4 April 2012 - The former Bukit Timah Railway Station (BTRS) and Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (TPRS) have received much public interest since last year. They were on the land formerly occupied by the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) which has reverted to the State. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has completed removal works along the former railway land, which has been levelled and turfed end of 2011.

2. Over the past few months, SLA has received several requests from the public to use the former BTRS and TPRS for community events, sports activities and exhibitions. SLA is pleased to announce that the former BTRS and TPRS are now open to individuals and organisations for ad-hoc activities and events, subject to SLA’s terms and conditions.

3. It is hoped that such activities and events will inject vibrancy and life to the two buildings and the surrounding area. Both the TPRS and the BTRS are a part of Singapore’s heritage, with the former being gazetted as a national monument, while BTRS has been conserved.

4. The inaugural event to be staged at the former TPRS is the Female and Nuyou Magazines’ joint fashion event “Female Nuyou Catwalk 2012” on 25 April with 400 invited guests.

5. Said Ms Diana Lee, General Manager, Fashion & Beauty, SPH Magazines, “We chose the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station as an event site because of its unique heritage. We are pleased to be given the opportunity to hold the very first event here. TPRS has a wonderful ambience where we can see the blending of the new (fashion) and the old (heritage). “

6. Other events being planned include exhibitions and art performances.

7. In September last year, the former Bukit Timah Railway Station and railway land 1.4km southwards from the steel bridge along Bukit Timah Road was opened to the public. In January 2012, SLA identified three sites along the Rail Corridor and adjacent vacant state land for interim community use. These are located near Jalan Hang Jebat, Ghim Moh Road and Kampong Bahru Flyover. Currently, improvement works are being carried out at these sites, which have been cordoned off for safety reasons, and will be progressively opened from April 2012. The public will be able to enjoy free access to these sites for recreational activities until such time when the land is required for development.

Development plans for the Rail Corridor

8. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is undertaking a comprehensive review of development plans for the former railway stations, railway land and their surrounding areas. As part of its review, URA will study the proposal to maintain a continuous green link along the Rail Corridor while balancing the need for development. The URA has been engaging the public and interest groups on the future use of the Rail Corridor. The most recent event was the launch of an Ideas Competition which was intended to draw innovative and fresh new ideas from the public in addressing some of the key challenges and issues in planning for the Rail Corridor. URA continues to value public input and suggestions on the Rail Corridor through our website. For the latest news, please log onto http://www.ura.gov.sg/railcorridor.

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Issued by:
The Singapore Land Authority
4 April 2012

About SLA
Singapore Land Authority (SLA) is a statutory board with the Ministry of Law. Its mission is to optimise land resources for the economic and social development of Singapore. SLA is responsible for the direct management of some 14,000 hectares of State land and about 5,000 buildings. It is also in charge of land sales, leases, acquisitions and allocation, developing and marketing land-related information, and maintaining the national land information database through digitised land information services. SLA is also the national land registration authority for property transactions, and the issuance and guarantee of land titles in Singapore. It also manages and maintains the national land survey system, including the defining of boundaries or legal limits of properties based on a coordinated cadastre survey system. For more details, visit www.sla.gov.sg.