You may not believe it, but the most overwhelming feeling I had on my first time riding the MRT in Singapore was not the speed of the train, nor the cleanliness or the absolute punctuality, but… the elevators. More precisely, the endless escalator system that felt like you were free-falling into an underground city, layer upon layer below the ground.
Changi Airport MRT Station is extremely large and modern; with gray-white, metallic colors...
PHOTO: LE NAM
I returned to Singapore on a sunny day, intending to walk around Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, but when I looked at the map, I realized: if I wanted to travel quickly and in true Singaporean style, I would have to familiarize myself with the MRT, the most famous metro system in Southeast Asia.
Lost in the middle of the soaring elevator system
I started my journey from Changi Airport, one of the most modern airports in the world , with an eager heart. After nearly 40 minutes passing through 12 MRT stations, I stepped out of Raffles Place station and walked a few minutes to The Fullerton Hotel - an ancient building located right on the banks of the Singapore River, where I would stay during my days in the island nation.
In the following days in Singapore, wherever I went, from museums to shopping malls, from Chinatown to Marina Bay, I chose to travel by MRT. Not only because of its convenience and punctuality, but because the travel experience itself became an important part of the journey.
We use Google Maps and SG MRT Map for step-by-step directions
PHOTO: LE NAM
One of the stations that impressed me the most was Bencoolen station, and that was when the feeling of "falling into the ground" really appeared. I stood on the escalator, looking down without seeing the bottom. More than 35 meters deep, equivalent to a 12-story building, just to reach the platform. The narrow space, the long escalator, the white light, everything created a futuristic visual scene, like stepping into a science fiction movie.
Moving to the Promenade station, I encountered more escalators stacked on top of each other, connecting different floors of the line. At one point, while walking down, I looked to the other side and saw someone else… walking up parallel to me on a lower floor. This strange feeling kept confusing me, as if I was being taken into a "4D maze".
Overwhelmed by the soaring elevator system, creating a very strong visual impression
PHOTO: LE NAM
Interestingly, there was no sense of fear or difficulty breathing even though we were so deep down on these escalators. Everything was airy, clean and… quiet. There was only the sound of footsteps, the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional train that passed by.
Above... are skyscrapers.
The question that kept repeating in my head was: How do they build these things, right at the foot of tall buildings?
In Vietnam, we are familiar with the concept of "dig up before building", but in Singapore, people build down before building up. I understand that most of the MRT lines here were planned before the urban area was developed. That is, before a skyscraper was built, the government had already calculated the "underground passage" for the MRT below.
The tunneling is done by a giant TBM drilling machine, drilling through the ground at a depth of 20 - 40 meters. Whenever digging through an area with weak ground or near large constructions, the sensor system will monitor every millimeter of movement, ensuring that no impact is made on the structure above. After hearing this, I can only admire and wish…
How did they build this epic metro system under the foundations of these skyscrapers?
PHOTO: LE NAM
Even though everything was so organized and neat, I still couldn’t help but get lost. At Dhoby Ghaut station, where three lines intersect, I switched lines and went in the wrong direction. The signs were clear, but I relied too much on the map in my head instead of looking closely at the station name board. So I had to go back one stop.
Each MRT station in Singapore can have up to 4-6 exits, each leading you to a different neighbourhood or centre. If you take Exit A instead of Exit D, well… congratulations, you’ll be walking an extra 500 metres around a giant building.
Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system was built and put into operation nearly 40 years ago. Up to now, Singapore's MRT has been operating for 38 years and has been continuously expanded, becoming one of the most efficient and modern metro systems in the world.
PHOTO: LE NAM
But it was the times I got lost that made me enjoy it. I stumbled upon a tiny cafe in the middle of Orchard Road, or an art installation corridor in Bugis that wasn’t on any travel app. Lost, but “finding myself” – exactly the kind of urban journey I’ve always wanted.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-ngay-troi-trong-thanh-pho-ngam-o-singapore-185250730134456567.htm
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