The Railway Corridor
Last weekend we decided to go for a walk and the boys cycled along the old KTM railway tracks. Since KTM trains stopped running to Tanjong Pagar, families are treating the railway tracks as a must-visit nature spot during weekends!
For many many years, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd’s (KTM) train services ran from Woodlands to Tanjung Pagar till 2011, when the Malaysian and Singapore government agreed to exchange/swap some assets: Water, KTM Track and Main Station, Land, etc.
What used to be the train track and sleeper woods has since mostly been removed.
Left behind and preserved for memory sake are the Main Station at Tanjong Pagar, some bridges and small stretch of tracks. The tracks were removed and returfed, leaving behind a nice 'green belt'. We are lucky this stretch ran near our home and we've been visiting it with our boys.
In land scarce and urbanized Singapore, it's really very hard to find such green and tranquil stretches.
Jon emphasizes a lot about letting our 2 young boys enjoy nature.
Hopefully this railway corridor will remain for a long time and without further development.
The bridge over Upper Bukit Timah road that was kept intact. It's right in front of Rail Mall.
It attracts many visitors and we often see photos being snapped, and snapped........
The best way is to enter from Rail Mall and walk the stretch. You can finish your hike by cooling down/ eating at the many eateries in Rail Mall.
Mimosa plant. Boys had good time discovering the leaves fold up when we touch them.
We spent quite some time as the boys were very amazed.
I'm sure you remember this when you were growing up?
What's left of the railway track. From it's wider width where trains used to roll along every few hours, it's now become a narrow walking path.
Boys loving the nature. Do listen out to the different sounds from nature: the animals/ birds/ insects.
The boys have seen monkeys, many birds and insects.
Ryan and Jon also spotted and chased a monitor lizard at another stretch near Dairy Farm estate.
How time flies. We used to hear the trains run along the track. It was a daily affair and you could hear from a distance the engine sound chugging away.
Jon used to bring Ryan walking on the tracks, and watch the train travel past.
Ryan loved it very much. Too bad Aidan didn't have the opportunity to see this.
I guess this is part of urbanization and development. I also hope the authorities preserve it.
So don't waste time and do bring your family for a walk, before it all disappears! ............and you can invite us to join you......
This trip, Aidan didn't last very long.
As usual, daddy's sweetie pie was feeling too hot under the sun, thirsty and most importantly, Hungry!!
Jon and Ryan continued cycling while Aidan and I turned back and he had fun walking on the tracks.
My baby wearing his favourite Elephant t-shirt.
