# Aljunied MRT station

Aljunied MRT station is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line (EWL) in Geylang, Singapore. Operated by SMRT Trains, the station serves the eponymous Aljunied subzone of Geylang. Other nearby landmarks include Geylang East Public Library and Geylang Methodist Primary and Secondary School. Like other stations of the eastern part of the East–West line, the station has a domed roof design. It is mostly wheelchair accessible and has bicycle facilities.
First announced in May 1982, it was to be constructed as part of Phase II of the MRT system. The station opened on 4 November 1989 as part of the MRT eastern line extension to Tanah Merah station. Accessibility enhancements for pedestrian bridges near the station were completed in July 2011 as well as additional bicycle parking facilities in October 2012. Half-height platform screen doors and high-volume low-speed fans were installed by August 2011 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively. In 2018, it was the temporary terminus for train services during the early closures, late openings and full closures of ten stations in the eastern portion of the EWL due to maintenance.

## History

Aljunied station was first announced in May 1982 in the initial MRT plans, later being announced to be part of Phase II of the MRT system in October 1983. There were several joint ventures between companies that prequalified for Contract 302 by May 1985, which detailed the construction for this station, Kallang station, and a 115m long viaduct over the Kallang River as well as viaducts from the west side of the river to Paya Lebar station. Ultimately, Contract 302 was awarded to a partnership between Lee Kim Tah Ltd and French company Societe Generale D'Enterprises Sainrapt Et Brice (SGE) at a contract sum of S$59.52 million (US$27.05 million) in November 1985. Work on the station began in early 1986, with it opening earlier than expected on 4 November 1989.
Aljunied was also part of the first batch of ten stations announced in 2010 to have additional bicycle parking facilities as a response to the growing demand of bicycle parking spots. The installation was completed in October 2012. As part of efforts to improve barrier free accessibility for major transport nodes, overhead pedestrian bridges near Aljunied and five other stations had lifts installed. They were installed progressively from the third quarter of 2012 to the end of 2013. Following a rise in track intrusions as well as commuters slipping when rushing for the train, the LTA and SMRT decided to install platform screen doors. Half-height platform screen doors were eventually installed and commenced operations at Aljunied station by August 2011. The station was installed with high-volume low-speed fans by the first quarter of 2013. In 2018, Aljunied was the temporary terminus for train services during the early closures, late openings and full closures of ten stations in the eastern portion of the East–West Line (EWL), from 5 January to 4 February as a part of works for rail maintenance and checks for the new signalling system.

## Station details

Operated by SMART Trains, it is between Tanah Merah and Kembangan stations on the East–West Line with the station code EW9. When it opened, it had the station code of E4 before being changed to its current station code in August 2001 as a part of a system-wide campaign to cater to the expanding MRT system. Like many stations on the initial MRT network, Kembangan is an elevated station and has an island platform. It is wheelchair-accessible (except for Exit B) and has bicycle facilities.
Aljunied is name after the subzone it serves, which was in turn named after Syed Omar Aljunied, an Arab-Singaporean merchant. The station is bounded by Aljunied Road and Geylang East Avenue as well as Geylang East Central and Sims Avenue. It has two exits serving the Geylang Methodist Primary and Secondary School, Geylang East Public Library, and Victoria Centre. Like many EWL stations in the East, Aljunied station has a dome-shaped roof, which was an attempt by the MRT Corporation (MRTC) to give the stations on the EWL an "attractive look".