North-South Line extension station 10 minutes away from Cruise Centre

Visitors to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre may have to spend up to 10 minutes to access the new Marina South Pier MRT Station - part of the North-South Line extension. Supposed to serve the cruise centre - which is expected to greet 530,000 travellers - as well as future developments in the area, the new train station is situated next to Marina South Pier, and is at least 600 metres from the cruise centre.

However, a SATS-Creuers Cruise Services spokesman was optimistic when The Sunday Times reached for comments. The spokesman believed cruise passengers will take a scenic and convenient stroll to the new train station under a sheltered walkway.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has commented it will build covered walkways between the station and cruise centre and denied to comment further.

An Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) spokesman explained the station was built below the Marina South Drive road, so that it will not hinder the development of future land parcels. Also, the location was finalised after considering maximum allowable curvature of MRT tracks, as well as other infrastructures in the area, such as the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).

Despite the explanation, observers believe the station could have been located between the cruise centre and pier, resulting in a shorter 300-metre walk to either facility. Alternatively, the extension could have gone west before looping east to pass the cruise centre and then onwards to the pier. This would allow the extension to serve future developments, reported the local paper.