A decommissioned MRT train carriage has been repurposed and transformed into a boutique co-living hotel with eight rooms in one-north, the first of its kind in Singapore. Train Pod @ one-north by local start-up Tiny Pod Pte Ltd was officially launched on Friday (Apr 11).
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Train Pod @ one-north features driving trailer carriage 3326 from a 3rd-gen Kawasaki-Nippon Sharyo C751B train that served the North-South, East-West lines from 2000 to 2024. (Image: Tiny Pod)
Tiny Pod’s Train Pod @ one-north features a driving trailer (DT) carriage from a retired 3rd-gen Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo (KNS) C751B train, Trainset 325/326, which had served the North-South, East-West lines (NSEWL) from 2000 to 2024.
The MRT train hotel was officially launched by Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling on Apr 11.
Each room at the MRT train hotel is measured at around 7.5 sqm and comes with Murphy single bunk beds. (Image: SGTrains)
Each of the eight air-conditioned rooms at Train Pod is equipped with free Wi-Fi and Netflix, as well as Murphy single bunk beds that can accommodate two guests. The hotel room also has an attached bathroom and toilet.
The MRT train hotel largely retains the original SMRT train interior, featuring the familiar MRT map and gracious commuting campaign wall decals of the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
WATCH: Journey of An Upcycled Singapore MRT Train — The First Ever Co-Living Train Hotel in Singapore »
Through repurposing a DT carriage, one of the eight rooms at Train Pod @ one-north features the train captain’s cabin and controls. This area is typically hidden from the public view on NSEWL trains, where a partition separates the driver’s and passengers’ cabins.
Guests of the MRT train hotel can also watch a video of a ride from Redhill to Joo Koon stations on the television screens in each room. The video is filmed facing forward from the train captain’s cabin, an angle that is not visible to passengers travelling on the NSEWL.
Chef-in-Box food and drinks vending machines are available at Train Pod @ one-north. (Image: SGTrains)
Other amenities at Train Pod @ one-north include food and drinks vending machines by Chef-in-Box, coin-operated washing and dryer machines, an outdoor kitchen for light cooking, and a refrigerator with freezer.
The new MRT train hotel by Tiny Pod adds to the collection of innovation testbeds at JTC Corporation’s LaunchPad, where startups collaborate and pilot new solutions.
Tiny Pod has worked with other local startups to implement solutions at Train Pod, including Igloohome for smart lock systems, Ailytics for artificial intelligence (AI)—powered crowd counting and crisis detection, and Vouch for self-check-in and generative AI chatbots.
Apart from Train Pod @ one-north, Tiny Pod Pte Ltd has been operating shipping container hotels since 2020, located at one-north, Haw Par Villa, and Gardens by the Bay.
Train Pod @ one-north is located at JTC’s LaunchPad, where startups collaborate and pilot new solutions. (Image: Tiny Pod)
SMS Low said at the launch ceremony that Train Pod @ one-north “exemplifies how thinking differently about using decommissioned assets can create extraordinary and sustainable possibilities”.
“I encourage businesses with fresh ideas to come forward and explore their proposals with the Government,” added Ms Low.
Tiny Pod Founder Seah Liang Chiang said, “JTC’s LaunchPad has given startups like ours the space to test bold ideas.”
“With Train Pod @ one-north, we’re showing how unused urban assets can be transformed into unique hospitality experiences, while promoting sustainable development,” Mr Seah added.
The MRT train hotel will open for bookings in the second half of 2025. Interested guests can visit Tiny Pod’s website or social media platforms — Facebook and Instagram — for updates, including the confirmed room rates on weekdays and weekends.
The 3rd-gen Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B trains that served the NSEWL have fully retired from passenger service on Dec 7, 2024.
READ MORE: Singapore’s 3rd-gen C751B trains have retired on Dec 7, 2024; first entered passenger service in 2000 »
SEE ALSO: Singapore’s 2nd-gen Siemens C651 have retired on Nov 27, 2024; first entered passenger service in 1995 »
Separately, LTA had earlier said that organisations interested in acquiring decommissioned MRT trains can email LTA_Train_Repurpose@lta.gov.sg. Rail operator SMRT had also said it aims to completely retire the 1st-gen C151 trains serving the NSEWL by the end of 2025.
At the time of writing, up to 40 of the 66 1st-gen C151 trains continue to serve the NSEWL, albeit more than half are inactive and have not been in passenger service for several months.
Related Links
Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B – SGTrains
External Links
Singapore’s first train carriage co-living hotel to open at LaunchPad in one-north – JTC
Train Pod @ one-north – Tiny Pod
Images: Tiny Pod, SGTrains.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.