How the Thomson-East Coast Line is Transforming the East

A new MRT line always brings about hype and conversation. Truer words cannot be spoken for the colourful District 15, which has been patiently waiting for MRT access for decades.

District 15, consisting of the East-Coast and Marine Parade residential estates, has a rich and prolific history. From the mid-19^th century, the Katong precinct was occupied by the wealthy Peranakan community, a historical fact preserved in the colourful heritage shophouses that line the streets of Joo Chiat, Tanjong Katong and East Coast Road today.

Following land reclamation efforts in Singapore’s developing years, the 1970’s saw HDB projects sprouting in the area known as Marine Parade. Over the years, the district and its estates have seen continued development, with condominium projects being built, rounding off housing options and establishing the Marine Parade area and District 15 as a mature estate.

“Nice Area, Poor Connectivity”

Historically, if you asked most people who stayed in the East what they thought of their neighbourhood, you would hear responses like “Nice area, but no MRT” or “Close to town lah… by bus”.

Since the inception of its first housing projects in the 1970’s, Marine Parade and much of District 15 has been served solely by bus services. Due to the time needed for the reclaimed land to settle, tunnelling works for MRT construction could not be attempted until the land was deemed ready.

As a result, residents of District 15 waited patiently and watched in envy as the rest of Singapore, mature and non-mature estates alike received infrastructure upgrades through the development of the different MRT lines across the years.

Demand for Homes in the East

However, despite the lack of MRT access, which is a major concern and criteria for most homebuyers, District 15 has seen considerable growth and demand across the years.

According to ERA’s ‘My Dream Home’ survey conducted in 2024 that received over 1700 responses, 30% of condo buyers stated their preference of living in the city fringe, while a further 20% stated their preference for living in the East region of Singapore.

D15 is uniquely positioned, with sections within the Rest of Central Region that allow it to serve as a gateway in the East to Singapore’s central core. Its city fringe location means that those commuting to the downtown core of Singapore can do so within just 10-15 minutes.

Additionally, District 15 has a characteristic charm stemming from the amalgamation of low-rise shophouses full of watering holes and eateries with high-rise developments overlooking the East Coast.

The Thomson East-Coast Line Has (Finally) Arrives in the East Coast

Announced in 2014, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) is a merger of the previously planned and distinct Thomson (TSL) and Eastern Region (ERL) lines.

Source: LTA

This garnered much attention as long-time residents of D15 have always expressed the district’s need for MRT access. This MRT access would make it easier for residents to get to the various schools and amenities across the district. It would also make property in the area more attractive if these future MRT stations were built within walking distance of housing.

After a decade of construction and waiting, and one global pandemic later, the TEL’s East-Coast stations finally opened their doors to the public in June 2024, breathing new life into D15.

Increased Connectivity for Students and Teachers

The introduction of the TEL creates much-needed connectivity for the schools in the area. District 15 is home to several reputable schools across the various educational levels in Singapore.

However, some of these schools, especially those along Marine Parade Road and their surrounding neighbourhoods have traditionally only been accessible by bus – either from the various neighbourhoods across the district, or from the nearest (if you can call it that) MRT stations such as Dakota or Mountbatten.

If you have ever taken one of the bus services that service the area in the morning, you would have a clear idea of the number of students that rely on them for their commute.

Source: OneMap.gov.sg, ERA Research and Market Intelligence

With the opening of the East-Coast segment of the TEL, the reliance on buses will be heavily reduced, with most of the schools being within a short walking distance of one of the stations.

Access to Amenities

The opening of the TEL also makes it easy for those staying in D15 to access all the amenities the district has to offer. This allows people staying in the various private residential enclaves (i.e. Siglap, Meyer Road and Amber Road) to access the various hubs and town centres in D15.

These hubs include the town centres located in the HDB estates of Marine Parade, which is home to Parkway Parade and Marine Parade Central, which includes a market, food centre and a multitude of HDB shophouses packed with various stores catered to the residents of the neighbourhood.

Other areas that have been made more accessible through the opening of the TEL are Joo Chiat and Katong, which are home to rows and blocks of heritage shophouses offering retail, dining, and various services. Along this stretch also lies various shopping malls, such as Roxy Square, Katong V, and i12 Katong to name a few, which were previously only accessible by bus.

With easy access via MRT, those living in D15 can now have their travel times cut short should they need to run any errands or participate in any activities in these hub areas. Examples would include buying groceries, or students travelling to tuition centres.

If they so wish, residents living in D15 can also find entertainment or recreational options at destinations, such as Singapore Sports Hub at Kallang and even Marina Bay Sands, which is accessible by Marina Bay MRT on the TEL.

Expedited Downtown Travel Times

The opening of the TEL opens up faster travel times and a much more straightforward route to the central region for the daily commuter. Traditionally to reach the city centre by MRT, you would have to take a bus service to Dakota, Paya Lebar, or Bedok MRT station – largely negating the benefit of distance D15 has to central Singapore.

With the opening of TEL stations, travel to the city is largely expedited. New stations, such as Marine Parade, Tanjong Katong, and Katong Park are 3 to 5 stops (or 12 minutes and under) away from Marina Bay MRT at the heart of the CBD. This is a definite plus for daily commuters to the city centre as they stand to benefit most from the shortened and more predictable travel times.

Will We See Greater Demand for Homes in D15 in the Future?

In essence: yes.

Many homebuyers have already expressed their clear interest in city fringe homes – particularly the East – which makes D15 the perfect candidate for them.

D15 is rich in heritage, with many aspects of straits and colonial era Singapore imbued deep within its DNA. There are also HDB towns that have over time blossomed into mature estates, being packed full of amenities and conveniences that most Singaporeans desire.

With many good schools in the area across various education levels, D15 is seen as one of the best places to own a familial home.

In the past few years, there have also been many new launches in D15, ranging from boutique projects to mega-developments. The wide range of new homes available on the market ensures that every homebuyer has options available to them, depending on their needs.

Table 1: New Projects Available in D15

Source: ERAPro as of 16 Sep 2024

With the TEL opening up new conveniences and opportunities, both new and resale homes are expected to grow competitively in prices.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in D15 – new or resale, feel free to get in touch with an ERA Trusted Advisor today!

Disclaimer

This information is provided solely on a goodwill basis and does not relieve parties of their responsibility to verify the information from the relevant sources and/or seek appropriate advice from relevant professionals such as valuers, financial advisers, bankers and lawyers. For avoidance of doubt, ERA Realty Network and its salesperson accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, reliability and/or completeness of the information provided. Copyright in this publication is owned by ERA and this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written approval.