The Mass Rapid Transit, or MRT, is a rapid transit system forming the major component of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The MRT network encompasses 170.7 kilometers of route, with 121 stations in operation. MRT lines operate from 5:30am to before 1:00am daily, with the exception of selected periods such as New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya, Christmas, and eves of public holidays.
You will typically find the MRT stations surrounded by any number of shopping centers and various places to eat. You will likely be munching on many tasty treats in Singapore, but don’t do it on the train; there is a fine for eating or drinking on the MRT that Singapore officials take very seriously. Orchard MRT is the most popular MRT station located on the North South Line of the Mass Rapid Transit and is located along Orchard Road, Singapore. Its platform livery is maroon, but it is mostly clad with black marble. Orchard Road is the main shopping street. North of the Singapore River, to the west of the Central Business District, Orchard Road turns into Bras Basah Road as it heads east.
Orchard Road is named after the nutmeg orchards that used to line it in the 1830s, one of them coincidentally belonging to a Mr. Orchard Road. Large trees still shade the road, providing a modicum of relief from the heat. Fortunately, Orchard Road has an extensive network of underpasses that connect many of the malls providing even more shelter from the blistering equatorial heat and squall. On weekend, that area is often packed with locals and visitors alike out to consume en masse. Orchard Road is walkable, at least allowing plenty of breaks in air-conditioned shopping centers. You can no longer cross the central Orchard/Scotts intersection on foot: instead, take the air-conditioned underground walkway system that links Orchard MRT/Ion Orchard to Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Lucky Plaza (east), to CK Tang/Marriott (north), and to Shaw House and Wheelock Place (west). Every year the Christmas decorations along Orchard are mildly famous and entirely over the top, with reindeers cavorting through palm trees and gingerbread houses topped with fake snow.
Ms. Ivy Wong