The Old Jurong KTM Railway Line stretched from Jurong Industrial Estate to Teban Gardens, connecting to Faber Drive, then Clementi/Sunset Way via the iconic railway bridge across Sungei Ulu Pandan, into Maju Forest, followed by the railway tunnel below Clementi Road, connecting across to Clementi Forest and eventually connecting with the Old KTM Railway Line near Old Bukit Timah KTM Railway Station that travels from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands via Bukit Timah.

While the Old Jurong KTM Railway Line has less publicity and limelight since this route was a train freight transport route and not a passenger transport route, this sector stopped its train services in the late 80s, this area had been quiet since then, till the Old KTM Railway Line land area was returned back to Singapore in 2011 and they returned back into the limelight.

Jurong Town Hall Road Park Connector

A new Jurong Town Hall Road Park Connector Network (PCN) would connect Jurong Lake Gardens to Old Jurong Line Nature Trail along Jurong Town Hall Road. Based on the map provided by NParks in the CNA and ST news article, Jurong Town Hall Road PCN connects to the start point of the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail at the junction of Jurong Town Hall Road and Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), part of the original Old KTM Jurong Railway Line route. 

Old Jurong Line Nature Trail

This segment is probably one of my earliest photography documentation that I started on green spaces, history, heritage and old places in Singapore. With the Canon EOS R7 that I was reviewing, I continued on photographing and documenting with this new Canon APS-C mirrorless camera, bringing it out for my exploration projects.

From the railway bridge at Sungei Ulu Pandan along AYE, the former Old KTM Jurong Railway line travels along Faber Drive towards Clementi Avenue 6 and Clementi Avenue 4, connecting to the Old Jurong Line railway bridge towards Sunset Way, continuing on towards the Maju Forest via another small old railway bridge, followed by the Old KTM Jurong Railway Line Train Tunnel below Clementi Road, connecting across to Clementi Forest and eventually connecting to the Rail Corridor.

I would be very interested to see how this Old Jurong Line Nature Trail would eventually turns out when it’s completed. Based on the map provided by NParks in the CNA and ST news article, the route follows along the original former Old KTM Jurong Line that runs through private and public housing estates. 

The Sungei Ulu Pandan PCN runs parallel along the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail, they would fit in nicely together with the upcoming Old Jurong Line Nature Trail. I would continue to document and provide updates whenever I am able to.

Clementi Forest Nature Trail / Dover Forest 

The Clementi Forest is part of the Green Corridor sector, the Dover Forest sector is closely connected to the Green Corridor due to its location and connectivity. They were also in the news together with the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail announcement by NParks in years 2021 and 2022. The Clementi Forest Stream was also in the media limelight recently with nature surveys being conducted.

The Dover Forest sector that forms part of the Clementi Forest Nature Trail via the Ulu Pandan Park Connector, linking up with the new nature park in Ulu Pandan West. Also in the news, a segment of the Dover Forest would be used for public housing project. This sector has also generated significant interest in recent years. 

I would be writing more about the Clementi Forest Nature Trail and Dover Forest sectors in another article that I documented and photographed using the Canon EOS R7 camera.

Photography Collection

Over the years of photographing the Green Corridor/Rail Corridor and Old KTM Jurong Line, I have a collection of photo albums on Flickr, titled “The Green Corridor”. I have also decided to reorganise my previous, recent and upcoming documentation photos into a new consolidated photo album titled, “Old Jurong Line Nature Trail”

Continuing My Ongoing Documentation

I would still be continuing my ongoing documentation of the upcoming Old Jurong Line Nature Trail, Clementi Forest Nature Trail and the Green Corridor. Do keep a lookout for my articles and photographs that I would be sharing down the road, updates, developments and changes as the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail and Clementi Forest Nature Trail undergo changes to become a part of Singapore’s park extensive PCN.

Singapore’s park connector networks (PCN) is a hugely underrated project by our Singapore Government, connecting our various nature parks, rivers, parks, green areas in a network that can be easily accessible by walking, cycling, running and public transport. The PCN network would be on my list of travel, landscapes, nature and wildlife photography and sharing in my future articles. 

