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

Singapore’s East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID) will be the world's largest combined train and bus depot, with space to accommodate approximately 220 trains and 550 buses

The expansion joints (526 m in total) were fabricated in mageba’s Shanghai factory and shipped to site in Singapore in shipping containers for maximum protection and reliability

Installation of an expansion joint for the East Coast Integrated Depot under mageba supervision

The expansion joint sections, each approximately 11 m long, were lifted into position by crane and connected together on site

The expansion joints were then secured and concreted in place

Sliding cover plates were supplied to facilitate pedestrian traffic in sidewalk areas

Earlier in the construction process, mageba supplied 164 RESTON®POT bearings to support the superstructure – also manufactured at mageba’s Shanghai production facility

Installation of RESTON®POT bearings to support the T-beam superstructure of Singapore’s East Coast Integrated Depot