Bukit Timah Railway Station
KTMB To End Train Service To Tanjong Pagar
By Nur Adila Abdul Wahab
BERNAMA KUALA LUMPUR, June 30(Bernama)
From July 1, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will end its train service to Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah in Singapore. Effective from then, the KTMB service's last stop in the island republic will be the Woodlands Train Check Point (WTCP).
Before handing Tanjong Pagar station back to Singapore's authorities, KTMB organised a 'Singapore Media Exploration' tour on 24-26, last May.
A group of 30 journalists took the opportunity to visit both stations, which bear special significance in KTMB's history in Singapore, in the years before and after the Second World War.
THE FIRST AND LAST
The writer felt a tinge of melancholy as this would be her first and last visit to the Tanjong Pagar station and Bukit Timah depot.
"History will enter a new phase after this," said KTMB's Corporate Communications Senior Manager, Mohd Fazil Ismail, during the railway trip to Singapore.
The media entourage boarded a special trolley at JB Sentral station, for the trip to Singapore. The open-side trolley is typically used to ferry workers for rail-maintenance and other tasks.
The trip to Singapore on the trolley that moved at a speed of 40 km per hour, started at 9.30am, last May 25.
BUKIT TIMAH STATION, RAILWAY DEPOT
Thirty minutes later, the trolley rolled into Bukit Timah station. The journalists were received by Bukit Timah's stationmaster, Atan Ahmad. Johor-born Atan has worked at the station for two years.
He said the station, located near King Albert Park, started operations in 1903. It operates only for the purpose of shunting of train coaches.
"We have no services for passengers at Bukit Timah station. Here, the shunting of trains is done and that is why, we only have two staff here. There are two shifts, 3am-3pm and 3pm-11pm," said Atan, who has served with KTMB for 20 years.
From July 1, Atan will start work in Johor Baharu. The media group was taken to visit the train depot, located close to the Bukit Timah station. The depot is a workshop that carries out maintenance and repair work on locomotives and coaches.
At this depot, the journalists witnessed how the 'turn table' procedure for locomotives was carried out for single-cab trains. The task needs at least two KTMB workers to perform it manually.
UNIQUE FEATURES AT TANJONG PAGAR
After spending about 30 minutes at the depot, the journalists boarded the open-sided trolley headed for Tanjong Pagar station.
This writer and other journalists were surprised by the sight of this unique railway station. Tanjong Pagar station was opened in 1932. About to 80 years old now, it still retains its old-world charm.
Its facade has neo-classical and art-deco features. The station has a large waiting area, ticket counters in the centre, and signage that uses old Malay Romanised spelling.
The waiting area has a classic barrel-vault roof, which is 72 feet high. A mural painting depicting images of 'old Malaya' decorates the station.
TWO OF THEIR KIND
Tanjung Pagar Station Master, Shamsul Bahri Sahari, 43, said this architecture was present at only two railway stations in the world - Helsinki in Finland and Tanjong Pagar, Singapore.
"Despite the fact that this railway station is located outside our country, I am still proud that it was once owned by Malaysia. I will never forget my experience in Singapore. I will tell my children and descendants that the Tanjong Pagar station once belonged to Malaysia," said Shamsul Bahari, who served at Tanjong Pagar for 15 years.
He travelled every weekend, from Tanjong Pagar to Gemas, to meet his family. Shamsul Bahari said, at exactly 11 pm on June 30, the last train will leave Singapore with all 91 KTMB employees deployed at Tanjong Pagar station and Bukit Timah depot. After years of travelling from Singapore and back, KTMB trains will stop plying from Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah, starting July 1.
============================
Singapore, Malaysia formalise land swap deal
Channel NewsAsia's Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh
27 Jun 2011 2001 hrs (GMT + 8hrs)
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Singapore have officially sealed the Points of Agreement (POA) on Malayan railway land in Singapore.
This heralds a new era in bilateral cooperation that includes the development of a rapid transit system and iconic wellness projects in southern Malaysia.
The historic signing on Monday officially marks an end to year-long negotiations on implementation details that kickstarted after the landmark announcement of the POA breakthrough by the prime ministers of both countries in May 2010.
