Commonwealth MRT station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids  EW20  Commonwealth 联邦 காமன்வெல்த் Commonwealth
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
An entrance to the station.
Location	375 Commonwealth Avenue Singapore 149735
Coordinates	1°18′9.21″N 103°47′53.61″E / 1.3025583°N 103.7982250°E / 1.3025583; 103.7982250
Operated by	SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)	East West Line
Platforms	2 (1 island platform)
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus, Taxi
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Platform levels	1
Parking	Yes (external)
History
Opened	12 March 1988; 37 years ago (1988-03-12)
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Queenstown
Traffic
Passengers (June 2024)	11,905 per day
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station Queenstown towards Pasir Ris East West Line Buona Vista towards Tuas Link
Location
Commonwealth Location in Singapore Rail central area

Commonwealth MRT station is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station in the Queenstown area of Singapore. This means the station is built above the street, not underground. It is part of the East West Line and is run by SMRT.

The station is a handy stop for people going to nearby places like the Delta Swimming Complex. An interesting fact about this station is that it originally had a different name!

The Story of Commonwealth Station

Planning and Building

Plans for an MRT system in Singapore started in the early 1980s, and this station was part of those plans. It was decided that a group of engineering and design companies would create the station and the tracks connecting it to others. Construction began in 1985.

A Surprising Name Swap

When the station was first planned, it was called Queenstown. At the same time, the station we know today as Queenstown was called Commonwealth.

In 1987, officials realized that the names didn't quite match the locations. The station named Commonwealth was closer to areas in Queenstown, and the station named Queenstown was closer to Commonwealth Avenue. To avoid confusion, they decided to swap the names. So, this station became Commonwealth station!

Opening Day

The station officially opened on 12 March 1988. The opening was a big event, led by Singapore's Prime Minister at the time, Lee Kuan Yew. This was the day the entire MRT system was launched for everyone to use.

Station Upgrades

Over the years, the station has been upgraded to make it better for passengers.

• Platform Doors: To keep people safe and prevent them from accidentally falling onto the tracks, half-height platform screen doors were installed. These glass barriers opened in August 2011.
• Cooling Fans: Large, high-volume fans were added by early 2013 to help keep passengers cool while they wait for their trains.
• New Exits: In 2015, a new overhead bridge and two new exits were opened, making it easier for people to get in and out of the station.

Station Details

The platform at Commonwealth station, where passengers wait for the train.

Commonwealth station is on the East West Line (EWL), located between Queenstown and Buona Vista stations. Its station code is EW20.

The station has a single platform in the middle, with tracks on both sides. This is called an island platform. Trains run daily from about 5:45 in the morning to just after midnight. During busy times, a train arrives every 2 to 5 minutes.

Design and Location

Like other older elevated stations, Commonwealth has a unique look. It features brightly colored blue walls and metal grilles around the station. This was designed to make each station look different and pleasant.

The station is located on Commonwealth Avenue. It serves many nearby places, including:

• Queenstown Primary School
• Queenstown Stadium
• Several churches, like the Church of the Good Shepherd and Queenstown Baptist Church.

The station is mostly accessible for people in wheelchairs and has places to park bicycles.