia, see Somerset station (SEPTA).

 NS23 
Somerset
索美塞
சாமர்செட்
Somerset
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
NS23 Somerset Platform A.jpg
Platform A of Somerset MRT station.
Location1 Somerset Road
Singapore 238162
Coordinates1°18′1.85″N 103°50′20.50″E / 1.3005139°N 103.8390278°E / 1.3005139; 103.8390278Coordinates: 1°18′1.85″N 103°50′20.50″E / 1.3005139°N 103.8390278°E / 1.3005139; 103.8390278
Operated bySMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)
  North South Line
Platforms2 (1 island platform)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
ParkingYes (Orchard Central, 313@somerset, Orchard Gateway)
Bicycle facilitiesYes
Disabled accessYes
History
Opened12 December 1987; 33 years ago (1987-12-12)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesKilliney[1]
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station
towards Jurong East
North South Line
Location
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Somerset
Somerset station in Singapore

Somerset MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North South Line in Orchard planning area, Singapore. It is one of the three stations located along the popular shopping belt, Orchard Road. The station connects to Comcentre, Singapore Power Building, Skate Park, 313@Somerset, Orchard Gateway, Orchard Central, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Centrepoint Shopping Centre, Mandarin Orchard, The Heeren, Faber House, Orchard Point, Peranakan Place and Emerald Hill.

The section of tracks between this station and Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is the shortest between any two MRT stations on the North South Line, taking approximately 1 minute for a train to travel between these two stations.[citation needed]

History[]

Entrance to Somerset station before the construction of 313@Somerset.
Concourse level of the station.

The station was built as part of the first phase of construction of the MRT system.[2] Initially named Killiney, the station was renamed to its current name in November 1982 after Somerset Road, which runs above it.[1]In January 1984, a joint venture between Borie SAE, Cogefar SPA, Traylor Bros and Ong Chwee Kou Building Contractors secured Contract 106A, the S$39.2 million contract to build Somerset station,[3] since the joint venture was already handling construction of the tunnels adjacent to the station.[4] To facilitate the station's construction, the Urban Redevelopment Authority requisitioned the Ng Teow Yhee Building, which was located within the station site, in 1983,and Somerset Road was diverted in October 1984.[5] Somerset station was opened on 12 December 1987 as part of the extension of the MRT network from Toa Payoh to Outram Park.[6]


Construction of the lifts started in 28 June 2000 and were completed on 11 July 2002. Exit B of the station was heavily renovated from January 2007 to July 2009. An additional entrance, Exit D, was opened in conjunction with Orchard Gateway on 25 April 2014[7] along with Exit C which also connects to Orchard Gateway.

Incidents[]

A call was made from a public telephone at the station concourse at about 5 p.m. on 26 September 2007 about a bomb at the station. The police arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the incident two days later on the morning of 28 September 2007 after finding out that there was no bomb.[8]

Station details[]

The station is located under Somerset Road and is near landmarks such as Orchard Central, 313@Somerset, Comcentre, the Centrepoint and 111 Somerset.[9] It is served by the North South Line, between Orchard and Dhoby Ghaut stations, and has the station code NS23.[10]

Somerset station was designed to function as a bomb shelter, and was fitted out with blast doors and thick walls of reinforced concrete to withstand bomb impacts.[11] Plants grown with the aid of hydroponics were planted in the station for aesthetic purposes.[12] and the station has a wall mural by Leo Hee Tong and Ho Ho Ying.[13]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Station names will reflect their localities". The Straits Times. Singapore. 30 November 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  2. ^ "The first users". Singapore Monitor. Singapore. 7 December 1982. p. 6. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. ^ "MRT Corp awards two more contracts totalling $80m". Business Times. Singapore. 27 January 1984. p. 1. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "Foreign-local group wins its second MRT contract". The Straits Times. Singapore. 27 January 1984. p. 14. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ Dhaliwal, Rav (20 October 1984). "Building on MRT site goes to URA". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 16. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ "Retailers lay out the red carpet to tap the Great Orchard Rush". The Straits Times. Singapore. 12 December 1987. p. 2. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ Kay Lim, Lesile (20 April 2014). "Orchard Gateway opens after the delay". Asia One.
  8. ^ "Police arrest 21-year-old man in connection with bomb hoax call". Channel NewsAsia. 28 September 2007.
  9. ^ "Somerset". smrt.com.sg. SMRT Corporation. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  10. ^ "MRT Network Map". journey.smrt.com.sg. SMRT Corporation. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  11. ^ Lim, Michael (4 October 1987). "Three MRT bomb shelters ready". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 2. Retrieved 26 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ "Underground MRT stations to get touch of greenery". The Straits Times. Singapore. 16 December 1986. p. 16. Retrieved 26 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ "On the ground and from the ceiling". The Straits Times. Singapore. 11 December 1987. p. 36. Retrieved 26 March 2021 – via NewspaperSG.

External links[]


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