Nature lovers push harder for Green Corridor
By Grace Chua, The Straits Times, 30 Jun 2011.
NATURE and heritage groups have beefed up their original proposal to save the KTM railway land.
They point out that the land, comprising that on which the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station now sits and the north-to-south strip through which the rail tracks wind, links historic buildings and nature conservation areas. It could even become a Unesco World Heritage site, they add.
The KTM land reverts to Singapore tomorrow.
In their original proposal, green groups pushed for the 173.7ha strip of land on which rail tracks now run to be turned into a ‘green corridor’ for cycling, gardens and nature walks.
But corridor proponents now also call for calculations to be done on the true financial contribution which permanent green spaces make to property values.
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
S’poreans bid Tanjong Pagar Railway Station farewell
By The Straits Times, 30 Jun 2011.
MR SHAMSUL Bahari became somewhat of a celebrity on Thursday evening, as hundreds of visitors swamped the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on its last day of operations.
The station manager, 43, who’s worked at the station since 1996, was signing autographs for the people who came up to him bearing souvenirs — from coffee mugs to PVC folders with images of the station imprinted on them. ‘Must be more than 1,000 people already since this morning,’ Mr Bahari said, smiling. ‘No, my hands not tired yet!’
Around the station, shutterbugs scattered themselves, adding to the sense of occasion, bulbs flashing at every corner of the 79-year-old KTM Railway Station. Music blared through stereos brought by visitors; necks craned behind iron grilles that separated the ticketing booth from the train platforms. On Friday, the land on which the station sits will revert to Singapore.
Source: The Straits Times
Railway station closes chapter
By Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia, 30 Jun 2011.
A historic chapter closed on Thursday at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Seven trains, bound for Malaysia, made their final journey from the station on Thursday.
Many people flocked to the station to take a last train ride from the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
One of them is 64-year-old Mohd Jani Abdul Manap, who arrived in Singapore from Kuala Lumpur to do just that.
Mr Mohd Jani said the station brings back fond memories.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Visitors flock to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station before it closes
By Evelyn Lam, Channel NewsAsia, 29 Jun 2011.
Singaporeans are visiting Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in droves to catch a glimpse of the place before train operations to and from Malaysia cease on June 30.
From July 1, trains will operate from Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTC).
The station said 40 per cent of Friday’s tickets for train services from Woodlands Train Checkpoint have already been sold.
Station staff said an average of 400 people have been visiting the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station every day.
And that’s not including passengers.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
S’pore, KL ink details of land swop deal
By Teo Cheng Wee, The Straits Times, 28 Jun 2011.
PUTRAJAYA: A 20-year wrangle over Malayan railway land that had dogged ties between Singapore and Malaysia came to a close yesterday, after both sides put pen to paper and agreed on the implementation details of a landmark land swop.
Hailed as a deal that would take the relationship between the neighbours to a new level, the so-called Written Instrument was signed by Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam and Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
Indeed, among the major components of the deal is a rapid transit system (RTS) link that will allow for speedy commutes between Johor Baru and Singapore.
Source: The Straits Times
Crowds come out for KTM line’s final days
By Rachel Chan, mypaper, 27 Jun 11.
Passengers have been packing the trains from Singapore to Johor Baru, while foodies have thronged the food stalls in Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Less than a week before the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) trains cease operations from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, Singaporeans are turning out in droves to visit the Malayan Railway lands here.
Passengers have been packing the trains from Singapore to Johor Baru, while foodies have thronged the food stalls in Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
And yesterday, more than 100 people embarked on one last weekend stroll along the railway tracks in Upper Bukit Timah Road. The group started the 3km walk from the truss bridge in Upper Bukit Timah Road at 8am, moving on to highlights such as the girder bridge in Hillview Avenue, the gated level crossing and KTM staff huts in Gombak Drive, before ending at the level crossing in Choa Chu Kang Road.
Source: mypaper via Wildsingapore
End of the line for KTM station hawkers
By Fiona Low, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2011.
Last call for those who enjoy the teh tarik or chapati served by the stalls at the railway station in Tanjong Pagar.
By Sunday, most will be gone, ahead of the closure of the 79-year-old station at the end of this month.
Many stallholders there told The Straits Times they are still unsure what they will do next or where else they can set up shop.
A new chapter in the history of rail travel here opens on July 1, with the move by Malayan Railway (KTM) to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, and Singapore taking over ownership of the railway land following a breakthrough land swop with Malaysia last year.
Source: The Straits Times
Tanjong Pagar railway station to go in style
By Zakir Hussain and Amresh Gunasingham, The Straits Times, 23 Jun 2011.
The last Malayan Railway (KTM) train will pull out of Tanjong Pagar station a week from today, with as much fanfare as when the first train rumbled in almost 80 years ago.
At the controls will be Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who obtained his locomotive driving licence last year, KTM and palace officials said yesterday.
The scheduled 10pm departure from Tanjong Pagar will be marked by a KTM-organised send-off party attended by officials, guests and station staff, among others.
At midnight, Singapore will take ownership of the station – which opened in 1932 – following a breakthrough agreement with Malaysia last year.
KTM will then move its operations in Singapore to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, where it will open a ticketing counter on July 1.
Source: The Straits Times
Brisk ticket sales before final train leaves KTM station
By Hoe Yeen Nie, TODAY, 23 Jun 2011.
As the day of the last KTM train pulling out of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station draws near, sales of tickets for Malaysia-bound trains departing from the station have been brisk.
At the station yesterday, all the seats for the 8am and 1pm trains were sold out and tickets for today were reportedly gone within half an hour.
Said Mr Teo Juay Tee, who was among the lucky ones to secure a ticket: “I came four times to try to get one and, on the fourth try, I got lucky. I’m already 27-years- old and I’ve never taken the train before, that’s why I’m here to try it out.”
Source: TODAY
