| DT20 Fort Canning 福康宁 | ஃபோர்ட் கெனிங் |
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| Address | 170 River Valley Road, Singapore 179038 |
| Lines Served | Downtown Line |
| Operator | SBS Transit |
| Structure | Underground |
| Platform | Island |
| Opened on | 21 Oct 2017 |
Fort Canning MRT Station (DT20) is an underground station along the Downtown Line (DTL). It is built underneath River Valley Road, near the intersection with Clemenceau Avenue.
The station is named after Fort Canning Hill, the small hill just north of the station that carries a historical significance. It took on a military role in 1859 and was named after then Governor-General Charles Canning. It is still referred to as Fort Canning to this day.
Apart from serving the Fort Canning Hill, the station is located in the vicinity of the Clarke Quay entertainment district and River Valley, with its shopping malls, offices, hotels and residential homes.
Architecture:
The architecture of the station has considered two historical elements of the locality – Fort Canning Park and the former National Theatre which was located just a stone’s throw from the station location. The natural and green theme is amplified in the curved ceiling inside the station, with various green accents peppered around the walls and vent shafts. Abstract motifs of the National Theatre are also etched into the concourse stone walls and repeated on the glass fitting at ground level.
The work has garnered multiple awards including the Top 50 Engineering Feats, International Tunnel Association Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards and Singapore Concrete Institute’s Excellence Awards.
First / Last Train Timings
| Downtown Line – (DT20) Fort Canning |
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| Destination | First Train | Last Train | |
| Weekdays & Sat | Sun & Public Holidays | Daily | |
| DT1 Bukit Panjang | 6:08am | 6:26am | 12:11am |
| DT35 Expo | 6:10am | 6:30am | 12:11am |
Station Layout
| L1 | Street level | Bus stops, Taxi stand, Pick-up/drop-off point |
| B1 | Concourse | Faregates, Ticketing Service Kiosks, Passenger Service Centre, Retail Shops |
| B2 | Platform A | Downtown Line towards DT1–BP6 Bukit Panjang |
| Platform B | Downtown Line towards DT35CG1 Expo |
Platforms & Train Services
Downtown Line (B2):
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| Platform A: Downtown Line towards DT1–BP6 Bukit Panjang via DT19NE4 Chinatown (→) Platform B: Downtown Line towards DT35CG1 Expo via DT21 Bencoolen (←) |
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Fort Canning station has two platforms in an island platform arrangement, with both platforms utilized for trains travelling in either direction.
Hidden from the platform, a pair of cripple sidings are located parallel to the running tracks, separated by a concrete wall.
Concourse
Art in Transit: “Through His Eyes” by Lim Tze Peng
From the hill.
He, who built his home upon the hill,
witnessed not just the busy river flowing,
but also, the hustling of the trading port down,
by the river.
Fort Canning Hill was where Sir Stamford Raffles built his residence when he arrived in 1819 and established Singapore as a trading port. ‘Through His Eyes‘ brings commuters on a reminiscent journey back to the time when the Singapore River was a bustling port.
To Lim, the sights along the Singapore River is worthy of our remembrance and memories. Hence, he welcomes all to experience it ‘Through His Eyes‘.
Gift of Art: “Another Day (The Coolies)” by Chong Fah Cheong
Donated by CapitaLand Development, 2024
Another Day (The Coolies) immortalises the coolie, the archetype of the labourer of bygone days. Coolies were bonded workmen in colonial Singapore, and many laboured at the Singapore River waterfront where trade was brisk and relentless. Expertly balancing heavy loads upon their bare backs and shoulders, they clambered barefoot across wooden gangplanks ferrying cargo from the bumboats to quayside warehouses under the scorching tropical sun. Another Day shows two coolies, lean and muscular, sharing a simple meal before beginning another day of hard work. One squats comfortably on his wooden stool while the other draws up a leg to his chest as he raises the bowl to his lips.
Fah Cheong draws inspiration from his Singaporean heritage and reflects on his carefree childhood days through these iconic sculptures.
