The need for a rail system in colonial Singapore arose as early as the 1860s when demand for primary produce from the Peninsula grew. Materials and goods had to be moved efficiently to Keppel Harbour which was the main point of import/export trade. But, the construction of the much needed railway only started in 1903.
The first system centred around the main station at Tank Road located at the existing large traffic island in front of the Tank Road Chettiars Temple. In the 1910s, the line was extended south across the river, finally connecting to the Tanjong Pagar Docks and all the wharves. A direct link to Johor was later realised when the Causeway was constructed in 1923.
This marked the beginning of the heydays of rail as a means of goods transport, communications and travel between Singapore, Malaya and Siam. The natural wealth of Malaya, particularly tin and rubber, could now be seamlessly transported to the ships by a combination of human sweat and steam power to the markets of the world.
(Text from URA http://www.ura.gov.sg/railcorridor/ )
Following an agreement between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore on 24 May 2010, railway operations from Tanjong Pagar Station in Singapore ceased from 1 July 2011. KTM’s southern terminus was relocated to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
Works to remove the railway tracks along the rest of the former railway line commenced from 1 August 2011. The removal works include the clearance of minor buildings, sleepers, tracks, cables, gates, posts and debris around the various sites from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands. Other items removed included railway equipment, such as signal lights, level crossings, controllers and traffic lights.
There are two significant railway truss bridges each oflength more than 100 feet. One spans across Upper Bukit Timah Road (near The Rail Mall) and another spans across Bukit Timah Road (near King Albert Park). These two railway bridges have been retained.
(Photo: Black truss bridge across Upper Bukit Timah Road)
(Photo: Only a small section of the Railway track remains immediately after the truss bridge)
According to the Urban Development Authority (URA), the return of the former railway land presents a unique opportunity for a comprehensive review of the government’s plans for the land together with the surrounding areas. Stretching approximately 26 kilometer as an almost seamless corridor from Woodlands to Tanjong Pagar, the former railway line can be joined in future to the larger park connector network and the future 150 kilometre round island route.
On 2 May 2012, the URA announced the formation of a Rail Corridor Partnership to look into the programming and promotion of community activities along the Rail Corridor. The Partnership is an expansion of the Rail Corridor Consultation Group, which was formed last July to provide input to the government on charting the future development plans for the Rail Corridor. With the re-opening of the Rail Corridor on 9 January 2012, the Partnership looks for opportunities to promote community use of the space that spans the entire width of the island from north to south.
Several interests groups such as “The Green Corridor” serves to promote environmental awareness and action for a green future. And they have shown must involvement in coming up with ideas for the Rail Corridor.