 A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R7 Explorer Series Production

Official news sources: 

July 2021 – NParks announces the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail as part of the 18km green recreational network within the new Clementi Nature Corridor

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks-corporate/news/2021/7/nparks-announces-the-old-jurong-line-nature-trail-as-part-of-the-18-km-green-recreational-network-within-the-new-clementi-nature-corridor 

August 2022 – Clementi Forest Nature Trail to be enhanced, public helps with nature survey  

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/clementi-forest-nature-trail-to-be-enhanced-public-helps-with-nature-survey

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I still vividly remembered the Green Corridor a.k.a known as the Rail Corridor, exploring the route with my friends, photographing the train tracks and surroundings before the tracks were removed. It’s now a Green Corridor route, great for both hikers, bikers, runners and outdoor enthusiasts.

In the year 2015, the Singapore Land Authority decided that they wanted Singaporeans to enjoy the historical former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, the Singapore Land Authority will open the State property to the public on public holidays, it started on 20th February 2015 during Chinese New Year 2015. It was great to see this historical monument opened up to the public to relive, enjoy and share the history, culture, significance and memories behind it.

Visiting the Tanjong Pagar Railway Open House on 1st May 2015 during the Labour Day holiday, it felt good to be back into the historical former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Many memories flowed back to the time when I was documenting and photographing them with fellow photographer friends. It was good to see people, from young to the elderly, visiting Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. I can even hear story telling, by the parents to their children, on how the train station was like, how it was operating and where the trains pulled into the station’s platforms. These are the memories and stories that we need to Pass It On to the next generations and beyond.

Walking down the remaining Tanjong Pagar Railway tracks at the railway station, most of the tracks were gone. What we left were memories in our hearts, mind, soul and photographs that I documented and curated over the years.

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The Green Corridor Run 2014, a unique trail run that starts from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to Bukit Timah Railway Station, over a distance of 10.5km surrounded by the natural green environment and the Singapore heartlands. In their 2^nd year, it was great to see a great turnout of runners running in the Green Corridor running singlet and the runners blend themselves beautifully with the beautiful greenery of the Green Corridor/Rail Corridor. I was at the Kampung Bahru Road flyover and photographed the first and second wave of Green Corridor Run runners running out from the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station area and it was a nice sea of green runners among the greenery! The weather during the Green Corridor Run 2014 was very wet and kudos to the runners for completing the run in very wet and muddy conditions!

I wasn’t able to cover the Green Corridor Run 2014 from the Tanjong Pagar towards the end point at Bukit Timah Railway Station due to a clash of schedules, like what I did in the Green Corridor Run 2013. However, I hope that my small contribution in sharing about the Green Corridor Run 2014 and some photographs from the Green Corridor Run 2014 would encourage future Green Corridor runners to join! I also hope that more people would continue to love and explore our Green Corridor/Rail Corridor for leisure and recreational activities, along with the history and culture of the KTM Railway operations in Singapore.

I personally feel that the Green Corridor Run is great and suits the Green Corridor perfectly! Let’s keep the Green Corridor Run going in the years ahead and beyond! Let’s keep the Green Corridor status quo and an area for outdoor recreation, fun, healthy living and leisure activities!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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When the news regarding the return of the KTM Railway land back to Singapore, I started photographing and documenting the Green Corridor before the last day of the KTM Railway operations, the changes and developments thereafter. It was a humbling and enriching journey since I grew up near the Old Jurong Line at Clementi during my primary school days and my secondary school was beside Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (10 years near/beside the KTM operations). Even though I did not take the KTM trains, they had been a part of my growing up life. Therefore, I had a strong interest in the Green Corridor and would continue to lend my support in terms of photographing and documenting my exploration stories. Do check out my Flickr collection on the Green Corridor.

