The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a contract to PBT Engineering Pte Ltd to design and install 5.5km of railway noise barriers at 16 elevated locations along the North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL).

2             This is the third phase of LTA’s railway noise barrier programme, which aims to reduce the impact of railway noise near residential areas. It will benefit residents living along the East-West Line (EWL) from Pasir Ris to Kembangan stations, as well as those living along the North-South Line (NSL) from Jurong East to Khatib stations. When completed in 2023, the noise barriers are expected to reduce noise levels from passing trains by about 5 to 10 decibels (See Annex for an overview of the implementation of railway noise barriers).

Types of noise barriers

3             The type of railway noise barriers installed depends on the noise level and profile of tracks. For example, noise barriers installed at turnout sections – where trains switch tracks – have a semi-enclosed “portal” design to handle the higher noise levels, whereas those along plainline or straight tracks are vertical. The portal design for noise barriers will be used for the stretch of railway tracks between Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio stations on the NSL.

4             Installing a portal noise barrier typically takes three times as long as a vertical noise barrier due to the larger columns required to support the portal across the tracks. Precise and coordinated lifting operations are also needed to install the portal safely, without compromising railway operations.

Noise barrier programme progressing well

5             The installation of railway noise barriers has gained momentum due to the implementation of early closures and late openings for MRT stations along the NSEWL. The additional engineering hours have provided LTA and SMRT with more track access time for maintenance and improvement works, including the installation of noise barriers.

6            Phase 1, which comprises 11.5km railway noise barriers, was completed in 2018. On-site works for another 10km of noise barriers under Phase 2 are ongoing and are expected to be installed by the third quarter of 2020 as scheduled. Phase 3’s completion in 2023 will bring the total length of railway noise barriers installed across the island to 27km.