Build express rail link between airport and city

I am happy that the Land Transport Authority is considering express services for the Cross Island MRT Line, which will provide convenience for commuters who must make the dreaded cross-island journey frequently.

They include employees working in far-flung industrial estates, undergraduates heading to classes and home, national servicemen booking into and out of camps and business travellers residing in the west heading to and from Changi Airport.

The coming expansion projects at Changi Airport, including Project Jewel and Terminal 5, present another opportunity to bolster our transport infrastructure and international image.

Since a rail link would have to be built for accessibility to Terminal 5, imagine having express train services that both ordinary commuters and those travelling between the city and the airport can use.

This is not a new concept, nor is it far-fetched; it is present at many major airports, including in Beijing, New Delhi, London, Frankfurt and Taipei. In this sense, we are behind many of these airports.

An airport express line in Singapore could be modelled after the one in Hong Kong, which runs parallel to a conventional metro line and serves the major city stops of Hong Kong and Kowloon and an interchange nearer the airport.

It also allows for in-city check-ins and baggage deposits for many major airlines, in consolidated locations at the city stops. Essentially, Hong Kong has brought airport check-in counters, with full facilities and staff, to the city centre.

A similar analogue could be constructed in Singapore, with check-in and baggage-drop facilities at Orchard and City Hall and an express line that also serves interchanges in Paya Lebar and Tanah Merah before reaching Changi Airport’s various terminals.

The best deal this would offer Singaporeans would be full-fledged express trains that duplicate the services of the East-West Line, which serves many mature towns and estates. The new line would then pose a win-win situation for commuter and operator.

At a premium fare, Singaporeans not heading to the airport could also use the express line to travel between the eastern heartland and the city, saving precious time for better things in life.

With airport competition heating up, including plans for additional runways in neighbouring countries, a world-class rail extension to improve airport connectivity would be a compelling project, not to mention it would benefit more Singaporeans.