The Green Corridor Run was a great idea to push forward the agenda that the Green Corridor to be preserved and used for outdoor recreational activities such as running, cycling and trekking. Starting from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to Bukit Timah Railway Station, over a distance of 10.5km, running pass the HDB heartlands and lush greenery along the former KTM Railway tracks route. I confessed that I was planning to sign up and run in the Green Corridor Run 2013 but I didn’t manage to sign up in time when the run reached their quota number of participants. Therefore, I went photographing at different segments of the Green Corridor Run starting from Buona Vista MRT station, overhead bridge near Ghim Moh HDB estate, bridge near Cold Storage Jelita at Holland Road, and finally Bukit Timah Railway Station. It was a sunny day with clear blue skies, while the weather was hot today, it was great for the Green Corridor Run!

Looking at the number of runners participating in the Green Corridor Run, it was really good to see and feel that Green Corridor has the potential to be a outdoor playground for Singaporeans to enjoy, relax, keep fit and healthy, enjoy the lush greenery and fresh air. The runners also stopped along the route to take photographs for memories sake. At the Bukit Timah Railway Station, the runners were happily taking photographs at the Bukit Timah Railway Station, the partial railway tracks that were preserved and the bridge across Bukit Timah Road/Dunearn Road. There were even people queuing up to take photographs with the Bukit Timah Railway Station signboard!  Nature Society Singapore (NSS) is the official charity partner and I had a good time catching up with the friendly folks from NSS, Kwok Peng and Hang Chong at the end point marquee, along with Eugene Tay from We Support The Green Corridor.

With a maiden and successful start, let us all make the Green Corridor a haven for everybody to relax, enjoy, exercise, keep fit and healthy, have fun, leisure and recreation among the lush greenery,  conservation and protection of the rich flora and fauna that Green Corridor is part of, the rich heritage, history and culture of the KTM Railway operations in Singapore.

That is why the Green Corridor is very important to Singapore and deserves to be preserved as it is, for the future generations.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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On the 1st July 2012, the public was once again allowed to revisit the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Bukit Timah Railway Station, rekindling their memorie and passion. Besides that, there were nature walks from Bukit Timah Railway Station to Old Holland Road or towards Tanjong Pagar Railway Station for the more adventurous ones. This wonderful and meaningful event is organised by Friends of the Rail Corridor and Nature Society (Singapore).

I started to look back in time when my friends and myself were exploring, photographing and documenting the KTM Railway and the Old Jurong Railway line,

– (Abandoned) Railway Track Photo Walkabout 

– (Abandoned) Railway Track (Part 2) Photo Walkabout 

– Railway Track Exploration Part 3 – Bukit Timah To Ten Mile Junction

– So Long! Farewell! The Last Train from KTM Tanjong Pagar

– A Goodbye (Thank You) Walk to the Railway Tracks

– Old Jurong Line Update 1 – Teban Gardens to Sunset Way

– Bukit Timah Railway Station to Holland Road (Bridge)

These photojournalistic trekking adventures gave me many beautiful memories and photographs (some were sad too) with my friends who were just as enthusiastic, adventurous and making a difference to document and share the last months leading to the return of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, Bukit Timah Railway Station and the railway land/tracks back to Singapore.

On the Rail Corridor Open Day 2012, I trekked along from Bukit Timah Railway Station towards Ghim Moh HDB estate area before  leaving for Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. While I did not trek from Bukit Timah Railway Station to Tanjong Pagar Railway  Station, I might do it one day in the future with my friends. The lush greenery and vegetation were still as beautiful and mostly untouched. The weather was great with clear blue skies and beautiful sunshine. The participants were treated to great sharing on the flora and fauna by the volunteer guides from Nature Society Singapore along with bird watching too!

At the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station Open House, the activities started in the afternoon and the visitors were allowed to explore the main hall and platform freely. There were screening of documentaries – Platform 1932, wonderful nostalgic photography and memories sharing by Darren Soh and Jerome Lim. Thereafter, there was also a guided tour on Tanjong Pagar Railway Station architecture and history by Dr Lai Chee Kien. Check out Jerome’s post on the Rail Corridor Open Day too!

I took this wonderful and grateful opportunity to explore and photograph those places that you will most likely unable to access them when the Tanjong Pagar KTM Railway Station was in operation, those of the train operations offices, warehouses, immigration customs booths, and kitchens that served very delicious food. The main hall, the ticket counter, the artwork, the platforms and railway tracks were photographed once again, same old place, quite a lot of difference 1 year later.