At a short ceremony in Putrajaya, Malaysia was represented by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop, while newly-appointed Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam signed on behalf of Singapore.
The mood was jovial between the ministers and they expressed optimism that the signing will usher in a new era in bilateral cooperation.
Mr Nor Mohamed said: "It's a very happy day. It's a new beginning for us in cooperation in attracting investment. It's excellent for both countries. We are confident this is a new beginning for good cooperation and plenty of investments. Certainly, not only Iskandar will do well but the whole of Malaysia will do well because of confidence factor in attracting foreign investment.''
Mr K Shanmugam said: ''It really takes the relationship to a different level. It's win-win....for both countries and promises much more. In that sense, in every sense, it's historic moment.''
Already, Singapore's investments in the southern economic region of Iskandar have tripled to over US$1.2 billion since May last year.
Under the land swap arrangement in the written instrument signed on Monday, Malaysia was given four parcels of land in Marina South and two more in Ophir-Rochor in exchange for giving up Malayan railway land in Singapore.
A 60-40 joint venture company, called M+S Private Limited, will be set up between Malaysia's Khazanah and Singapore's Temasek to undertake the development of the land parcels in Singapore.
Another 50-50 joint venture company will be set up to develop two iconic wellness projects in Iskandar Malaysia.
Mr K Shanmugam said: "This is a very substantial commitment, this is the first 215 acres; also, don't forget the projects in Singapore which are going to be (worth) billions (of dollars); it's a very significant start.''
Under the agreement, both countries also undertake to improve connectivity by expanding the rapid transit system (RTS) from Singapore to Johor Bahru by 2018.
A joint technical group is targeting to call the tender for a consultancy study on the RTS link by the fourth quarter of 2011.
Malaysia and Singapore are also working towards resolving their differences over whether development charges are payable on three parcels of railway land in Tanjong Pagar , Kranji and Woodlands. This has been referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Separately, as a gesture of goodwill, Singapore will be handing over the waterworks to Malaysia free of charge and in good working order after the expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement. A ceremony will be held to mark the event on 31 August this year.
By Nur Adila Abdul Wahab
BERNAMA KUALA LUMPUR, June 30(Bernama)
From July 1, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will end its train service to Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah in Singapore. Effective from then, the KTMB service's last stop in the island republic will be the Woodlands Train Check Point (WTCP).
Before handing Tanjong Pagar station back to Singapore's authorities, KTMB organised a 'Singapore Media Exploration' tour on 24-26, last May.
A group of 30 journalists took the opportunity to visit both stations, which bear special significance in KTMB's history in Singapore, in the years before and after the Second World War.
THE FIRST AND LAST
The writer felt a tinge of melancholy as this would be her first and last visit to the Tanjong Pagar station and Bukit Timah depot.
"History will enter a new phase after this," said KTMB's Corporate Communications Senior Manager, Mohd Fazil Ismail, during the railway trip to Singapore.
The media entourage boarded a special trolley at JB Sentral station, for the trip to Singapore. The open-side trolley is typically used to ferry workers for rail-maintenance and other tasks.
The trip to Singapore on the trolley that moved at a speed of 40 km per hour, started at 9.30am, last May 25.
BUKIT TIMAH STATION, RAILWAY DEPOT
Thirty minutes later, the trolley rolled into Bukit Timah station. The journalists were received by Bukit Timah's stationmaster, Atan Ahmad. Johor-born Atan has worked at the station for two years.
He said the station, located near King Albert Park, started operations in 1903. It operates only for the purpose of shunting of train coaches.
"We have no services for passengers at Bukit Timah station. Here, the shunting of trains is done and that is why, we only have two staff here. There are two shifts, 3am-3pm and 3pm-11pm," said Atan, who has served with KTMB for 20 years.
From July 1, Atan will start work in Johor Baharu. The media group was taken to visit the train depot, located close to the Bukit Timah station. The depot is a workshop that carries out maintenance and repair work on locomotives and coaches.
At this depot, the journalists witnessed how the 'turn table' procedure for locomotives was carried out for single-cab trains. The task needs at least two KTMB workers to perform it manually.
