Singapore is known for its innovative approaches to repurposing old vehicles, and now you can add decommissioned SMRT trains to the list. Introducing Train Pod @ one-north, Singapore’s first co-living train hotel, which local start-up Tiny Pod developed with the support of JTC Corporation. This unique accommodation option, created through the sustainable practice of repurposing decommissioned trains, is set to launch in September and promises a one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly experience for guests.
Co-living hotels offer a combination of private rooms and communal spaces, allowing guests to enjoy fully furnished accommodations and mingle with others. Train Pod @ one-north will be located at a carpark near Block 69 Ayer Rajah Crescent. It will feature eight 7.5 sq m rooms, each equipped with an attached bathroom, comfortable bedding, and modern amenities for a comfortable stay. The hotel will also employ a smart lock system developed by start-up Igloo Home, ensuring secure and hassle-free access for guests.
While physical hotel staff won’t be stationed on-site, a dedicated cleaning team will handle room turnovers. To enhance the immersive experience for guests, the carriage driver’s compartment will showcase mounted liquid-crystal display panels displaying real-life footage of the train’s previous journeys through a tunnel, giving guests a unique glimpse into the train’s history and creating a truly unique and memorable stay.
Adjacent to the co-living train hotel, a public recreational green space will be developed, complete with food and beverage vending machines and bicycle racks. Visitors can relax on repurposed train chairs, transformed into outdoor public benches while basking in the sun.
Although renovation began in March, specific details such as room rates and booking openings are yet to be finalized, according to Tiny Pod’s founder and CEO, Seah Liang Chiang. However, he mentioned that room rates would be lower than Singapore’s existing co-living spaces. This aligns with the increasing popularity of pop-up hotels in recent years, as consumers increasingly prioritize eco-conscious choices.
The train-hotel project builds upon Tiny Pod’s success with their existing pop-up shipping container hotel at LaunchPad @ one-north. Launched in 2020, Tiny Pod’s shipping containers have expanded to urban and public spaces at Gardens by the Bay and Haw Par Villa.
Yap Eai-Sy, JTC’s director for new estates business development and marketing, expressed enthusiasm for Tiny Pod’s co-living train, describing it as a natural progression for sustainable hospitality solutions through adaptive reuse, building on the success of their shipping container hotel test bed.
This project follows the footsteps of The Bus Collective. This resort hotel opened for bookings in November 2023, featuring rooms made from decommissioned Scania public buses previously operated by SBS Transit. The hotel, managed by travel agency WTS Travel, offers luxury suites with original bus features like windows, driver seats, and steering wheels. The property spans an 8,600 sq m area beside the famous Changi Village Hawker Centre, offering rates starting at $398 per night for rooms accommodating three people with a king-sized bed, sofa bed, and bathtub.
