SG Lost Railways (Episode 1) - Tank Road-Kranji Railway
Disclaimer: The following article was produced over the course of 2 weeks. During the production of this article, there were various implementations of heightened measures due to a second wave of cases here in Singapore. All explorations and videos filmed were on 14 May 2021. Before stricter measures were implemented. For the sake of clarity, the dates of writing are shown in Purple at the beginning of each paragraph.
Lastly, I urge everyone to follow any measures imposed by your respective Government. Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!
10 May 2021
Ever since the British first colonised Singapore in 1819, they always wanted to link Singapore with our neighbour to the north, Malaysia. Plans were drafted and made until 108 years later when the Causeway opened, linking Woodlands (north section of Singapore) to Johore Bahru (south section of Malaysia). And with that came a new train line. But before the 1932 train line was built (article for another day) there was another train line that had been operational for roughly 25 years before it closed as a replacement
(Tank Road-Kranji Railway Map from 1913. Source: NAS)
This was the Singapore-Kranji Railway. This railway had stops from Pasir Panjang, Borneo Wharf, Singapore (today Tank Road), Newton, Cluny, Holland Road, Bukit Timah, Bukit Panjang and Woodlands. The line opened in phases and the first section opened in 1903 up till 1907 and it served Singapore till the 1930s when the line from Tank Road to Bukit Timah was dismantled.
11 May 2021
(Complete Map of Tank Road-Kranji Railway. Source: searail.malayaneailways)
So why was the train line dismantled? There are of course many reasons that people can conclude for the dismantling of the railway but to understand the most common reason, let's go back to 1932.
On 3 May 1932, Sir Cecil Clementi opened Singapore's newest and technically the biggest train station, Tanjong Pagar. This shifted train traffic from the city to the outskirts. So, instead of using the old train line, they decided the construction of a new train line through Tanglin and Alexander rather than Orchard and Newton would be better. But the Tanjong Pagar Railway is a story for another time...
Old Pasir Panjang Station
Pasir Panjang Station was a hard station to find. Mostly because there is completely no official map certified by the National Archives of Singapore. In the end, I narrowed my research down to present-day Labrador Park MRT Station at the start of Berlayer Creek.
Since there was already no maps of the existence of this station, there is nothing to see here as well.
Directions: Take the Circle Line to Labrador Park and walk out via Exit A. For a 'better' view at an old non-existent station, head up the overhead bridge that links the train exit and ARC Shopping Centre and look down towards the left of the station exit. Buses include: 10, 30, 51, 61, 93, 97, 100, 120, 143, 166, 176, 188, 963.
Borneo Wharf Station
Although Borneo is 1000km away from Singapore and that there are multiple Wharves in Borneo, Borneo Wharf Station is located in Singapore. So where was this station? Well, almost 115 years later, this station has been losing its traces to history. Borneo Wharf was built between at the junction between Keppel Road which has been turned into a giant 3 lane roadway and Nelson Road, a road that has been lost to history. Nelson and Keppel Road formed a 'V' junction and between these two roads is the location of the old station. Also small fun fact, Keppel Road that ran past Borneo Wharf used to have trams and trolleybuses running on it.
Directions: Take the North-East or Circle Line to Harbourfront Station and exit via exit D and walk to the nearest bus stop. Take two bus stops down. Buses include: 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 100, 131, 145.
People's Park Station?
This is probably the most confusing station. There is NO information that I could find of this railway station. But the station is found on old maps from 1913, 1917, 1932 etc. Next, even if People's Park Station existed, there was still no 'official location'. Some sources say it used to be along Neil Road, others near Eu Tong Sen Street and the Police Cantonment Complex. But the most consistent is that the railway station used to be located near present-day Outram Park MRT and Pearl's Hill City Park. Today that area is a plain grass field.
Directions: Take the North-East or East-West or Thomson-East Coast (the Thomson-East Coast Line is currently under construction as of 2021) Line to Outram Park and exit via exit E and walk down towards Pearl Hill Terrace. Buses include: 54, 124, 143, 147, 166, 190, 851, 970.
Tank Road Station
Tank Road was originally the 'Grand Central Station' of Singapore. It was built and opened in 1907 before being dismantled in the 1930s.
There isn't much to see anymore at Tank Road that tells of an old railroad other than the grass plains except one sign on the Chruch of the Sacred Heart building that writes 'Tank Station'.
(Part of the Church of the Sacred Heart building that has on it the words 'Tank Station', a possible reference to the old Tank Road Station. Source: Farren's Personal Corner)
Before continuing on and heading north, I want to point out that where the old Tank Road Station used to stand, was also the location of where the old National Theatre used to stand as well but that got demolished in 1986.
Directions: Take the Downtown Line to Fort Canning and walk out from Exit A before crossing Clemenceau Avenue. Buses include: 32, 54, 64, 123, 139, 143, 195.
Old Newton Station
The Old Newton Station used to sit at present-day Gilstead Two Condominium along Gilstead Road. The station is entirely demolished.
But here's a fun fact, Gilstead Road was originally built on present day Dunearn Road. That's because the railway was originally on Dunearn Road and when said railway was dismantled, Dunearn Road was built in its place. And where Dunearn Road ends today at Beauty World, is the part of the railway that actually survived, today's Green Corridor.
