Walking the railway together [9 Jul]
Join us for a walk with Minister of State for National Development, Tan Chuan-Jin, tomorrow 6am, starting at the carpark next to Silat Walk Blk 25/26. Or you can join in later along the railway, check out the maps of the walking routes on how to get around. See you tomorrow!
Read latest details of the walk at https://www.facebook.com/notes/tan-chuan-jin/walking-the-railway-together/213262195383230. Here’s the last update (at 8 Jul, 11:30am):
I am planning to walk the length of the railway from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to Woodlands. Would like to see it all before the rail and sleepers are taken away. Will be walking with our friends who feel passionately about this piece of land and the life around it. Join us if you are free?
6.00am Silat Estate: Starts trek at Silat Walk Car Park next to Blk 25/26. (double confirmed!)
6.30am Should commence after hanging around and sorting ourselves out.
9.00am (6km from Start Pt): Reach Buona Vista MRT
10.30am (10.8km from Start Pt): Reach Bt Timah Railway Station
12.30am (13.6km from Start Pt): Reach Rail Mall
1.30pm Proceed with rest of the trek along the corridor
7.00pm End at Kranji Road (23km from start point). Easier access from here to exit.
btw, please be adequately hydrated before you start and bring along ample water for drinking; snacks or whatever you fancy for energy along the way. Wear a STURDY pair of shoes (poor soles have been seen left behind along the way 🙂 , put on sun block, caps etc. If not feeling well, please feel free to stop at various exit points along the way.
Walking route from Jalan Hang Jebat to Kampong Bahru
Here’s a map of AYE’s Biological Twin – Walking route from Jalan Hang Jebat to Kampong Bahru, which includes good photo-taking spots. Thanks to the great effort from CY Leong!
Download high-res map of [download#7#size#nohits]
(Maps attributed to OneMap by SLA, http://www.onemap.sg/index.html)
Walking route from Bukit Timah Train Station to Holland Road
Here’s a map of One Walk for All – Walking route from Bukit Timah Train Station to Holland Road, which includes good photo-taking spots. Thanks to the great effort from CY Leong!
Download high-res map of [download#5#size#nohits]
(Maps attributed to OneMap by SLA, http://www.onemap.sg/index.html)
Why the need to develop our railway tracks?
Letter by Damian Ng, TODAY, 6 Jul 2011.
I am sad to learn that the railway tracks will only be open until next Sunday (with exception of a stretch between Rifle Range Road and the Rail Mall until end of the month).
It was beautiful to see hundreds of people strolling along the tracks at the weekend, enjoying the newfound space. It is not often the public is given such freedom to roam in such a tranquil environment. Yet, it is being taken away from us almost immediately.
Source: TODAY
Preserving a slice of history
Letter by Marcus Yip, The Straits Times Forum, 4 Jul 2011.
I grew up in the 1970s, a world away from modern-day Singapore. Although development has brought the country many benefits, we may have lost some invaluable things in the process.
The physical environment in which we live is important, as it affects our culture and community life.
The redevelopment of Chinatown in the 1980s is a sad example of how changing the physical environment of a place affected community life. What was once a vibrant area, with a sense of real life being lived out in its streets, is now a sad shell of its former self. One only needs to compare Chinatown today with Little India to know what I mean.
Source: The Straits Times
Finally, some track-side peace and quiet
By Amanda Tan, The Straits Times, 4 Jul 2011.
Mr W.S. Yong, 52, has lived beside the railway tracks in Ghim Moh for 15 years.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) trains now start their Malaysia-bound trips from Woodlands instead of Tanjong Pagar, so he will no longer see or hear them chug past his estate.
An executive at an import-export firm, he said he would not miss them: ‘It was noisy, and we sometimes had snakes and mosquitoes because of the trees and bushes around the tracks. We had to use repellent all the time.’
Ironically, he is moving away too – just when the noise and critters are finally gone.
His block is among six in the neighbourhood up for the Housing Board’s Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers). They will be pulled down and new blocks built in their place.
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
Walking route from Holland Road to Buona Vista
Here’s a map of Our Hidden Backyard – Walking route from Holland Road to Buona Vista, which includes good photo-taking spots. Thanks to the great effort from CY Leong!
Download high-res map of [download#4#size#nohits]
(Maps attributed to OneMap by SLA, http://www.onemap.sg/index.html)
Walking route from Buona Vista to Queensway Road
Here’s a map of Rojak of Old and New – Walking route from Buona Vista to Queensway Road, which includes good photo-taking spots. Thanks to the great effort from CY Leong!
Download high-res map of [download#3#size#nohits]
(Maps attributed to OneMap by SLA, http://www.onemap.sg/index.html)
Railway tracks a huge draw
By Daryl Chin and Sia Ling Xin, The Straits Times, 3 Jul 2011.
It was a scene Singapore has never witnessed: Scores of people strolling along the railway tracks that run from Woodlands to Tanjong Pagar.
Yesterday, a day after the authorities announced that it would allow the public access to most of the 26km track for two weeks, hundreds of people turned up at different sections of the route throughout the day.
The Nature Society (Singapore) led an organised walk, with about 60 of its members trekking 6km from Bukit Timah to Ten Mile Junction.
Mr Leong Kwok Peng, vice-president of the society, said: ‘I think the turnout is fantastic. You can easily see hundreds of people milling around the area when you look down both ends of the tracks.’
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
Authorities to engage stakeholders, community on redevelopment of KTM railway
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia, 2 Jul 2011.
Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin said the authorities will extensively engage various stakeholders and the community in the redevelopment of the KTM railway tracks. He added that the work will take a few years.
Speaking on the sidelines of a photography competition organised by the National Parks Board, Brigadier-General Tan told reporters there will be regular meetings with stakeholders. These include schools and non-governmental organisations like nature and heritage societies.
He said this is to understand their concerns and engage the community.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
