Rail Corridor (Singapore) - Wikipedia

Jump to content Coordinates: 1°19′27″N 103°46′54″E / 1.32417°N 103.78167°E / 1.32417; 103.78167 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Heritage and nature trail in Singapore Rail CorridorA photo of the Rail Corridor, taken near Bukit MerahLength24 km (15 mi)LocationSingaporeBegan construction2018; 8 years ago (2018)[1]UseHiking, cycling, walkingSights Bukit Timah Truss Bridge Bukit Timah railway station Tanjong Pagar railway station (future; planned opening in 2026)[2] SurfacePorous trail, grass and gravel, naturalMaintained byNational Parks BoardWebsiteNParks Rail Corridor Route map Legend Kranji NodeKranji MRT station Kranji Road Opp Kranji War Memorial Opp Jln Bumbong Mandai Park Connector Sungei Kadut Avenue Pang Sua Park Connector Stagmont Ring Villa Verde Park Kranji Expressway Pang Sua Woodland Choa Chu Kang Road Opp The Linear Condominium Opp Hazel Park Terrace Gombak Drive Central Manpower Base Opp Chestnut Drive Opp CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace Hillview Avenue Hillview Connect Rail Corridor (North)Rail Corridor (Central) Hillview BridgeHillview Road / Hillview MRT station Hume Avenue Lookout Deck Opp The Rail Mall Upper Bukit Timah Truss BridgeUpper Bukit Timah Road The Rail Mall 9 Mile Platform Singapore Quarry Former Bukit Timah Fire Station Hindhede Walk Bukit Drive Hindhede Nature Park / Bukit Timah Hill Hindhede Drive Rifle Range Nature Park / Beauty World Centre Pan Island Expressway Anak Bukit Viaduct Mayfair Estate Bukit Timah Truss BridgeBukit Timah Road Bukit Timah Railway Station Rail Corridor (Central)Rail Corridor (South) Holland Green Linear Park Holland Road / Ewart Park Greenleaf Walk Holland Road / Jelita Mall Jalan Jelita Ulu Pandan Community Centre North Buona Vista Road Buona Vista Node / Buona Vista MRT station The Rail Corridor is a greenway in Singapore created from sections of the former Singapore–Kranji Railway that once linked the island country to Peninsular Malaysia. After crossing the causeway, the railway ran south from Woodlands Train Checkpoint through Sungei Kadut before reaching Bukit Panjang and Bukit Timah, which includes the site of the former Bukit Timah railway station. From there it passed through Queenstown and ended at Bukit Merah, the location of the former Tanjong Pagar railway station. Most of this route was converted into the Rail Corridor after the tracks were removed. Although much of the trail follows the original alignment of the former railway, a stretch has been realigned to facilitate the construction of new water facilities in Kranji.[3] In addition, there are temporary diversions along the route which support ongoing restoration efforts aimed at conserving bridges, stations and other historic elements, as well as facilitating nearby construction projects, including new residential developments.[4] Another branch of the trail following the path of the former Jurong railway line began construction in early 2025, and will open progressively from end-2026.[5] Background[edit] See also: Malaysia–Singapore Points of Agreement of 1990 After Singapore gained its independence from Malaysia in 1965, operations and land used by the Singapore–Kranji Railway remained under the control of the Malaysian state-owned company Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). Under the Singapore Railway Transfer Ordinance 1918, this strip of land consisted of 434.26 acres (175.74 ha) with 352.52 acres (142.66 ha) leased for a period of 999 years, while 81.74 acres (33.08 ha) was for perpetuity.[citation needed] This strip of land extended approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi) from northern Singapore at Woodlands, passing through the central area near Bukit Timah railway station and down to Tanjong Pagar railway station in the south. Apart from the railway stations, it was generally narrow and primarily comprised of rail tracks and a few miscellaneous structures.[6] In 2010, a land swap between Malaysia and Singapore enabled Singapore to reclaim this entire strip of land. That following year, a joint venture company named M+S Pte Ltd was established between Khazanah Nasional and Temasek Holdings to develop real estate in Singapore's city-centre worth $11 billion, which were Marina One and DUO.[7][8][9] Development[edit] Initial planning[edit] Since the news of the swap was announced, the public had shown interest in the future developments of the now unused land. The Nature Society of Singapore (NSS) then submitted a proposal to the authorities to consider the land for a redevelopment in to a "green corridor". The proposal took inspirations from New York's High Line and Paris' Promenade Plantée.[10][11] The public was receptive to the idea, and the Singapore government accepted the idea. The Urban Redevelopment Authority then held public engagement exercises, which culminated in a request for proposal in 2015. The winning proposal was further refined with public inputs collected in the earlier engagement exercises.[12] Redevelopment[edit] In a joint statement issued on 21 October 2017, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and NParks announced that works to enhance the former railway land would begin the following year, with most of the Rail Corridor expected to be completed by 2021. Tanjong Pagar railway station, however, would only be completed in 2025 due to construction works for Cantonment MRT station located directly beneath the former railway station.[1] Two truss bridges Bukit Timah Truss Bridge and Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge were conserved and reopened in 2020 and March 2021, respectively. The two bridges were built in 1932 for the railway route. Each sleeper, clip and spike of train tracks was put back in its exact position on the bridges after being removed for drainage works, with rotten timber sleepers replaced from other parts of the railway.[13] In March 2021, a 4 km stretch between the two conserved truss bridges, Bukit Timah Truss Bridge and Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge were opened after it was closed in 2019. Native plants were planted, and night lights that do not disturb wildlife at night were installed. Eight access points were added for residents, and drainage was improved to prevent waterlogging along the stretch. An underpass was built under the corridor at Hindhede Drive for pedestrians to access the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve without endangering themselves.