Walking the Green Corridor Former KTM Railway Track

Near Jalan Jelita

KTM Railway Track
We witnessed the last afternoon run of the KTM train from Singapore to Johor Sentral in 2011. That was a nostalgic ride. The cabins were full and passengers were hanging out to wave to passersby like us who were walking the track. One of us almost got knocked down as he underestimated the width of the carriage vis-a-vis the track. It was time to revisit the former KTM railway track now called the Green Corridor or the Rail Corridor.

Near Biopolis

So what has changed. The metal tracks and sleepers are gone except those at the Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah Stations and the iron bridges near Rifle Range Road and The Rail Mall. The bridge across Hillview Road was removed and also those at Junction 10 and the Mandai River.

Now the former railway track is more a grass covered trail for hikers and cyclists to travel along as they enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

We walked the Green Corridor in two stages. The first one was from Bukit Timah Station southward to Tanjong Pagar Station and the second from Bukit Timah Station northward to the Mandai River. At the Tanjong Pagar Station a fence just after the Kg Bahru Flyover prevented us from reaching the station.

Cyclists on the trail

Bukit Timah Station to Tanjong Pagar Station
The day we walked this trail was Hari Raya, a public holiday. We expected and saw more hikers, runners and cyclists then usual but it was still generally quiet. The trail condition was dry except for a few wet patches but nothing to complain about. The obstruction by vehicles reported in the news forum were now cleared. There was planting of some young trees along the side to hide the road traffic so there were some construction vehicles around.

Because of the overcast sky providing cool weather, we were motivated to walk all the way from Bukit Timah Station (near the iron bridge across Bukit Timah Road) to Alexandra Village Food Centre without a break. We left the trail near Block 1002 to get to the food centre. After that we continued on to the end of the trail just before the Tanjong Pagar Station. Access to the station was blocked by a fence to prevent vandalism. We left the trail at a path just next to the Kg Bahru Flyover and headed for the New Bridge Road Bus Terminal to take the bus home.

Bukit Timah Bridge

Bukit Timah Station to Kranji
Again we started off from the iron bridge across Bukit Timah Road and walked along the trail that borders the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. This is the most 'close to nature' part of the trail due to its nearness to the reserve and wildlife knows no boundaries. As we walked along we could hear the calls of the birds and see the flitting of the butterflies and the foliage growing closer to us.

Very soon we passed the bridge near the Rail Mall and had to descend to road level at Hillview Road as the bridge over this road was removed. We found a path on the left that led us down (see GPS track below) then we crossed the road and accessed the trail again on the other side. One could either climb up the steep slope from the road or walk around the slope to the right to get to a more gentle path to the trail.

Cut Lallang

The lallang had grown taller to man-height and resembled a corn field. Luckily we came after they did some pruning so our path was unobstructed.

At Junction 10 we had a break then proceeded to walk the rest of the trail. We returned to the trail through the heavy-vehicle park north of Junction 10. The heavy-vehicle park is separated from the trail by a drain and vegetation but there are several places where one can get through.

Mandai River Bridge

We were stopped at the Mandai River. Here they built a dormitory for foreign workers on the bank of the river and there is a brightly coloured bridge that allowed workers to access Woodlands Road. We made use of this to get to Woodlands Road, then turned right toward Kranji station from where we took the train home.

Related Posts

Rail Corridor

Railway Track from Mandai to Bukit Timah Station
Railway Track from Bukit Timah Station to Tanjong Pagar Station

Railway Track from Bukit Timah Station to Tanjong Pagar Station

As it was the last day for train service from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands we decided to walk the track from Bukit Timah Station to Tanjong Pagar Station.

After an early lunch at Bukit Timah Food Centre next to Pei Wah Ave, we walked along Bukit Timah Road southward towards the Bukit Timah Station. Accessed it by turning right just before the railway truss bridge which spanned across Bukit Timah Road.

Approaching Bukit Timah Station

At the Bukit Timah Station, we were greeted by a group of rail enthusiasts who were waiting to photograph the passing of the 1pm train from Tanjong Pagar Station.

A work trolley coming in from Tanjong Pagar

A work trolley came by to remove the mileage sign from the station. We waited a while to see what was happening but eventually we moved on along the trail beside the railway track.

Finally saw the train just after Holland Road with passengers in a heightened sense of history. One of them almost made the news as he was clinging to the outside of the carriage.

After the train passed we moved onto the track proper as there was no more trail for us to walk on. We walked along the track until Alexandra Road where we got onto the roads because we got tired of treading the granite stones. Walking on the stones and sleepers was uncomfortable but manageable but after a few kilometres we had enough for the day - also we were not sure of the reception at Tanjong Pagar Station as CIQ was still in force and we were technically on Malaysian soil as a quirk of history have their CIQ at Tanjong Pagar Station deep within Singapore. This would be moved to Woodlands after midnight.

The last 1.30pm train from Tanjong Pagar

The same work trolley passed us on its way south and later it returned having completed its chores. 

The 3.30pm from Johor Bahru came from behind as we continued our walk. Along the way we passed the remains of a dog skeleton, a dead monitor lizard and also a snake.

At Alexandra Road, we climbed up the slope on the left bank to surface at the road crossing. From here we continued along Depot Road, Lower Delta Road and Kampong Bahru Road. At Keppel Road, we took a bus and alighted 2 bus stops later at the Tanjong Pagar Station. Here we found crowds of nostalgia seeking people waiting for the next train to leave for Johor Bahru.

At Tanjong Pagar Station

It was a historic walk. Crowds of camera-totting well-wishers were at both stations and small groups along the route where there were easy access such as road crossings or shortcuts made by frequent users. Both bystanders and rail staff and passengers waved as they passed each other, realizing the historic significance of the day. There was an air of excitement and some vendors were merrily selling rail and station souvenirs. Those armed with cameras were busy clicking away at anything and everything. Sometimes they get in each other's way but they happily give way.

Railway Track from Bukit Timah to Tanjong Pagar video.


Related Posts

Rail Corridor

Railway Track from Mandai to Bukit Timah Station

Walking the Green Corridor Former KTM Railway Track

Route

Map data ©2020 Google

Must see blogs:
Most entertaining and informative rail blog http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/
Chun See's blog on Singapore's past http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/