Sentosa Monorail

{{about|the former loop system that closed in 2005|the current system that connects to the Singapore mainland|Sentosa Express}} {{short description|Former monorail system in Singapore}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox public transit | name = Sentosa Monorail | image = Sentosa monorail.jpg | imagesize = 300px | locale = Sentosa, Singapore | transit_type = Straddle-beam monorail | system_length = 3.6 mi (5.8 km)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bigbus.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/down-memory-lane-sentosa-monorail/ |title=Down memory lane – Sentosa Monorail. |access-date=6 May 2017 |archive-date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522011815/https://bigbus.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/down-memory-lane-sentosa-monorail/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | began_operation = {{start date and age|df=y|1982|02|23}} | ended_operation = {{end date and age|df=y|2005|03|16}} | lines = 1 | stations = 7 | vehicles = 16 trains | operator = Sentosa Development Corporation }}

The '''Sentosa Monorail''' was a monorail system which served as the main means of transportation on the island of Sentosa in Singapore, and has been replaced by the new monorail system, the Sentosa Express. The system was constructed at a cost of S$14 million by Swiss corporation Von Roll, which also built the Singapore Cable Car.

Commencing operations on 23 February 1982, the line initially opened with only five stations, running in a clockwise loop. In 1987, the Ferry Terminal Monorail Station began operations when the Sentosa Ferry Terminal opened that year. In 1991, the line changed to an anti-clockwise direction after the Underwater World Monorail Station commenced operations, when Underwater World opened that year. It operated several 16-car, non-air conditioned trains in a unidirectional anti-clockwise single loop through seven stations located around the western half of the island. The monorail rides were initially charged at S$3 for adults and S$1.50 for children. The trip was later made free for passengers, who could ride the system as often as they wished throughout their stay on the island. Four of the stations have two platforms; for such stations, the Spanish solution was implemented, where passengers alight at one platform and board at the opposite platform.

==History== ===Background=== Plans for the monorail were first announced in June 1979 by the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) to replace the double-decker buses that were used as transport around Sentosa. The route included seven stations near the Sentosa Ferry Terminal, Maritime Museum, the Apollo Hotel, the Coralarium, swimming lagoon, cable car station and the surrender chamber, and Fort Siloso. The SDC did consider implementing a monorail system earlier but chose not to due to the high costs of the previous design.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marican |first=Zarinah |date=28 June 1979 |title=Monorail for Sentosa |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newnation19790628-1.2.2 |work=New Nation |location=Singapore |access-date=9 March 2018 |via=NewspaperSG |archive-date=9 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309184211/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newnation19790628-1.2.2 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was estimated to cost {{SGDConvert|12|m|year=1979}} and take 18 months to construct it, with the system planned to use 6 monorail carriages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tsang |first=Sau Yin |date=29 June 1979 |title=Sentosa monorail tender open to all |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19790629-1.2.49?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=The Business Times |pages=12}}</ref> According to an SDC spokesman, the monorail system was the "most appropriate choice" of transport when the SDC was choosing what type of transport to choose, which included electric cars and trailer buses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 June 1979 |title=Sentosa to have $12m monorail system |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19790629-1.2.42?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=The Straits Times |pages=10}}</ref> However, it criticised by a nature lover writing to the ''New Nation'' in December, where they wrote that building the monorail would disrupt the peace of the island and the monorail itself would be a "gimmick".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nature Lover |first= |date=2 December 1979 |title=Monorail menace |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19791202-1.2.21?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=New Nation |pages=6}}</ref> The SDC responded to the letter a month later, assuring that the monorail would be "as quiet and pollution free as possible" and not a "gimmick".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tong |first=Suit Chee |date=6 January 1980 |title=Monorail more than a gimmick |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19800106-1.2.31?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=New Nation |pages=9}}</ref>

===Construction and opening=== {{External media|title=External media|image1=[https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800207-1.2.5?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 Artist's impression of the Sentosa Monorail] Source: ''The Straits Times''|float=right|image2=[https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800208-1.2.142.12.1?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 Advertisement of United Engineers congratulating Habegger Thun] Source: ''The Straits Times''|image3=[https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19801217-1.2.39?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22 The Sentosa Monorail under construction] Source: ''The Straits Times''}} In February 1980, it was announced that the contract for the design and the installation of the monorail would be awarded to Swiss company Habegger Thun, with the SDC hosting a signing ceremony between the two corporations at its headquarters.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sentosa signing |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800205-1.2.80?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=SENTOSA MONORAIL |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19800207-1.2.11.3?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref> Habegger Thun proposed a similar route to SDC's route though it omitted the Coralarium station. It was also announced that United Engineers Pte Ltd would be the main subcontractor and carry out structural and civil engineering works. The cost of the monorail was estimated to be {{SGDConvert|10.5|m|year=1980}} and it was expected for the construction period to be 20 months.<ref name=":0" />

