Final pieces of KTM track removed
By Grace Chua, The Straits Times, 1 Jan 2012.
The last of the former Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway tracks have been dismantled and sent home to Malaysia, capping off a year in which the Woodlands to Tanjong Pagar railroad stretch was decommissioned in a landmark land swop.
The 26km tract from Woodlands to Tanjong Pagar was returned to Singapore last July as agreed with Malaysia, in exchange for land parcels in Marina South and Ophir-Rochor.
In the weeks after the train service to Woodlands ceased, thousands of recreational explorers and shutterbugs thronged the tracks, hoping to capture a slice of history.
Trains had run from Tanjong Pagar since 1932, and continue to run north from Woodlands.
Removal works started in July. Small structures, railway tracks, sleepers, ballast, cables, gates, posts and debris were removed.
Source: The Straits Times via Wildsingapore
Stripping of KTM railway track completed
By Channel NewsAsia, 31 Oct 2011.
The stripping of the 23-kilometre KTM railway track from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands has been completed following the handover of the KTM land and the Tanjong Pagar railway station to Singapore this year, Malaysia media reported.
Dr Aminuddin Adnan, KTMB President, said the tracks weighed a total 2,500 tonnes, out of which about seventy percent have been transported back to Malaysia.
The rest, which was still being placed at a temporary storage area in Kranji, will be sent back to the country by the middle of next month.
The Malaysian press has also reported that part of the track would be showcased in KTMB museums as a historical exhibit while others will be kept for future use on KTMB tracks throughout the country.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Be careful when dismantling rail tracks
Letter by Catherine Lim, The Straits Times, 4 Aug 2011.
I am writing to call for more supervision and sensitivity in dismantling the tracks and other movable parts in the rail corridor. I was confronted at the end of a very pleasant last walk from the Rail Mall to Bukit Timah by a scene of bare-faced destruction. The bulldozers had been sent in, and the greenery beyond the station suffered unnecessary collateral damage.
It was not what I expected, especially after an update from Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin, in which he said the intention was to try to keep the corridor as a continuous stretch with greenery (‘Govt hopes to keep continuous rail corridor’; last Thursday). A consultation group was to meet regularly to discuss public suggestions on plans for the corridor, he added.
Source: The Straits Times
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
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
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
Chug your way to the railway tracks at Tanjong Pagar
By Channel NewsAsia, 1 Jul 2011.
The Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah Railway Stations are now shuttered, but they are anything but quiet.
Works are being carried out for the removal of furniture and equipment by KTM and its tenants as well as maintenance works.
As for the railway tracks, they are open from today for those who want to take a walk through the past.
During two weeks from 1-17 July, the entire line of railway tracks, except for some localised areas, will be open says the Singapore Land Authority. This is in response to public requests for an opportunity to trek along and experience the tracks.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
NSS’s Letter for a 6 month moratorium
Ref: SLA’s Tender for Removal and Storage of Railway including ancillary structures from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, which was awarded on 2 Jun 2011.
Nature Society (Singapore) has already send letters to the relevant authorities to seek a 6 month moratorium commencing 1 July 2011 for the above work.
NSS asked that any dismantling works of the KTM tracks and ancillary structures be deferred during these 6 months except for reasons of safety.
NSS requested that the public be allowed to venture and explore the entire railway land and suggested that the authority should take the opportunity during this 6 months moratorium to garner feedbacks and conduct consultations to find out how the public would like the railway land to be used.
As the Singaporean public has been kept out of the KTM railway land for decades during the tenure of KTM, NSS thinks that this would be a once in a lifetime chance for the public to see the railway land as it is with its railway tracks, structures, bridges etc all intact.
Organised walk can be conducted by local or even KTM staff on the railway.
This would make for a fabulous and educational trip on our shared heritage as the railway has been a historical landmark of Singapore.
The railway has been with us for many decades – relatively an additional six months is a very short amount of time.
Source: NSS
