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mageba sa
Trafostrasse 1
8180 Bulach
Switzerland
Tel: +41-44-872 40 50
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Singapore exceptional
The world's largest combined train and bus depot – which is also believed to be the first building-type depot for both trains and buses – is being constructed in Singapore using mageba structural bearings and expansion joints.
The East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID), primarily consisting of a multi-level train depot and a multi-level bus depot, is currently under construction near Singapore’s Changi Airport, with completion expected in 2025. It will serve three of Singapore’s six Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines as well as a number of bus lines, with space to accommodate approximately 220 trains and 550 buses. By housing so much of Singapore’s public transportation fleet at a single multi-level facility, the construction project is saving Singapore over 40 hectares of land – one of Singapore’s most valuable resources.
The region’s tropical climate, with significantly fluctuating temperature and humidity levels, made the appropriate integration of well-designed bearings and expansion joints in the depot’s construction particularly important. Following the supply and installation of 164 RESTON®POT bearings in 2022 to support the superstructure, 526 metres of single-gap expansion joint have now also been installed. The expansion joints are of the types TENSA®GRIP (type RS) and TENSA®RAIL (type RSU), with movement capacities of up to 100 mm. To facilitate transportation in shipping containers for maximum protection and schedule reliability, the joints were supplied in sections of length up to 11 m, to be connected together on site by bolting.
The exceptionally robust TENSA®GRIP expansion joint, and the closely related TENSA®RAIL joint, are ideally suited to meet the loading demands of the heavy buses and rail traffic using this enormous depot. By offering a long service life with minimal repair effort, the joints will no doubt play their part in maintaining the excellent reliability of Singapore’s public transportation network.
Building designer: WSP Consultancy
Contractor: GS Engineering and Construction (GS E&C)
Owner: Land Transport Authority
