Newton MRT station (NS21/DT11) is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the North South (NSL) and Downtown (DTL) lines. It is located in Newton, Singapore, at the junction of Scotts Road and Bukit Timah Road near Newton Circus. The station serves the offices and condominiums around Newton Circus including Goldbell Towers and Scotts Highpark, and it is within walking distance to the Newton Food Centre.
The NSL station opened on 12 December 1987 as part of the line's extension to Outram Park via Raffles Place station. The NSL station is designated as a Civil Defence Shelter with a reinforced structure. With the opening of DTL Stage 2 on 27 December 2015, Newton became an interchange station. An additional entrance, designed by SAA Architects, serves the new DTL station, which features an artwork Newton by Messymsxi as part of the network's Art-in-Transit programme.
The contract for the design and construction of Newton Circus station was awarded to a joint venture between French Dregages et Travaux Publics and Sembawang Shipyard at S$43 million (US$20.2 million) in January 1984. The station was one of the stations on the line designated as a Civil Defence Shelter. To facilitate the construction, the segment of Scotts Road from Newton Circus to Orchard Road had to be diverted for about 28 months. In September, the station name was shortened to "Newton", and the site was shifted slightly towards Scotts Road instead of being underneath Newton Circus. On 21 May 1985, Newton station was one of four stations affected by flooding in the area.
During the construction, jet grouting was used to strengthen the soil, which required lane closures along Scotts Road. This was to address the varying ground conditions around the site. Voids were also discovered during the construction (on 21 October 1985 and 18 May 1986), which led the closure of Scotts Road for safety reasons.
The station had an open house on 14 and 15 November 1987, which drew small crowds of about 1,200 people on the first day of its preview. The station opened for service on 12 December when the line extension to Outram Park station was completed. In light of the extension, a new bus stop along Scotts Road was built to serve commuters at the station.
Downtown Line[]
The NSL platform.
The station was first announced to be an interchange station with the DTL when the DTL2 (Downtown line Stage 2) stations were unveiled on 15 July 2008. Contract 920 for the design and construction of Newton station and tunnels was awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. Ltd at a contract value of S$355.7 million (US$244.5 million) in September 2009. Construction of the station was targeted to complete by 2015. Four 6.35-metre (20.8 ft) diameter EPS machines were used to construct the bored tunnels. The station opened on 27 December 2015 along with the other DTL2 stations.
The DTL platforms.
As part of Exercise Station Guard 2018, on 14 February 2018, the DTL station implemented security measures such as X-ray machines and walk-through metal detectors for screening commuters. The exercise was part of the emergency preparedness ground deployment exercise, to "test and validate" Singapore's readiness when security measures were enhanced during a national threat. In addition, the exercise also allowed the operator SBS Transit to review their security measures.
Incidents[]
Firefighters at Newton Station.
On the morning of 13 February 2013, a fire broke out in an MRT tunnel just metres from the station, which disrupted train services on the NSL for over two hours and affected around 15,000 commuters. The fire was caused by the short-circuiting of an electric cable 5 metres (16 ft) away from the station. Initially put out by the staff using a fire extinguisher, the fire reignited and caused smoke from the tunnel to travel to the station. The Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived at the station and managed to put it out. No one was injured during the incident.
On 7 and 8 October 2017, this station was the temporary terminus for northbound trains from Marina South Pier station during the Bishan tunnel flooding, while services were suspended between the Ang Mo Kio and Newton stations. Normal services on the NSL resumed at around 2 pm on 8 October 2017.
Art in Transit[]
"Newton" by Tan Zi Xi (MessyMsxi).
The Downtown Line section of the station feature the artwork "Newton" by Tan Zi Xi (MessyMsxi). The artwork draws inspiration from Singapore and Newton heritage, featuring the imagined landscape of Singapore in 2200. It envisions an alternative reality of how it may look as the country progresses, and to evolve and develop to newer heights.
Exits[]
Newton MRT station has three exits at ground level (A, B, and C), all of which are equipped with stairs and escalators, with lifts providing barrier-free accessibility for the disabled.
Exit C of the station
A: Balmoral Plaza, Goldbell Towers, Scotts Rd / Bukit Timah Rd, Sheraton Towers Singapore, Alliance Francaise De Singapour, Prudential@Scotts
B: Cairnhill Community Club, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (NEA, PUB, Newton Food Centre, Scotts Rd / Cairnhill Rd
C: Alliance Francaise De Singapour, Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), Balmoral Plaza, Barker Road Methodist Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Platforms[]
North South Line passengers can make their way to Toa Payoh for northbound, and for southbound to Marina Bay.
Downtown Line passengers can make their way to Hougang for eastbound (changing at Little India) whereas Stevens for westbound.
Passenger Utilisation[]
Located in the Newton area, the station serves offices, condominiums, schools, places and worship and the popular Newton Food Centre in the vicinity. As such, Newton station sees moderate commuter traffic throughout the day. As an interchange station between the North South Line and Downtown Line, the station is also utilized frequently by transfer passengers between both rail lines.
Station layout[]
L1
Street Level
B1
NSL Concourse
Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control, Shops, Transfer Linkway
