SMRT will permanently roll out MRT chimes to announce the arrival and departure of trains across all trains at 77 MRT stations from February 14, following a successful three-month trial that commenced on October 29. The trial was received positively, with several social media posts across platforms such as Instagram and TikTok highlighting the new chimes. So, if you’re boarding trains at the North-South, East-West and Circle lines, keep your ears perked!
Conceptualised by local not-for-profit arts company The Teng’s Company’s co-founder and creative director Dr. Samuel Wong, and composed and arranged by composer Jun Yi Chow, these train chimes will serve as aural cues, aiming to make commuting more inclusive for the visually impaired. They will also function as a means of communication for individuals who either do not read or lack proficiency in any of Singapore's official languages.
For those wondering about the source of the local folk songs, Dr. Samuel Wong explains in a LinkedIn post, “The chimes were composed or arranged from these three sources. They are: the Chinese Children’s ditty San Lun Che (The Trishaw), the Malay folk song Chan Mali Chan and Singai Naadu, the Tamil national day work composed and arranged by Shabir Sulthan. The pieces were chosen to reflect Singapore’s multiracial identity and are used to distinguish the various different lines (North/South, Circle and East/West respectively).”
The chimes will be rolled out at the following MRT stations:
- North-South Line: Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Braddell, Bukit Gombak, Choa Chu Kang, Dhoby Ghaut, Kranji, Marina Bay, Marina South Pier, Marsiling, Newton, Novena, Orchard, Sembawang, Somerset, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yew Tee, Yio Chu Kang, Yishun.
- East-West Line: Bedok, Boon Lay, Bugis, Buona Vista, Changi Airport, Chinese Garden, City Hall, Commonwealth, Dover, Eunos, Expo, Gul Circle, Joo Koon, Kallang, Kembangan, Lavender, Outram Park, Pasir Ris, Paya Lebar, Queenstown, Raffles Place, Redhill, Simei, Tampines, Tanjong Pagar, Tiong Bahru, Tuas Crescent, Tuas Link, Tuas West Road.
- Circle Line: Bartley, Bayfront, Bishan, Botanic Gardens, Bras Basah, Buona Vista, Caldecott, Dakota, Esplanade, Farrer Road, Haw Par Villa, Holland Village, HarbourFront, Kent Ridge, one-north, Labrador Park, Lorong Chuan, MacPherson, Marymount, Mountbatten, Nicoll Highway, Pasir Panjang, Paya Lebar, Promenade, Serangoon, Stadium, Tai Seng, Telok Blangah.
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