Comment by mook

> In fact I believe they could've simplified it further by getting rid of station codes. Which passenger needs to know Dhoby Ghaut is NE6/CC1/NE24?

I believe they're usually for people who can't read the language (typically, tourists). NE6 is a lot easier to memorize for people who can't pronounce Dhoby Ghaut (think people from China or something that isn't used to reading Latin alphabets).

The code + number system is also easier for tourists / people new to the area to know which stations are on the same line, and to find them if you don't know the map (just find any station on the same line and look for the correct number on the line).