[14] Community nodes along the Rail Corridor were developed in Kranji,[15] under a PIE viaduct, at the former Bukit Timah Railway Station,[16] and in Buona Vista.[17] Future plans[edit] The former Bukit Timah Fire Station was redeveloped in 2024 and reopened in 2025.[18] Two locations along the Rail Corridor, at Queensway and Stagmont Ring would be developed into community spaces and be completed in 2027 and 2035, respectively.[19] Woodlands clearance[edit] On 14 February 2021, 70 ha (170 acres) of Kranji woodlands next to the Rail Corridor was cleared by mistake. The ecological impact of the clearance on the Rail Corridor was unknown at the time of clearance.[20] Subsequent investigations revealed that JTC Corporation had the permission from NParks to clear one plot of land, but instead three plots were being cleared.[21] The clearance came under the inducement by two JTC officers who gave their superiors inaccurate information, and also the civil and structural consultants who agreed with the officers to a plan to fell the trees while making efforts to satisfy the wildlife protection related requirements instead of fulfilling the wildlife protection related requirements first per regulations then proceed with development of the land. The enacted plan was due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore affecting the development timeline of the construction project.[22][23] Later studies showed that the cleared land consisted of scrubland vegetation with non-native trees being grown and was not near any sensitive nature areas.[24] Earlier, nature experts stated that the cleared land was of strategic importance for animals to reach the Rail Corridor.[23] See also[edit] Park Connector Network (PCN) References[edit] ^ a b "From Plans to Reality - Commencement of works for first Rail Corridor stretch, featuring biodiversity, heritage and recreation". National Parks Board. 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024. ^ "Visit Rail Corridor". National Parks Board. Retrieved 19 November 2024. ^ "New Kranji Water Reclamation Plant and Kranji NEWater Factory to support upcoming developments in northern and north-western Singapore". Urban Redevelopment Authority. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2025. ^ "Diversion notice". National Parks Board. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2024. ^ "Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the update on Clementi Nature Corridor at Community Tree Planting". Ministry of National Development (Singapore). 31 August 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024. ^ "Witnessing history depart". The Straits Times. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. ^ Yong, Chun Yuan (4 July 2011). "Tanjong Pagar Railway Station". National Library Board. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024. ^ "CO10076 | Railway Land Swap: New Light on an Old Issue". RSIS. Retrieved 31 December 2021. ^ "Singapore Railway Transfer Ordinance 1918 - Singapore Statutes Online". sso.agc.gov.sg. Retrieved 31 December 2021. ^ "Green Corridor Watch". Nature Society (Singapore). Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024. ^ Bergman, Justin (2 April 2014). "In Singapore's Center, but a World Away". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 December 2021. ^ Tan, See Nin (6 July 2018). "Co-creating the Rail Corridor's Future". Civil Service College Singapore. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2024. ^ "Restoring conserved truss bridges along Singapore's rail corridor to their former glory". The Straits Times. 22 March 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "4km Rail Corridor stretch between Hillview and Bukit Timah reopens with new features for better access". The Straits Times. 22 March 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "Northern stretch of Rail Corridor opens to offer 21km of green trails". The Straits Times. 10 February 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "Bukit Timah Railway Station, old staff quarters reopen as heritage gallery and cafe". The Straits Times. 1 July 2022. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "Rail Corridor's Buona Vista node now open; ideas sought for former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station". The Straits Times. 22 April 2024. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "LHN unit bags tender for former Bukit Timah Fire Station site". The Straits Times. 10 April 2024. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "New community spaces for Rail Corridor in Queensway, Stagmont Ring". The Straits Times. 17 January 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "NParks investigating after swathes of Kranji woodland along Rail Corridor were cleared by mistake". The Straits Times. 16 February 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "Kranji woodland cleared by mistake: How it happened". The Straits Times. 22 February 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ "Kranji woodland clearance: Vice-president of CPG Consultants fined over illegal felling of trees". CNA. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ a b "Illegal clearing of Kranji woodland: Consultancy project director fined $20,000". The Straits Times. 7 November 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 December 2025. ^ TODAY, Nuria Ling/. "Explainer: The history of the cleared Kranji woodlands, and what could be found there". TODAY. Retrieved 1 December 2025. Further reading[edit] The Green Corridor: A Proposal to Keep the Railway Lands as a Continous Green Corridor – Nature Society of Singapore Official Rail Corridor NParks website 1°19′27″N 103°46′54″E / 1.32417°N 103.78167°E / 1.32417; 103.78167 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rail_Corridor_(Singapore)&oldid=1337741990" Categories: Rail trailsParks in SingaporeUrban public parksHidden categories: Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlasArticles with short descriptionShort description matches WikidataUse dmy dates from February 2026Pages using infobox mapframe without shape links in WikidataUse British English from December 2025All Wikipedia articles written in British EnglishAll articles with unsourced statementsArticles with unsourced statements from December 2025Coordinates on WikidataPages using the Kartographer extension Search Rail Corridor (Singapore) 1 language Add topic