Changi Airport MRT station
Changi Airport MRT Station 樟宜机场地铁站 சாங்கி விமானநிலையம் | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid transit | |||||||||||
 Entrance to Changi Airport Station | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | 70 Airport Boulevard Singapore 819661 | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 1°12′46″N 103°35′31″E / 1.212654°N 103.591981°E | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | East West | ||||||||||
| Platforms | Island | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Connections | Bus, Taxi | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | Underground | ||||||||||
| Platform levels | 3 | ||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Station code | CG2 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 8 February 2002 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2) was opened on 8 February 2002 as one of the terminal Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations for the East West Line, and located in between Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. It is currently the only MRT Station in Singapore to have both fare gates and the platforms on the same level. There are two other stations that have fare gates on the same level as the platform: Landmark Station in 2013 and Sentosa Station of Sentosa Express on 15 January 2007.
Changi Airport had been operating since its opening in 1981 with no rail link and with full reliance on taxi and bus connections, proven effective given the short 20 kilometre distance to the city via the East Coast Parkway and their relative affordability. Public buses also provide cheap express trips to the city, and link commuters to the MRT network at Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris. There was thus no pressing need to build the rail line despite regional competition, and was only given the green light when the Singapore Expo was built along the line and helping to add potential traffic.
Since the station's opening, passenger traffic has been moderate, as most bus routes were maintained and continue to be a popular means of cheap, direct transport for local airport/airline employees, as well as travelers not living along the East West Line. Many air travellers also prefer to continue taking taxis or private transport as the MRT service does not provide for convenient luggage storage beyond Tanah Merah MRT Station, and they have to contend with the commuting crowd especially during peak hours. Thus primary users of the station are usually confined to airport/airline employees, leisure visitors, well-wishers, and budget air travellers, in particular backpackers. Most passengers on weekends used the station merely as a transfer point from the Expo to the bus terminal.
Plans
Provision had long been made for a new line branching off from the existing East West Line at the Tanah Merah Station, with some conceptual plans showing a tentative route alignment up to the airport along Airport Boulevard, continuing beyond the airport to Changi point, before turning southwest back towards the city along the east coast of the island. When the extension to the airport was finally announced, however, the route alignment showed a deviation from previous plans.
The final plan involved building only the first two stations, namely Expo Station, an elevated station directly adjacent to the Singapore Expo, and the Changi Airport Station, an underground station built between Terminal Two and the new Terminal Three. The alignment of the station at the airport has been switched perpendicularly to an East-west direction, such that the station leads to two of the terminals directly from either end of the station.
Train services
Initially operated as a shuttle service, through services from Boon Lay were commenced after the full opening, but the service was reverted into shuttle mode in 2004.
Train services from this station to downtown Singapore are subway train services, involving multiple stops and train transfers where necessary - thus trains can get crowded as it nears the city centre during peak hours. When travelling from the airport to the city centre, travellers must change trains at Tanah Merah Station to another that goes to the city. Nevertheless, the train system is well connected to other parts of the island, such as HDB towns, as well as serving tourist attractions like Chinatown with fares to the city centre costing only about S$2 (about US$1.50).
Future North Shore Line
Provisions have been made at this station for North Shore Line, a train route connecting Pasir Ris, Punggol and Sembawang without interchanging.
Bus services
Bus services to the city centre and to other parts of Singapore are available at the nearby Changi Airport PTB 1, 2 & 3 Bus Terminal located at the basement levels of three Terminals 1, 2 & 3.
Station Layout
| L2 | Departure Hall | Exits to Terminal 2 and 3, Skytrain to Terminal 1 |
| L1 | Arrival Hall | Exits to Terminal 2 and 3 |
| C Concourse |
Concourse | Changi Airport PTB 2 and 3 Bus Terminal, Shuttle to Budget Terminal, Link bridge Between Terminal 2 and 3, Exit to Terminal 3 |
| P Platforms | ||
| Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control, Transitlink Counter | ||
| Platform A | East West Line towards EW4 Tanah Merah | |
| Platform B | East West Line towards EW4 Tanah Merah | |
Exits
When the station opened in 2002, only Exit A was available. From January 9 2008, Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 started its operations and Exit B has been opened permanently.
Exit A - To Terminal 2
Exit B - To Terminal 3
Italicised locations are currently not in operation | |
