[1] The facility is located on a 32 ha (79 acres) site[2] bounded by Mandai Road, Seletar Expressway and Lorong Lada Hitam, on the former site of Orchidville.

The largest orchid farm, Orchidville, was moved on 11 December 2012 to Sungei Tengah, and construction of the depot had begun in January 2013.

[4] Contract T201 for the construction of Mandai Depot and its associated facilities was awarded to Jurong Primewide Pte Ltd at a sum of S$329 million in October 2013.

[5][6][7] Contract T206 for the construction of bored tunnels between Woodlands, Woodlands South and Mandai Depot was awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd at a sum of S$421 million on 18 October 2013.

[9] The depot includes a rail administration building, stabling yards, test track, storage warehouses, maintenance workshops and a fully-equipped gym.