Northern section of Rail Corridor opens to public; includes a 6m-high lookout deck

Visitors at the Rail Corridor can now have an immersive experience with nature along its northern stretch.

Open to the public from Thursday (Feb 10), the northern stretch of the corridor runs 6km between Kranji and Hillview MRT stations.

In total, the Rail Corridor marks more than 21km of continuous connectivity from the north to the south, with over 30 access paths located along the way to connect neighbourhood residents and communities, said the National Parks Board (NParks).

The newly completed Rail Corridor (North) boasts various improvements and new amenities while serving as a major ecological corridor for native biodiversity. These include a recreational space for various community activities and a new bridge over Hillview road that leads to a 6m-high lookout deck.

Native trees like the Malayan Eaglewood Tree and Gutta Percha were planted along the trail to retain the Rail Corridor’s rustic and natural charm.

To enable better public accessibility, the northern stretch of the Rail Corridor was earlier realigned to run along Woodlands Road to connect to Kranji MRT station. The Rail Corridor (North) can now be accessed near Kranji MRT Station via the overhead bridge.

Those commuting via public transport or along the Rail Corridor can also access the 600m of trail enhancements between Hillview MRT station and Upper Bukit Timah truss bridge.

Ramps are installed to provide barrier-free access to visitors from Hillview MRT station, as well as between Hillview Avenue and Upper Bukit Timah Road.

The Hillview Bridge has also been replaced, reestablishing pedestrian connectivity across Hillview road and along the Rail Corridor to provide convenient access to the Rail Mall.

The Rail Corridor is part of NParks’ overall plans to curate a 360km island-wide network of recreational routes, contributing towards enabling every household to live within a 10-minute walk of a park by 2030.

It shared that more than 52,000 trees and shrubs have been planted by the community along the Rail Corridor to enhance ecological connectivity between natural habitats. Critically endangered and near-threatened species of fauna, such as the Sunda Pangolin and the Straw-headed Bulbul have also been sighted at the Rail Corridor.

NParks added that the public can look forward to the completion of other nodes, such as the one at Buona Vista in end-2023 and the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station after 2026. There will also be more amenities such as shelters and toilets by mid-2023.