Directions: Take the Downtown or North-South Line to Newton and exit via exit C. Cross Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road and walk towards Gilstead Road. Buses include: 5, 48, 54, 66, 67, 124, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 170, 960, 960e, 972M.
Cluny Road Station
Cluny Road Station was small station that was located directly opposite Botanic Gardens. As like most stations on the old railway, there is nothing left to see here as well. The station would have been located right on present-day College Green Hostel or Adam Road Food Centre.
Directions: Take the Downtown or Circle Line to Botanic Gardens and exit via exit A and cross the overhead bridge. Buses include: 48, 66, 67, 74, 93, 151, 153, 154, 156, 157, 170, 186, 852, 855.
Holland Road Station
As mentioned, travel in the Bukit Timah Area has vastly improved from a few bus routes, to a modern train line cutting underneath the streets. Holland Road Station though was hidden inside, far from Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road. Today, Holland Road Station is located at Old Holland Road, where, after a 7-minute walk, you get to a huge field, around this place is the approximate location of the old station
Directions: Take the Downtown Line to King Albert Park and exit via exit A before walking down Blackmore Drive until that road intersects with Old Holland Road. Buses include: 66, 67, 74, 77, 151, 154, 157, 170, 174, 852, 961, 961M, 970
Bukit Timah Station - Too Many of Them...
Now I want to spend a little more time on Bukit Timah Station so beware, the following paragraph will have a lot of 'Bukit Timah'.
The most popular Bukit Timah Station is the one on Blackmore Drive and part of the Rail Corridor and Greenway. But the Bukit Timah Station here is not the same as the one along the Rail Corridor, instead it's on another side following Bukit Timah Road. This older Bukit Timah Station is located at the junction between Bukit Timah Road and Pei Wah Avenue or further north from the one of the Rail Corridor. It was made of wood and was demolished along with every other station south of Bukit Timah Station.
'Bukit Timah' Counter: 6
As with most other stations, there is also nothing to see here. Most of the station sits on present-day Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School which moved here in 1989.
After the Tank Road Railway meets with Tanjong Pagar Railway, the tracks become more obvious, especially on Google Maps. On the image above, there is a seemingly large grass patch running along the side of certain roads. This is where the Green Corridor would have run.
Directions: Take the Downtown Line to Beauty World and exit via exit C before walking past Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre (there's some good food there) and the nearby Shell Petrol Station till you reach Pei Wah Avenue. Buses include: 41, 52, 61, 66, 67, 74, 77, 157, 170, 174, 184, 852, 961, 96M, 970, 985
Bukit Panjang Station
I understand that most of the stations talked about today has been a little bit, BORING. As most of the railway has already been destroyed and demolished. But not here at Bukit Panjang. I hereby crown this station as the station with substantial amount of evidence to prove that this was once a Railway Station. And the only thing left is the following image:
Do you see it? That's right. It's a plain field! This area here is actually part of the Green Corridor and the old Tanjong Pagar Railway. Here, the tracks of the Tank Road-Kranji Railway merges with the Tanjong Pagar ones. More on that in the Tanjong Pagar Railway article.
The flat field that sits here is filled with overgrown crops and a walkable dirt path, the approximate place of where the old tracks would have run.
Directions: Take the Downtown Line to Cashew Station and exit via exit A before crossing the main road. Buses include: 67, 170, 176, 178, 961, 961M, 963, 970.
Mandai Station
Alright. I admit defeat. After about an hour of intense research and stealing some information from The Long And Winding Road (another Singaporean blog you should really check out), I am still unable to find the exact location of the old Mandai Station. And to be honest, I feel a little guilty and defeated. So here's all the information collated into 1 paragraph...
Mandai Station is located next to Woodlands Road and by the Green Corridor. Here comes the problem. After the train line crosses Bukit Batok Road, it splits into 2 different tracks. The Green Corridor, one of the two tracks that split of, runs next to a canal or river? Worse! That train tracks splits into another 2 different tracks. Directly before that split is the location of Mandai Station but out of those two train lines, only the old Green Corridor is still around.
This narrows down the options and therefore, I conclude that Mandai Station is probably located along Sungei Kadut Avenue at a 'slightly overgrown with crops' area.
Directions: This station is only accessible by bus. Buses include: 160, 170, 178, 927, 960, 961, 961M.
Old Woodlands Station
It's one of those days when you wake up and explore an old railway only to find yourself secretly snapping some pictures of the border between Singapore and Malaysia. This is one of those days.
Let's get to the point. Yes, there is nothing left here, only two platforms used for the Tanjong Pagar Railway (story for another time).
Directions: This station is only accessible by bus. Buses include: 160, 170, 856, 903, 911, 912, 950
Conclusion
Sometimes history is a great way to not only explore your past but also to envision your future. But History is always broken. Broken into chapters meant to serve as divisions of time. When in fact history, is a throughline. We could be making history right now as I'm writing and you are reading...
Huge thanks to everyone who helped me explore this abandoned lost railway! Thank You to Zarm Zam for pointing out my love-hate relationship in school. And to everyone, please Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!
This article was written from 10-20 May 2021. All explorations where done on 14 May 2021. Stricter Measures were implemented on 18 May.
I did film some stuff on my exploration day so the following Google Album down below includes all of the pictures and videos with description. But beware, the following videos are of pure cringe...
Google Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3YnyRfgDpLBvsj7X9
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