Novena MRT station

Novena MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North South Line. Located along Thomson Road in Novena, Singapore, the station is located near landmarks such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and United Square. Planned as part of Phase One of the MRT system, under the working name Thomson, the station's name was changed to Novena in November 1982, after the Novena Church. Construction of the station commenced in January 1984, and the station opened in December 1987.

 NS20 
Novena
诺维娜
நொவீனா
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
C151B train at Platform B of Novena MRT station (Towards Marina South Pier MRT station)
General information
Location250 Thomson Road
Singapore 307642
Coordinates1°19′13.42″N 103°50′37.28″E
Operated bySMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)
  North–South Line
Platforms2 (1 island platform)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, Taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
ParkingYes (Novena Square, Square 2, United Square)
AccessibleYes
History
Opened12 December 1987 (1987-12-12)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesThomson[1]
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station
Toa Payoh
towards Jurong East
 North–South Line Newton
towards Marina South Pier
Location
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Novena
Novena station in Singapore

History

The station was planned as part of Phase One of the MRT system's development, and was initially named Thomson. In November 1982, the station's name was changed to Novena, which the Provisional MRT Authority believed more accurately reflected the station's location.[1]

In October 1983, Contract 104 for the construction of the Novena and Toa Payoh stations, and the tunnels between Toa Payoh and Newton stations, was awarded to two Japanese contractors, Tobishima and Takenaka.[2] Construction of the station began in January 1984, and the station was built from the bottom up.[3] In 1984, a Jewish cemetery along Thomson Road was cleared to make way for the station, with the graves reinterred in Choa Chu Kang,[4] and to prevent soil subsidence, the tunnels connecting Novena and Newton were built in compressed air.[2]

In June 1985, a worker was killed at the station site after receiving head injuries from being struck by moving components of a tunnel boring machine.[5] Novena station opened on 12 December 1987, as part of the extension of the MRT system to Outram Park.[6]

In April 2002, a lift connecting the concourse with the street level above was opened.[7] Originally, the station's distinctive features are bright green wall tiles, but the tiles were all falling in 2005. The station was completely refurbished in May 2007, at the same time when Square 2 also opened. The elevators at Novena MRT station were replaced from September 2006 to May 2007.

Station details

Etymology

The station takes its name from the Novena Church, which it is close to.[1]

Location and services

The station is located between Thomson Road and Sinaran Drive, underneath Novena Square.[8] It is in proximity to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Revenue House, United Square and Square 2.[9] The station serves the North South Line, and is located between Toa Payoh and Newton stations, with the station code NS20.[10]

Design

Novena station's design is similar to that of Toa Payoh station, with a gross area of 8,000 square metres (86,000 sq ft) and two levels, reaching a depth of 15 metres (49 ft). The upper level acts as the station's concourse, and is used for ticketing control, while the lower-level houses the station's platforms.[2] The station also contains walls clad in white tiles, and pillars that are emerald green.[11]

When the station first opened, it included a sunken plaza, along with a landscaped pedestrian mall.[3] The station's exits also were fitted with a steel honeycomb-like framework.[11]

Cultural impact

The station is one of the MRT stations in Singapore rumoured to be haunted, possibly because the area used to be the site of a Jewish cemetery.[12]

References
  1. "Station names will reflect their localities". The Straits Times. Singapore. 30 November 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
  2. Wee, Agnes (21 October 1983). "Designs of two MRT stations". Business Times. Singapore. p. 3. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. "Sunken plaza at Novena station". The Straits Times. Singapore. 23 August 1984. p. 10. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. Watanabe, Masuki (12 August 1984). "Work begins next week on relocation of cemetery". Singapore Monitor. Singapore. p. 7. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. "Korean worker dies after MRT mishap". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 June 1985. p. 40. Retrieved 2 January 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. Dhaliwal, Rav (13 December 1987). "Santa's sleigh roars into town". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. Hwee Young, How (24 April 2002). "45 steps, 1 easy trip". The Straits Times. Singapore.
  8. "Station Info". journey.smrt.com.sg. SMRT Corporation. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  9. "Station Info". journey.smrt.com.sg. SMRT Corporation. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  10. "Network Map". journey.smrt.com.sg. SMRT Corporation. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  11. Choo, Jonathan (12 December 1987). "Reflect is of our lifestyle". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 4. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. Abdul Hadhi (17 October 1988). "Where are the ghosts?". The New Paper. p. 3. Retrieved 13 May 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
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