Rail Corridor

Start of Rail Corridor

Kranji to Rail Mall

There had been improvement works done along the rail corridor for the last few years and it had been completed in stages. Part of the work was the laying of the water pipe from Murname Reservoir. The southern section had been completed except for the heritage Singapore Station at Tanjong Pagar. This walk was planned to determine the stage of completion of the rail corridor.

Iron Bridge across Bukit Timah Road

We met up at Kranji MRT Station and started walking at 11.20am. It was raining as we proceeded along the MRT line. At the Kranji Road/Woodlands Road junction we got on to a trail below the MRT track. After about 200m we climbed some steps and found the rail corridor where we turned left. The trail from here to Sungei Kadut Ave is just a footpath, wide enough for one person, with occasional puddles of water so our shoes could not avoid getting wet. But it was fun walking in the rain holding up our umbrellas. There were 6 of us. One additional member started late so we advised him to meet us at Bukit Panjang Plaza where we would stop for our lunch.

Hardened Trail

From Sungei Kadut Ave to the Rail Mall the trail was boarded up for improvement works. We had to walk along Sungei Kadut Ave and then Woodlands Road to Bukit Panjang Plaza where we had lunch. Our seventh member met up with us here.

Rail Mall to Spooner Road

The Interlace

After our lunch break of 30min we walked along Upper Bukit Timah Road until the Rail Mall where we finally returned to the Rail Corridor proper. Here the trail had been improved with red hardened and widened surfaces all the way to Spooner Road where the trail ends for now. Eventually this would end at Tanjong Pagar when the Circle Line Cantonment Station is completed. The hardened trail can take both hikers and cyclists and wide enough for 3 hikers abreast.

At the Rail Mall is the heritage iron bridge crossing Upper Bukit Timah Road. This stretch of the rail corridor all the way to Holland Road is the most natural as it runs beside the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve part of the way. One can observe the wild life and hear the call of a wide variety of birds. Just after Rifle Range Road is another historic iron bridge.

Masjid Hang Jebat

In the early days when the rail corridor was opened the trail was just earth and wild grass without the railway track, the sleepers and the granite stone base. It was difficult walking as certain areas would be worn down collecting water so there were many muddy patches.

Some members left near Beauty World Centre due to other commitments. Soon we walked past Buona Vista, Biopolis and Alexandra Hospital. In an earlier walk we visited the Lost Ark which is accessible from a path near Masjid Hang Jebat.

Station Singapura

Eventually the rain reduced to a drizzle and finally stopped. As it was getting late in the day we observed more people out hiking or cycling as we neared the end of the trail. Just past the access to Spooner Road is a building bearing the name of the station Singapura that the trains would be approaching in the old days. Spooner Road was also where the railway staff used to live and where goods were loaded on to the railway cars. Here too was where the engines were turned around manually for the next trip up north.

We ended our walk at about 6pm. The Kampong Bahru Interchange is at Spooner Road a convenient place for us to catch a ride home.

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GPS Track

Clementi Forest and the Jurong Railway Track

 

Iconic Trees of Clementi Forest

Since Brice Li shared his drone video of the Clementi Forest several months ago, hordes of hikers both local and foreign have descended on its trails during weekends. Because of the monsoon rain we waited until January to explore the trail. So far we walked the trails twice. The first time we did it, we started from Clementi Road opposite Ngee Ann Polytechnic where there is a stream going eastward towards the Rail Corridor. We just followed the path created by past hikers which generally follows the stream. When we reached the Rail Corridor we took another path that led to the railway track and followed the trail all the way to Sunset Way. The second time we reversed the direction of the walk starting from Sunset Way back to the Rail Corridor and then the trail along the stream to Clementi Road.

Fallen trees in Clementi Forest

Maju Forest 

This post describes the second walk. We started the walk from Clementi Mall and walked along Clementi Ave 4 and crossed over the Ulu Pandan River to Sunset Way where we turned left to explore the neighbourhood. Just before Sunset Vale we were stopped by a consultant who advised us to turn back because of resurfacing of road. So back along Sunset Way we walked. After walking under the railway track we turned left toward the railway track. We located the trail that would lead us back to the railway track and walked along it. Some people referred to this part of the forest as the Maju Forest as Maju Camp is located nearby and some have served their National Service there. 

There were red tags at intervals to guide us on the right path. Eventually we reached the top of a slope where we had to climb down. Here someone had graciously tied a rope to help us climb down. We reached back to the railway track and walked along it. The going wasn't too difficult occasionally having to step over tree trunks or go off track. As the weather was dry for several days it was not muddy as before. 

Jurong Railway Track

Clementi Forest 

Eventually we reached the tunnel under Clementi Road. Here we came across a film crew resting during lunch period. They were probably students doing a project as they were a large number and about that age. They were resting during their lunch break. Here we seniors were actively scrambling up the slope to check out a track seen on a YouTube video. At the road level we walked northward. After about 80 meters we located a track and followed it as it turned inward into Clementi Forest. The track widened eventually and we saw marks of a tracked vehicle. There were some yellow painted pipes stuck in the ground presumably left in the ground after a soil investigation. A mango tree was just fruiting leaving a large number of ripe fruits on the ground. The track did not lead anywhere so we retraced our steps back to the tunnel where we planned to continue with our walk. 

So back to the film crew and down to the tunnel. There was some water by the rail tracks but it was no obstacle. Near the middle of the route the tracks were water logged and hikers had to climb onto the higher level to bypass them. This stretch provided some excitement and required concentration. Finally we exited the trail back to the earth track. It was then a short distance to the Rail Corridor.

Stream Opposite Ngee Ann

We had a water break and then returned to the forest again this time to walk along the stream with the surrounding providing the backdrop for many videos featuring drone shots. After a short distance in we came to the side stream that blocked our way temporarily. This time it was easier to climb the slope. The rest of the trail was easy except we had to be careful to avoid twisting our ankle or miss our footing and drop down the banks of the stream. Finally we arrived at the Clementi Road entrance. A man on a bike was curious about the route difficulty as he planned to do the trek also. We ended our walk at Beauty World for a distance of 8 km.

 Related Posts

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Railway Track from Mandai to Bukit Timah Station

Railway Track from Bukit Timah Station to Tanjong Pagar Station 

The Route

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