Station Amenities
- Public Toilets at DTL concourse
- Retail Shop at DTL concourse
Exits
Fort Canning MRT station has two exits at ground level (A and B).
| Exit | Location | Nearby |
A  |
River Valley Road / Clarke Quay | Clemenceau Ave, Merchant Court, Novotel S’pore Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay, Robertson Walk, Shell House, Singapore Repertory Theatre, UE Shopping Mall / Square, ITS Centre |
| B |
River Valley Road / Fort Canning Park | Clemenceau Ave, Church of the Sacred Heart, Fort Canning Arts Centre, Hotel Fort Canning, SHRM College, The Foothills, The Legends, Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Teochew Building, Battlebox |
Recognition & Awards
Top 50 Engineering Achievements in Singapore
The Downtown Line tunnel between Fort Canning and Bencoolen MRT stations on the Downtown Line was recognised by the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) as one of the top 50 engineering achievements with the greatest impact on Singapore since 1965.
Linking the Fort Canning and Bencoolen MRT stations, LTA engineers had to build tunnels just 1m above the existing North East Line (NEL) tunnel – the closest two lines have run on Singapore’s rail network. Built over nine months between 2013 and 2014, they also cross below the North South Line and Circle Line tunnels, at 8m and 3m respectively.
In addition, the Downtown Line tunnel between Fort Canning and Chinatown stations also made it to the top 50 list, cutting underneath the Singapore River and built in close proximity to the existing Central Expressway tunnel.
Source: Straits Times and IES
International Tunnel Association Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards
As Singapore’s underground space becomes more congested with various competing needs; such as underground basements, utilities tunnels and metro infrastructures, the construction of new underground metro lines has correspondingly become more challenging, complex and pushing the boundaries of engineering. This tunnelling project encountered many challenges such as cutter head interventions to remove foundations of buildings, close proximity to national monuments and in-service metro lines with only 1m separation. The tunnelling at such close proximity to the ’live’ tunnels, which carry hundreds of thousands of commuters daily, poses exceptional high risk. This project has since been successfully completed with no disruption to any community partners.
Transport Connections
Fort Canning station connects to two bus stops in the vicinity, as well as taxi stands and passenger pick-up points.
Bus
There are two official bus stops linked to Fort Canning station.
| No. | Bus stop | Exit | Bus Routes |
| B/s 1 | 04331 – River Valley Rd (Bef Fort Canning Stn) | A | 32, 54, 195, 195A |
| B/s 2 | 04339 – River Valley Rd (Fort Canning Stn Exit B) | B | 32, 54, 195 |
Road
Taxi stands and pick-up/drop-off points are located next to the following station exits:
| Exit | Road | Provisions |
| A | River Valley Road | Taxi stand (C28), Pick-up/drop-off point |
| B | River Valley Road | Taxi stand (C29), Pick-up/drop-off point |
MRT Bus Bridging Service
In the event of a MRT service disruption affecting Fort Canning station, MRT Bridging Buses may be activated to ply affected stretches of the Downtown Line. In which case, the buses can be boarded from the following bus stops:
| Towards | Bus stop | Exit | |
| Downtown Line (DTL Bridging Bus) |
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| DT1–BP6 Bukit Panjang | B/s 2: 04339 – River Valley Rd (Fort Canning Stn Exit B) | B | |
| DT35CG1 Expo | B/s 1: 04331 – River Valley Rd (Bef Fort Canning Stn) | A | |
In addition, passengers can board free regular bus services at Bus Stops 1 & 2 when activated.
Passenger Usage Patterns
As a Central region station serving both commercial and entertainment districts, Fort Canning station encounters moderate to high demand levels owing to its close proximity to Clarke Quay. Complementing relatively weak bus connections in the area, the station brings about better accessibility to this unique corner of Singapore.
Construction
Downtown Line Stage 3 (DTL3) Contract 937 for the construction and completion of Fort Canning Station and associated tunnels was awarded to Korean contractor GS Engineering & Construction Corp. for approximately S$255.05 million.
The working name for Fort Canning station was River Valley Station.
Gallery