UNIQUE FEATURES AT TANJONG PAGAR
After spending about 30 minutes at the depot, the journalists boarded the open-sided trolley headed for Tanjong Pagar station.
This writer and other journalists were surprised by the sight of this unique railway station. Tanjong Pagar station was opened in 1932. About to 80 years old now, it still retains its old-world charm.
Its facade has neo-classical and art-deco features. The station has a large waiting area, ticket counters in the centre, and signage that uses old Malay Romanised spelling.
The waiting area has a classic barrel-vault roof, which is 72 feet high. A mural painting depicting images of 'old Malaya' decorates the station.
TWO OF THEIR KIND
Tanjung Pagar Station Master, Shamsul Bahri Sahari, 43, said this architecture was present at only two railway stations in the world - Helsinki in Finland and Tanjong Pagar, Singapore.
"Despite the fact that this railway station is located outside our country, I am still proud that it was once owned by Malaysia. I will never forget my experience in Singapore. I will tell my children and descendants that the Tanjong Pagar station once belonged to Malaysia," said Shamsul Bahari, who served at Tanjong Pagar for 15 years.
He travelled every weekend, from Tanjong Pagar to Gemas, to meet his family. Shamsul Bahari said, at exactly 11 pm on June 30, the last train will leave Singapore with all 91 KTMB employees deployed at Tanjong Pagar station and Bukit Timah depot. After years of travelling from Singapore and back, KTMB trains will stop plying from Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah, starting July 1.
============================
Singapore, Malaysia formalise land swap deal
Channel NewsAsia's Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh
27 Jun 2011 2001 hrs (GMT + 8hrs)
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Singapore have officially sealed the Points of Agreement (POA) on Malayan railway land in Singapore.
This heralds a new era in bilateral cooperation that includes the development of a rapid transit system and iconic wellness projects in southern Malaysia.
The historic signing on Monday officially marks an end to year-long negotiations on implementation details that kickstarted after the landmark announcement of the POA breakthrough by the prime ministers of both countries in May 2010.
At a short ceremony in Putrajaya, Malaysia was represented by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop, while newly-appointed Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam signed on behalf of Singapore.
The mood was jovial between the ministers and they expressed optimism that the signing will usher in a new era in bilateral cooperation.
Mr Nor Mohamed said: "It's a very happy day. It's a new beginning for us in cooperation in attracting investment. It's excellent for both countries. We are confident this is a new beginning for good cooperation and plenty of investments. Certainly, not only Iskandar will do well but the whole of Malaysia will do well because of confidence factor in attracting foreign investment.''
Mr K Shanmugam said: ''It really takes the relationship to a different level. It's win-win....for both countries and promises much more. In that sense, in every sense, it's historic moment.''
Already, Singapore's investments in the southern economic region of Iskandar have tripled to over US$1.2 billion since May last year.
Under the land swap arrangement in the written instrument signed on Monday, Malaysia was given four parcels of land in Marina South and two more in Ophir-Rochor in exchange for giving up Malayan railway land in Singapore.
A 60-40 joint venture company, called M+S Private Limited, will be set up between Malaysia's Khazanah and Singapore's Temasek to undertake the development of the land parcels in Singapore.
Another 50-50 joint venture company will be set up to develop two iconic wellness projects in Iskandar Malaysia.
Mr K Shanmugam said: "This is a very substantial commitment, this is the first 215 acres; also, don't forget the projects in Singapore which are going to be (worth) billions (of dollars); it's a very significant start.''
Under the agreement, both countries also undertake to improve connectivity by expanding the rapid transit system (RTS) from Singapore to Johor Bahru by 2018.
A joint technical group is targeting to call the tender for a consultancy study on the RTS link by the fourth quarter of 2011.
Malaysia and Singapore are also working towards resolving their differences over whether development charges are payable on three parcels of railway land in Tanjong Pagar , Kranji and Woodlands. This has been referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Separately, as a gesture of goodwill, Singapore will be handing over the waterworks to Malaysia free of charge and in good working order after the expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement. A ceremony will be held to mark the event on 31 August this year.