SENNETT STATION

Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Communications whether the Sennett Station will come into operation at the same time as the North East Line.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: LTA has previously announced that 14 of the 16 North-East Line (NEL) stations will be operational in 2002. The two NEL stations which may not commence operation in 2002 are Sennett and Woodleigh stations. Currently the areas around these two stations are not yet well-developed. The timing of the opening of these stations will depend on the progress of developments in the areas surrounding the stations, which affects the demand and hence the operational cost and viability of the line. Sennett station will be open when the population base increases with faster redevelopment of nearby sites.