Site surveys commenced in the same month, with piling works expected to start in the middle of March.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Monorail tour 20 months away |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800207-1.2.5?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref> However, the ceremony was held in July, with the chairman of the SDC driving the first borehole of the monorail.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Health resort, food? |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19800720-1.2.11.1?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=More exciting plans in store for Sentosa |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800720-1.2.38?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref> In October, they started laying the rails and the columns of the system, with expected completion by next September and {{Convert|391|m|yd}} of rails being laid by December. The number of monorail carriages have also been increased from 6 to 9.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wong |first=Alice |date=17 December 1980 |title=New ferry terminal to be built on Sentosa |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19801217-1.2.39 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |access-date=3 March 2018 |via=NewspaperSG |archive-date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303165519/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19801217-1.2.39 |url-status=live }}</ref> By January 1981, 30% of the piling works have been completed, with about {{Convert|550|m|yd}} of track laid out. There have been five confirmed stations by that time, being the Maritime Museum, the Apollo Hotel, the swimming lagoon, the cable car station and Fort Siloso, with Fort Siloso itself temporarily closed until February for piling works. However, the Ferry Terminal station has not been finalised yet.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Work on Sentosa monorail goes full swing |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19810129-1.2.15?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref>  By June, it was expected for the monorail to be ready by December.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sentosa is keen on building kids' park |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19810607-1.2.17?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref>By July, {{Convert|3|km|mi}} of track was laid.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Monorail ride on Sentosa draws near |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19810703-1.2.55?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref> In November, it was the expected completion date was March of next year. In the same month, the cost of the system rose to {{SGDConvert|13|m|year=1981}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Round the island on rails |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/newnation19811102-1.1.4}}</ref> By December, the cost of the monorail grew to {{SGDConvert|16|m|year=1981}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=SENTOSA PROJECTS |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19811201-1.2.17.5?qt=sentosa,%20monorail&q=%22sentosa%22%20%22monorail%22}}</ref>

Initially expected to be completed in April 1982, it was completed two months before schedule at a cost of S$16 million, and opened on 23 February 1982.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lau |first=Karen |date=20 February 1982 |title=Monorail all set to roll into service |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19820220-1.2.35 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |access-date=3 March 2018 |via=NewspaperSG |archive-date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303165422/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19820220-1.2.35 |url-status=live }}</ref> Four intermediate stations along the line at several locations around the island were opened on 1 December the same year. This resulted in the bus service to these locations being terminated, and the monorail thus became the main mode of transport around the island.<ref name="ref1">{{cite news |last=Suit Chee |first=Tong |date=16 December 1982 |title=Why the monorail and Sentosa go hand in hand |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singmonitor19821216-2.2.4.4 |work=Singapore Monitor |location=Singapore |access-date=3 March 2018 |via=NewspaperSG |archive-date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303165701/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singmonitor19821216-2.2.4.4 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of the monorail's opening, as well as the opening of several other attractions, the number of visitors to Sentosa also shot up, increasing to 1,067,192 visitors from 567,567 visitors over the same period in the previous year.<ref name="ref1" />

===Closure=== Due to the rapid modernisation of the island, maintenance problems, increasing costs, and declining popularity as visitors started complaining that the ride was slow and uncomfortable,<ref name="roots">{{cite web |title=Former Sentosa Monorail |url=https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/landmarks/Sentosa-Heritage-Trail---Forts/Former-Sentosa-Monorail |website=www.roots.gov.sg}}</ref> the Sentosa Monorail ceased operations on 16 March 2005 to make way for the new four-station Sentosa Express monorail. Much of the track and all of the rolling stock were sold as scrap for S$350,000. A subsequent assessment showed that some of the butt welds did not match the specification of British Standards.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000889|doi=10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000889|title=Appraisal of a Demolished Monorail System|year=2016|last1=Kog|first1=Yue Choong|journal=Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities|volume=30|issue=6|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424110702/https://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000889|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Parts of the track and some of the monorail stations were repurposed for other uses,<ref name="roots"/> such as the "Surrender Chamber" at Fort Siloso, a restaurant being developed at the Central Beach, and the SDC Office was rebuilt and converted into a bar. Gateway was demolished when the line closed and Ferry Terminal was demolished in March 2007 to make way for Resorts World Sentosa.{{fact|date=October 2022}}

==Stations== {{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Singapore/Sentosa Monorail (1982-2005).map}}|text=Map of route and stations|frame=yes|zoom=15|frame-width=600|frame-height=400}}

There were no terminal stations for Sentosa Monorail. * '''Station 1''': Ferry Terminal – Opened in 1987; closed in 2005; demolished in March 2007 * '''Station 2''': Underwater World – Opened in 1991; closed in 2005; subsequently repurposed; demolished in 2017 together with Underwater World * '''Station 3''': Fort Siloso (first station to be closed down) – Opened in 1982; closed in 2005; subsequently repurposed * '''Station 4''': Cable Car – Opened in 1982; closed in 2005; subsequently repurposed * '''Station 5''': Central Beach / Palawan Beach – Opened in 1982; closed in 2005; subsequently repurposed; demolished in 2022 * '''Station 6''': SDC Office / Ficus – Opened in 1982; closed in 2005; subsequently repurposed; demolished in 2022 * '''Station 7''': Gateway / Causeway / Visitor Arrival Centre – Opened in 1982; closed and demolished in 2005

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/landmarks/Sentosa-Heritage-Trail---Forts/Former-Sentosa-Monorail Entry on Roots] * {{commonscat-inline|Sentosa Monorail}}

Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Singapore Category:Defunct monorails Category:Monorails in Singapore Category:Railway lines in Singapore Category:Southern Islands Category:Sentosa Category:Von Roll Holding people movers Category:Railway lines opened in 1982 Category:Railway lines closed in 2005 Category:1982 establishments in Singapore Category:2005 disestablishments in Singapore