Singapore Railways is the southernmost part in the West Coast Line. It has its origin in the Malayan Railway, now known as KTM (Keretapi Tanah Mel) Berhad, a Malaysian Corporation wholly owned by the Malaysian Government.
Pre War Developments
For nearly 15 years, the railways in Singapore operated two ferry boats, the Singapore and the Johore, which brought rail passengers across the Johor Straits. In 1923, the Causeway was completed, with the completion of the Causeway, trains could cross the peninsula into Singapore Island.
A 4 mile, 4'8 1/2" gauge railway was built for the War department by the F.M.S.R at Changi. It was called Changi Railway and it was constructed for Singapore's defence, in particular the new Changi battery, cutting through Fairy Hill it had a loop to the ammunition dump at Selarang. Except for the loop to Selarang, all other loops were completed by 1928.
The station at Tank Road, served as the only terminal for passenger trains, till the completion of the Tanjong Paper Station on 3rd May 1932.The Tank Road line which later stretched up till Bukit Timah was dismantled between 1938 to 1939.
World War II Developments
During the Japanese Occupation, the rails to Port Weld along with 150 miles of the East Coast Line were used by the Japanese to build the Burma-Siam Railway. These were replaced after the war.
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system consists of the North-South, East-West and North East lines, with a total track length of 138 km and served by 64 stations. Other than these 64 stations, an additional nine MRT stations in the main city area have been established to serve as Civil Defense Shelters.
The 33 km Circle Line set to be the last major component in the MRT network and providing a connection with the existing system is due to be operational in 2010.
In 2008, the government proposed to invest S$20 billion to build the Boon Lay extension, the Circle Line and the Downtown Line. The Government proposes to double the existing 138 km of track by 2020 and the present number of commuters from 1.4 million to 4.6 million. Two new lines the Thomson Line, to be completed by 2018 would run from Marina Bay through the Central Business District to Ang Mo Kio Woodlands on the Johor Straits. Another new line, the Eastern Region Line, at Marina Bay to be functional by 2010, would be connected with the Thomson Line.
