Korea-based construction firm to build four-in-one train and bus depot for $1.99 billion

An artist's impression of the East Coast Integrated Depot.

PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
An artist's impression of Bayshore Station.

PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
An artist's impression of Xilin Station. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
GS Engineering & Construction, which was involved in the building of the Gali Batu depot (pictured), was awarded the contract to build the four-in-one depot. ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

SINGAPORE - The contract to build a four-in-one rail and bus depot has been awarded to Korea-based GS Engineering & Construction Corporation for around $1.99 billion, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Monday (March 21).

Believed to be the world's first such facility, the East Coast Integrated Depot will contain three train depots and one bus depot within a single site of 36ha. It will be able to house around 220 trains and 550 buses.

GS Engineering was previously involved in the building of Downtown Line 2's Gali Batu Depot, and is currently constructing the Downtown Line 3's Fort Canning and Tampines East stations, and the Thomson-East Coast Line's (TEL) Woodlands interchange station.

Works for the East Coast Integrated Depot and associated tunnels will start in the second quarter of 2016 and is targeted for completion in 2024.

The three train depots in the facility will be stacked one on top of the other, with a bus depot built next to them. The depot to serve the Downtown Line will be built underground, the TEL depot on the road level, and the East-West Line depot on top of it.

The LTA had said previously that if the four depots were built separately, a land size of 80ha would be required. The East Coast Integrated Depot, which only takes up 36ha, will allow the authorities to save 44ha.

Separately, the LTA also said on Monday (March 21) that it has awarded three more rail project contacts.

A joint venture between Australian firm John Holland Pty Ltd and Zhen Hua (Singapore) Engineering Pte. Ltd. clinched the deal to construct the TEL's Siglap station for $176 million.

The construction of the TEL Bayshore station and its associated tunnels has been awarded to Woh Hup (Private) Ltd - Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) Pte Ltd Joint Venture at a contract sum of $296 million.

Samsung C&T Corporation was awarded the contract to build the Xilin station on the Downtown Line 3 extension, as well as reception tunnels to the East Coast Integrated Depot depot, at a contract sum of $834 million.

Works for all three projects are expected to start in the second quarter of 2016. The Siglap and Bayshore stations are targeted for completion in 2023 while Xilin station, in 2024.

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