Novena MRT station

Novena MRT station (NS20) is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station. It is part of the North South Line. It's located at Thomson Road in Novena, Singapore. It is the nearest MRT station to hospitals like Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. Malls like Novena Square, Square 2 and United Square are located nearby.

NS20  Novena 诺维娜 நொவீனா Novena
Rapid transit
Platform B of Novena MRT station.
General information
Location	250 Thomson Road Singapore 307642
Coordinates	1°19′13.42″N 103°50′37.28″E
Operated by	SMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)	North–South Line
Platforms	2 (1 island platform)
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus, Taxi
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Platform levels	1
Parking	Yes (Novena Square, Square 2, United Square)
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	NS20
History
Opened	12 December 1987; 37 years ago (1987-12-12)
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Thomson Road
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station Toa Payoh towards Jurong East North South line Newton towards Marina South Pier

History

The station preliminary name is Thomson Road. It was renamed to Novena in 1985. The station was named after the popular weekly Novena prayer meetings at a nearby Catholic church called Church of Saint Alphonsus. The more common name of the church is ovena Church. The term "Novena" comes from Latin word "Novem", The Latin word means nine. In this case it refers to prayers said for nine consecutive days.^[1]

The passenger service centre of the station do not accept cash payment from 23 June 2018 onwards.^[2]

Cultural impact

The station area used to be a site of Jewish cemetry. It is rumored to be haunted.There have been reports of people seeing coffins in the tunnel between this station and Bishan.^[3]