Singapore, 1 July 2022 – Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) today released a set of stamps featuring different landmarks of the Rail Corridor. The launch of this stamp issue coincides with the opening of the Bukit Timah Railway Station community node today by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board (NParks), following the completion of restoration and enhancement works to the compound. The opening was officiated by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration.
The stamps feature recognisable sights along the 24-kilometre-long Rail Corridor, along with flora and fauna one may find along the nature track. The iconic structures illustrated on the stamps are: Bukit Timah Truss Bridge, Bukit Timah Railway Station, 9 Mile Platform, Railway Staff Quarters as well as the Quarry Bridge.
Giving new life to a well-loved landmark
The first railway line in Singapore was opened in 1903, connecting Tank Road to Woodlands. By 1907, the railway was extended further south to the wharves in Pasir Panjang. The completion of the Causeway in 1923 enabled goods and passenger traffic to cross the Straits of Johor by train, eliminating the need for transfers to be made via ferry boats. In 1932, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was officially opened, replacing the terminal station at Tank Road and became the centre for communities supporting the station and the railway.
The railway continued to connect downtown Singapore to Malaysia until June 2011, with the last train departed from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on 30 June 2011.
Since then, URA embarked on a comprehensive community engagement exercise with members of the public for the development of the Rail Corridor. A recurrent theme that arose from the engagements was for the Rail Corridor’s built and natural heritage to be retained and enhanced.
Today, the land once occupied by the KTM railway has been transformed into the Rail Corridor, a seamless green community spacethat provides a respite for people. Visitors to the Rail Corridor can walk, run, and cycle along the largely uninterrupted 24km-long Rail Corridor. It is a rustic recreational space for visitors from all walks of life to experience nature and heritage.
The Rail Corridor also serves as an ecological corridor for biodiversity between ecological habitats such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Southern Ridges. The landscape along Rail Corridor has been carefully curated to reintroduce native plant species to conserve our natural heritage, as well as to provide food sources for our native wildlife. Some notable plant species you can spot along the Rail Corridor include Singapore Kopsia (Kopsia singapurensis), Common Yellow-Stem Fig (Ficus fistulosa), Common Tree-Vine (Leea indica), Bat’s Laurel (Prunus polystachya) and Common Sterculia (Sterculia parviflora).
Sale of stamps
The stamps (valued between 30 cents and $1.50), Pre-cancelled First Day Covers (S$5.30) and Presentation Packs (S$6.35) go on sale from today (1 July 2022) at all post offices, Philatelic Stores and online at shop.singpost.com, while stocks last.
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About Singapore Post Limited
For more than 160 years, Singapore Post (SingPost), as the country's postal service provider, has been delivering trusted and reliable services to homes and businesses in Singapore. Today, SingPost is pioneering and leading in eCommerce logistics as well as providing innovative mail and logistics solutions in Singapore and around the world, with operations in 15 markets.
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