At 5pm on 1st July 2012, the metal grille gates to the platform were closed again. However, the metal grille gates “resisted” and seemed that they do not want to be “closed” again, they were not allowing the security officers to close them easily before they were closed tight. This omen was spotted by Jerome, who highlighted to me and it was probably sending a message that the Grand Old Dame, our Tanjong Pagar Railway Station wants to be back to her glory days again. When and how will this happen, change and metamorphosis, the supporters, Friends of the Rail Corridor, Nature Society Singapore and We Support The Green Corridor , would be there to welcome her back in operation (without the trains though)

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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This exhibition is known as The LAST Train, a KTM Tanjong Pagar Railway Photo Exhibition, documenting the days, people and action leading up towards the final countdown of the end of the KTM Railway services at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Documented and curated by Zann Huizhen Huang, I was brought through her photojournalistic journey of the KTM Railway through her photographs displayed at her exhibition. When I visited the exhibition on the Saturday, 17th September in the afternoon, I was lucky to meet with Zann Huizhen Huang in person, (very well traveled and talented photojournalist, with a big heart for social cause) and I had a very interesting and engaging conversation with her, sharing our experiences and thoughts, on two topics closest to us photojournalists, the KTM railway and photojournalism, I shared her passion, photographs and thoughts on the KTM railway. Do drop by the facebook page on The LAST Train for more information. For more information on Zann’s Huizhen Huang portfolio and bio, check out her website!

There was a great coincidence that I found myself captured in one of her photograph, on the last day of the KTM railway operations on 30th June 2011,  here’s my post to refresh on the final day of the KTM railway operations at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station! I do strongly encourage you to visit The LAST Train photography exhibition and try to spot me in 1 of the photographs!

Here’s the details of The LAST Train Photography Exhibition

Venue: The Photographic Society of Singapore
Loke Wan Tho Gallery
Selegie Arts Centre
30 Selegie Road, Singapore 188351

Date: 16 Sept till 22 Sept 2011
Time: Mon – Fri 2pm to 9.30pm
Sat and Sun 12pm to 5.30pm

Admission is free.

Do drop by at The LAST Train Photography Exhibition and travel through the final days of the KTM Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, through the eyes of Zann Huizhen Huang!

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With each day counting towards the end of chapter in Singapore’s history and Malaysia’s history as well, it marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new era ahead. Many people from all walks of life gathered, remembered, reminisced, shared, trekked, taking photographs of the Grand Old Dame, her railway tracks, The Green Corridor, the traditions, heritage and history. The elderly, the parents bringing their children to know about the history of the railway tracks. The papers, social media, blogs and internet were buzzing with great interest and publicity on the KTM Railway lines and the KTM Railway Stations Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah.

Thursday 30th June 2011, on the final day of her railway operations in Singapore, it was the best to send off The Last Train Out From KTM Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in style and honour that she fully deserved, by being part of the history; to be there to remember her heritage, history and achievements, taking photographs and videos with their friends, family and loved ones, taking the last passenger train at 2200hrs out from Tanjong Pagar or the VIP train at 2300hrs driven by His Excellency, the Sultan of Johor himself, out of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, marking the end and handing over of KTM Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

A time of mixed emotions, I studied beside the KTM Tanjong Pagar Railway Station for 4 years (when I was studying at Gan Eng Seng School when it was situated at Raeburn Park) and the railway line situated behind Clementi HDB estate and Sunset Way Railway Bridge (when I was studying at Clementi North Primary School whereby it was situated at Clementi Avenue 6). With this closure, what lies ahead ? For the railway stations in Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah, we know they will be preserved for our history and heritage, how about the beautiful Green Corridor? Only time will tell …

I will not forget about them and did not choose to remember it just because it was near to the end of her long service, it’s for the memories that I grew up with that is unique to me and maybe others too.

Lest We Forget, the KTM Railway in Singapore, let the photographs continue telling the stories from here ….

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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