Upcycling Old MRT Train Parts for Reminiscence

A walk into MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang (BNH)’s Peace Residence will reveal a surprising yet familiar sight: the inside of a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) cabin. The once empty and open space has been transformed and fitted with MRT seats, handrails, system maps, and other furnishings to recreate the experience of being on a train. 

For some residents like Mr Poomalai, it brings back comforting memories of commuting in his younger days. “I liked taking the train, especially when it was not crowded, because the journey was very peaceful. During my army days, I had to travel by train for 45 minutes. That was very nice,” recounted Mr Poomalai, a resident of MWS BNH’s Peace Residence. 

Through a thoughtful collaboration with the Land Transport Authority, these train parts were brought into MWS BNH to add a homely touch to the Residence. What is often taken for granted in daily living can be the elements that residents miss most when they live in a nursing home. This intentional furnishing serves as a connection to the outside world for the residents, a semblance of their life before. 

Catch Richard Quah, Head of MWS BNH, share his sentiments and the process of furnishing the ward in this short Channel NewsAsia episode, What happens to retired MRT trains? How Singapore gives them new life, by clicking here.