‘Rail Corridor’ endorsed by consultation group to be final project name
Minister of State (MOS) for National Development Mr Tan Chuan-Jin announced today during a visit to the Re-imagining the Rail Corridor exhibition that the ‘Rail Corridor’ (é“é“走廊) will be the final project name for development plans for the former railway land.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) had used ‘Rail Corridor’ as the working name for this project when the former railway land was returned to Singapore on 1 July 2011. A website was launched on the same day to gather feedback and ideas from the public in shaping the future development plans for the former railway land, including suggestions for a name for the project.
A total of 158 suggestions on the project name were received on the website as at the closing date on 31 July 2011. “Rail Corridor’ was one of the top three most suggested project names received. The other two project names were ‘Rail Trail’ and ‘Green Corridor’. Read more
Ex-railway station an event venue?
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia, 2 Oct 2011.
Singapore authorities said they would consider opening part of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station as an event venue.
Other possibilities include having tours at the site.
This follows some suggestions on how the space could be used in the interim before any development plans are firmed up.
It has been three months since the former Malayan Railway land was handed over to Singapore.
Already, some 40 per cent of railway tracks have been dismantled.
The former workers’ quarters are now vacant, and the land around the former Tanjong Pagar railway station left bare.
There has been a series of public consultation on how the area can be best utilised.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Re-Imagining the Rail Corridor
Re-imagining The Rail Corridor is envisioned as a series of events dedicated to enhancing the public awareness and understanding of the tract of KTM railway land recently returned to Singapore. The events comprise of an exhibition, a design workshop and a public forum, intended to explore, encourage and develop creative ideas for incorporation into the future of the Rail Corridor.
The events revolve around six key themes: Ecology, Heritage, Recreation, Transport, Education and Community Gardening. Through these themes, it hopes to shape our understanding of and give insight to a rare piece of our cultural and natural heritage amidst our urban landscape, and to spark interest in the protection and preservation of this heritage as an extension of our national identity.
Exhibition
Date: 3 Oct – 2 Dec 2011
Time: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30am to 7pm / Saturdays: 8.30am to 5pm / Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Venue: Atrium, URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069118
The exhibition will showcase some early ideas from students and design professionals for what the future of the Rail Corridor could become, in a bid to anchor Singaporeans with a stake in their surroundings and to build-up engagement with the public in jointly designing the spaces around us.
Design Workshop
Date: 8 Oct 2011, 9am – 6pm
Venue: 4th storey seminar room, URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069118
The 1-day design workshop seeks to foster the imagination of students, designers and interested members of the public of what the future of the Rail Corridor could become.
There will also be a public critique session at the end of the workshop for a larger public audience to actively engage the workshop participants in the ideas put forward.
Pls pre-register for this design workshop either as a Workshop Participant or as a Workshop Public Critique Participant below.
Workshop Participants (9am – 6pm)
Open for registration below. Limited seats.
*Participants should be preferably available for a site recce and briefing on Sat 1 Oct at 9am.
[Registration closed]
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Workshop Public Critique Segment (4.30 – 6pm)
Open for registration below. Limited seats.
*No need to register for this public critique segment if you have already registered for the workshop above.
[Registration closed]
Paradise once lost, can’t be regained
By Paul Gilfeather, Today, 7 Sep 2011.
While major cities around the world search for the money and means to establish quality green spaces for its population, Singapore appears to have hit the jackpot with the closure of the Malaysian railway line.
As the last train pulled out of Tanjong Pagar Station in July there was an outpouring of sadness as Singaporeans young and old turned out to mark the end of another chapter in the country’s history.
Now, as the planners and politicians fix their sights on the future of the now-defunct track, the environmental lobby has stolen a march by unveiling their “green corridor” concept. The genius and beauty of the proposal is in its simplicity. The plan is to do absolutely nothing to the stretch of natural beauty and I can’t help but feel excited at the prospect.
Source: Today
Part of Jurong Line in master plan
By Esther Ng, Today, 3 Sep 2011.
