The Rail [And Green] Corridor
I am sure you've heard quite a bit about The Green Corridor but what about The Rail Corridor? The difference is in its name itself.
The Green Corridor campaign was conceived when Green enthusiasts were concerned about having our historical train tracks permanently removed to make way for future commercial developments. These train routes are now made into walking or biking trails where you walk on dirt tracks instead of train tracks. The Green Walk.
The Rail Corridor, on the other hand, refers to small stretches of the walking trail with the original train tracks kept preserved in its original condition for that nostalgic reason we Singaporeans so appreciate.
We had not been following the news closely after the cessation of the Railway Lines from Singapore to Malaysia after 1st of July 2011 and weren't really clear about the differences between the Green and Rail Corridors until last Sunday itself. I did a quick google on the internet to find these walking trails and was excited to learn that the Holland Road to Buona Vista route [near my house] is opened to public!
With the kids awake as early as 7am, regardless of a school day or weekend, we headed straight [skipping breakfast] to Ghim Moh in search for that train track. Ignorance got the better of us and we arrived to a dirt track of a walking trail with no train tracks to walk on. Mom has got to do her research properly the next time we embark on an adventure like this!
We had seen many photographs of the train tracks still intact, with a cast iron bridge even! Now where is that? Luckily we've got daddy who had been observant on the roads during his drives. He remembers that cast iron bridge the crosses the roads overhead at Rail Mall.
It was not a difficult hike to get to this Rail Mall train track. Not a hike at all. We did not have to walk miles on end just to arrive at the iconic cast iron bridge. In fact, it is just there at the doorstep of the entrance to this Rail Corridor.
How To Get There: Look for Springleaf Prata at The Rail Mall and the entrance is right there.
Today, we have 8 walking routes to embark on with family and friends, enjoying a scenic green of mix secondary forest growth, grasslands, marshlands and canals along the way:
1. Sungei Kadut Avenue to Woodlands Road
2. Sungei Kadut Avenue to Choa Chu Kang Road
3. Choa Chu Kang Road to Rail Mall
4. Rail Mall to Bukit Timah Train Station [Rail Corridor]
5. Bukit Timah Train Station to Holland Road [Rail Corridor]
6. Holland Road to Buona Vista
7. Buona Vista to Queensway Road
8. Jalan Hang Jebat to Kampong Bahru
We spent some time munching on tidbits and photographing our experience while we were there. Many walkers, joggers, bikers and Pokemon trainers [there's a Pokemon Gym on the bridge] passed our way, every one soaking in some history as they go about their exercise regime.
I would like to do a couple walk one day without the children to visit the Bukit Timah Railway Station. We heard that the tracks there are still intact just like those at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station with a cast iron bridge and a conserved station building, an open-sided single-storey brick building with an open platform. Easier to be reached via King Albert Park [see map], we found out that this bridge is a little harder to get to though and the reason why I prefer to visit this site without the kids. So unless you are going for a big hike, visit the bridge at Rail Mall instead for a similar experience.
Will you consider this a family outing one weekend when you have nothing on your schedule? Oh do bring along a mozzie repellent just in case.
The Rail Corridor, on the other hand, refers to small stretches of the walking trail with the original train tracks kept preserved in its original condition for that nostalgic reason we Singaporeans so appreciate.
We had not been following the news closely after the cessation of the Railway Lines from Singapore to Malaysia after 1st of July 2011 and weren't really clear about the differences between the Green and Rail Corridors until last Sunday itself. I did a quick google on the internet to find these walking trails and was excited to learn that the Holland Road to Buona Vista route [near my house] is opened to public!
With the kids awake as early as 7am, regardless of a school day or weekend, we headed straight [skipping breakfast] to Ghim Moh in search for that train track. Ignorance got the better of us and we arrived to a dirt track of a walking trail with no train tracks to walk on. Mom has got to do her research properly the next time we embark on an adventure like this!
We had seen many photographs of the train tracks still intact, with a cast iron bridge even! Now where is that? Luckily we've got daddy who had been observant on the roads during his drives. He remembers that cast iron bridge the crosses the roads overhead at Rail Mall.
It was not a difficult hike to get to this Rail Mall train track. Not a hike at all. We did not have to walk miles on end just to arrive at the iconic cast iron bridge. In fact, it is just there at the doorstep of the entrance to this Rail Corridor.
How To Get There: Look for Springleaf Prata at The Rail Mall and the entrance is right there.
Today, we have 8 walking routes to embark on with family and friends, enjoying a scenic green of mix secondary forest growth, grasslands, marshlands and canals along the way:
1. Sungei Kadut Avenue to Woodlands Road
2. Sungei Kadut Avenue to Choa Chu Kang Road
3. Choa Chu Kang Road to Rail Mall
4. Rail Mall to Bukit Timah Train Station [Rail Corridor]
5. Bukit Timah Train Station to Holland Road [Rail Corridor]
6. Holland Road to Buona Vista
7. Buona Vista to Queensway Road
8. Jalan Hang Jebat to Kampong Bahru
We spent some time munching on tidbits and photographing our experience while we were there. Many walkers, joggers, bikers and Pokemon trainers [there's a Pokemon Gym on the bridge] passed our way, every one soaking in some history as they go about their exercise regime.
I would like to do a couple walk one day without the children to visit the Bukit Timah Railway Station. We heard that the tracks there are still intact just like those at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station with a cast iron bridge and a conserved station building, an open-sided single-storey brick building with an open platform. Easier to be reached via King Albert Park [see map], we found out that this bridge is a little harder to get to though and the reason why I prefer to visit this site without the kids. So unless you are going for a big hike, visit the bridge at Rail Mall instead for a similar experience.
Will you consider this a family outing one weekend when you have nothing on your schedule? Oh do bring along a mozzie repellent just in case.
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A stay at home mum, blogging to widen her social life.
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.
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