The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that a new platform will be added to the Tanah Merah station. As a result, commuters travelling towards Expo and Changi Airport can enjoy shorter waiting times and a more comfortable journey.

Currently, the middle track at Tanah Merah interchange is used for trains travelling in both directions between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport stations. With the addition of a third platform, there will be two tracks for the East-West Line (EWL) and another two, heading to and from Changi Airport.

According to The Straits Times, the LTA revealed it had received feedback from workers at Changi Business Park and the public that waiting times at Tanah Merah were too long. LTA believes the addition of a fourth train track will allow trains to arrive and depart at the station at shorter intervals, reduce wait times and enable faster travel to Expo and Changi Airport stations. Enhancement works to the station will commence in 2016, and are expected to be completed in 2024.

Tanah Merah interchange, after Jurong East interchange, is the second MRT station to inherit a track to its original configuration. Although running construction work on an existing line is challenging, as working hours and work space are limited for construction activities, LTA reckons the safety of MRT operations and site security will remain to be of paramount importance.

During the construction phase, LTA will work with the contractors to implement dust and noise control measures including the installation of noise barriers and privacy screens along the new viaduct.

The English daily additionally reported that commuter traffic in the area is expected to increase, with upcoming residential projects such as Urban Vista and Glades, in addition to the completion of the Downtown and Thomson-East Coast MRT lines by 2024.