Rail Corridor upgrade works to begin in 2018

View of the Bukit Timah Railway Station when it was in operation. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Enhancement works along the central portion of the Rail Corridor is targeted to start next year, announced the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Parks Board (NParks) on Saturday (21 October).

The 4km stretch is located between the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station and Hillview. Aside from its lush surroundings and railway heritage structures, it is frequented by visitors due to its proximity to several nature and recreational attractions.

Before commencing the enhancement works, both agencies have launched an exhibition showcasing the preliminary design for Rail Corridor (Central) so that the public can provide more feedback. The initial design was derived from proposals submitted by consultancies as well as feedback and comments obtained from the community and other stakeholders since 2011.

The exhibition is being held at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre until 29 October. Thereafter, the showcase will be held in neighbouring constituencies. The public can share their views on the initial design at the venue or online at share your thoughts until 21 December 2017.

NParks will also organise a series of volunteer-led guided walks along the Rail Corridor’s central stretch to learn about its preliminary design, biodiversity and heritage.

Enhancement works for this stretch will be carried out in phases, with trail enhancements to be finished by end-2019 and full completion by 2021. At the same time, the authorities will improve the tracks along the 24-km corridor to enhance connectivity. However, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is targeted to be re-opened by 2025 after the completion of the upcoming Cantonment MRT station.

Meanwhile, NParks unveiled new islandwide curated trails that intersect with Rail Corridor (Central).

The 36km-long Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Trail runs from Coney Island Park in the northeast to Jurong Lake Gardens in the west. Through this, the public can visit different parks, nature areas and other places of interest. From end-2018, nature enthusiasts can choose to explore the trail on their own using a do-it-yourself trail guide or mobile app.

Singapore’s Rail Corridor (Central) and the C2C Trail form the Nature Park Network (NPN), which is a 48 km network of trails that connects with the central nature parks.

This article was edited by Keshia Faculin.