An extract of Singapore's MRT system taken from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Rapid_Transit_(Singapore)
"The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state.
The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station,
opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro system in Southeast Asia, after Manila's LRT System.
The network has since grown rapidly as a result of Singapore's aim of developing a comprehensive rail network as the main backbone of the public transport system in Singapore with an average daily ridership of 1.564 million in FY07/08, about half of the bus network's 2.969 million in the same period
The MRT has 70 stations (1 not in operation) with 118.9 kilometres of lines and operates on standard gauge. The rail lines have been constructed by the Land Transport Authority, a department of the government of Singapore, which allocates operating concessions to the profit-based corporations SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit. These operators also run bus and taxi services, thus ensuring that there is a full integration of public transport services.
The MRT is complemented by the regional Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems that link MRT stations with HDB public housing estates. Services operate from about 5:30 am and usually end before 1 am daily with frequencies of approximately three to eight minutes, and services extended during festive periods."
Circle Line opens 5 stations
Yesterday 5 stations of the new Circle Line (CCL), namely, Marymount, Bishan, Lorong Chuan, Serangoon and Bartley, were opened to the public for the first time. The remaining 24 stations, including the
Stadium, which is located outside the Singapore Indoor Stadium, a favourite venue for the Singapore (Badminton) Open, including this year's Open, will begin operations next year.
Costing $6.7 billion, the CCL will be a fully underground orbital line linking all radial lines leading to the city. The line will interchange with the North-South Line, East-West Line and North East Line.
The CCL will be 33.3 km long with 29 stations. Starting from the Dhoby Ghaut station, it will run through some of the busiest corridors in the city and end at HarbourFront station on the North East Line.
Some pictures of future stations can be found here:
http://www.lta.gov.sg/projects/index_proj_ccl.htm
The Straits Times
May 29, 2009
Circle Line draws 40,000
Students find new line a time-saver; first shuttle bus rolls out to new station
By Yeo Ghim Lay & Goh Yi Han
NANYANG Junior College (NYJC) student Yeo Xin Yi, 18, got an extra 20 minutes of sleep yesterday morning, with the opening of the Circle Line cutting her daily commute to school.
Xin Yi, who lives in Yishun, used to take a train to Ang Mo Kio and then transfer to a bus to get to school in a 45-minute journey.
She now takes the train to Bishan and hops on a Circle Line train to Lorong Chuan station, at the doorstep of NYJC. 'The train's a lot more convenient compared to the bus,' she said.
She was among hundreds of students from four schools along the Circle Line who switched to the new trains yesterday.
Lorong Chuan, Bartley, Marymount, Serangoon and Bishan are the first five stations to open on the new line. The remaining 24 stations will begin operations from next year onwards.
The first day of operations saw some 40,000 commuters ride the Circle Line.
Besides NYJC, students and staff from Raffles Institution (Junior College), Maris Stella High School and Bartley Secondary School are reaping the benefits of the new line.
Instead of having to walk or take a bus from Bishan or Serangoon MRT stations, they can now take the train directly to school.
'I took less than 15 minutes to get to work today, compared to 40 minutes if I take a bus to Bishan and walk,' said Madam Linda Lai, a senior laboratory officer at RI(JC), who is in her 50s.
The school is also helping to build a covered walkway to link up with the station. This will be ready by the end of the June school holidays, before the new term.