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
Hundreds flock to Bukit Timah Railway Station to reminisce
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia, 2 Jul 2011.
Some 200 people flocked to the Bukit Timah Railway station on Saturday to reminisce Singapore’s railway past. This, on the first weekend after Singapore took over all railway land south of Woodlands, following a land swop deal with Malaysia.
The Bukit Timah railway station was a hive of activity. Everything there – even the toilet – became a photo opportunity.
Singaporeans and tourists alike – were there to reminisce.
“Now the land belongs back to us again. So it’s something for us to remember. And we never had the opportunity to walk before,” said one of the people there.
The Nature Society of Singapore also organised a four-hour trek for some thirty people.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Walking route from Sungei Kadut Avenue to Choa Chu Kang Road
Here’s a map of A Walk by the Sungei – Walking route from Sungei Kadut Avenue to Choa Chu Kang Road, which includes good photo-taking spots. Thanks to the great effort from CY Leong!
Download high-res map of [download#2#size#nohits]
(Maps attributed to OneMap by SLA, http://www.onemap.sg/index.html)
Walking route from Rail Mall to Bukit Timah Train Station
Here’s a map of the Bukit Timah Greenway – Walking route from Rail Mall to Bukit Timah Train Station, which includes good photo-taking spots. Thanks to the great effort from CY Leong!
Download high-res map of [download#8#size#nohits]
(Maps attributed to OneMap by SLA, http://www.onemap.sg/index.html)
Unbroken green stretch along railway land?
By Grace Chua, The Straits Times, 2 Jul 2011.
The railway lands that were returned to Singapore yesterday may be kept a continuous green stretch and could even be linked to existing park connectors.
A day after the historic handover of the 26km tract of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) lands, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said yesterday that it would ‘comprehensively review and chart the development plans’ for the lands and their surrounding areas.
‘The URA will study the possibility of marrying development and greenery, such as applying innovative strategies to maintain a continuous green link along the rail corridor without affecting the development potential of the lands,’ it said in its first statement on the lands, much of which is flanked by unspoilt vegetation.
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
Explore old rail tracks? You can during this month
By Jamie Ee Wen Wei, The Straits Times, 2 Jul 2011.
TANJONG Pagar Railway Station may be closed and work to remove the tracks is under way, but it is not the end of the road yet for railway buffs.
In response to requests from the public, the entire line of railway tracks will be open to the public from now until July 17, except for a few areas.
After July 17, a 3km stretch of tracks from Rifle Range Road to The Rail Mall will continue to be open until July 31.
A joint statement from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority yesterday noted that as agreed with Malaysia, Singapore will remove the tracks and ancillary structures of the KTM railway and hand them over to Malaysia.
The SLA will start these removal works as well as do maintenance works shortly.
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
Why I drove the last train out
By His Royal Highness, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor, 1 Jul 2011.
WHEN I found out last year that Tanjong Pagar Railway Station would be closed, I expressed my desire of driving the last train out of Singapore to the KTM chairman.
What the governments do has got nothing to do with me. To me, it is a sentimental matter.
It was my great grandfather, the late Sultan Ibrahim, who opened the Causeway, designed for both road and rail links. He paved the way, literally, for the first train to rumble into Singapore from Malaysia back in 1923.
I felt it was only appropriate for me, as the ruler of Johor, to drive the last train out.
Besides trains, I fly jets, helicopters, and I sail my own yacht. I am never a boring person. Everything to me is a challenge. I always like to find something new to do. Every day, I look at the weather and think to myself, what should I do today?
So when the KTM chairman said OK, the train instructor was sent to my palace.
Source: The Straits Times
Public works and future plans for former railway land [Press Releases]
By Singapore Land Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority, 1 Jul 2011.
The lands previously occupied by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) for railway use have been vested in the Singapore Government with effect from 1 July 2011.
As agreed with Malaysia, Singapore will remove the tracks and ancillary structures of the KTM railway and hand them over to Malaysia. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) will commence these removal works as well as conduct maintenance works around the various railway sites shortly.
Public Can Access the Railway Tracks
Nevertheless, in response to requests for an opportunity for the public to trek along and experience the tracks, the SLA will be staging its works. From 1 Jul 2011 to 17 Jul 2011, the entire line of railway tracks will be open to public for 2 weeks, except for some localised areas.
After 17 Jul 2011, a 3km stretch of railway tracks from Rifle Range Road to the Rail Mall will continue to be open to the public till 31 Jul 2011. Read more