It might not be as well known as the main line but a 2.5km stretch of the old Jurong Line – which passes through the steel bridge over Ulu Pandan Canal – will be included in the conceptual master planning of the rail corridor, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has told Today.
The URA explained that parts of the Jurong Line have been committed to, or are undergoing development work. For instance, the installation of new roads at the International Business Park and the Faber residential estate will improve traffic and “facilitate future developments”, said a URA spokesperson.
“The former Jurong Line is not part of the main line from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands and has been abandoned for many years. In some places, the rail line has been turfed over or is in a severe state of disrepair,” the spokesperson added.
Source: Today
Old Bukit Timah Railway Station to be opened to public
By Esther Ng, Today, 3 Sep 2011.
Allaying concerns that the removal of the KTM railway tracks would damage the flora and fauna, Law Minister K Shanmugam yesterday invited nature groups and the media to view a stretch of the tracks and the old Bukit Timah Railway Station, which will be opened to the public on Sept 16.
Mr Shanmugam said: “I’ve been assured, in this area, that none of the trees have been taken down. (There is) very little damage to the vegetation … I think people can see for themselves.”
The 1.4km stretch to be re-opened starts southwards from the steel bridge along Bukit Timah Road and runs past the old station, which will be conserved.
Source: Today
Part of KTM railway land to be reopened
By Grace Chua, The Straits Times, 3 Sep 2011.
Those who flocked to Bukit Timah railway station in the wake of the closure of the Tanjong Pagar station can do so again from Sept 16.
A 1.4km stretch in Bukit Timah of the former Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway land is the first section to have rail-removal works completed and will be reopened to the public.
But the tracks and equipment at the Bukit Timah railway station and the black steel bridge across Bukit Timah Road have been retained.
The 26km tract from Woodlands to Tanjong Pagar reverted to Singapore in July, and as agreed with Malaysia, most tracks and other structures are being removed and returned by Dec 31. The stretch is also being turfed over.
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
Bukit Timah Railway Station open to public from Sept 16
By Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia, 2 Sep 2011.
The old Bukit Timah Railway Station and surrounding railway land will be open to the public in two weeks.
Announcing this on Friday, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said the station and railway land extending 1.4km southwards from the steel bridge along Bukit Timah Road will be open from September 16.
The SLA said other portions of the railway land will also be progressively open after removal works are completed.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Examples of Rails to Trails
August 25, 2011 by admin
Filed under Recreation, Stories, Transport
A reader shares these examples of former railways converted into multi-purpose trails for cycling and walking, and at the same time serving as a wildlife corridor.
Australia:
http://www.railtrails.org.au/
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Activities-and-attractions/Outdoor-activities/Cycling/Cycling-trails.aspx
New Zealand:
http://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/nz_first.html
http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/05/15/thames-line-handed-to-cycleway/
Germany:
http://www.germany.travel/en/erholung/radfahren/deep_content_datenbank_1293.html
http://www.germany.travel/en/erholung/radfahren/deep_content_datenbank_1343.html
The Green Corridor walk along the old Jurong Line [18 Sep]
Time: Sunday, September 18, 8:30am – 11:30am.
Location: Teban Gardens to Sunset Way.
The Jurong Line, completed in 1965, served as an extension into the then newly constructed Jurong Industrial Estate. It failed to generate adequate traffic and was closed in the early 1990s. It has since been partially dismantled.
Join us for this walk and explore natural reforestation, spontaneous gardens and small scale farming, and walk in a dark underpass. Mr Wong Kum Seng from the Nature Society (Singapore) will lead this walk. Be prepared to get your shoes wet and muddy. This walk is not suitable for small kids.
Meeting time: 8.30am
Meeting point: Blk 41 Teban Gardens Road, behind bus stop (see map at http://gothere.sg/maps#q:Blk%2041%20Teban%20Gardens%20Road). Take bus 79 or 143 at Jurong East Interchange and alight at Blk 41 Teban Gardens Road.
Register through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=257263937626894.
If you’re not a Facebook user, just indicate your interest in the comments section below, and turn up on that day.
