Rounding off the major walking trails I discovered on my most recent trip to Singapore is a new favourite of mine in the country (which is no mean feat given my love for the it)! I went on this walk because I recently lost my grandpa, and he was a rail enthusiast. On a day when I was feeling nostalgic, and thinking of both my granny and grandpa, I decided there was no better way to spend my day than to walk the Rail Corridor!
So, if you’re looking for a long, scenic walk that cuts through the heart of Singapore while staying immersed in greenery, the Rail Corridor is hard to beat. It’s also super easy and largely flat, stretching across the island, along the route this former railway line used to take between Singapore and Malaysia. It’s all been beautifully preserved, and it reminded me of The High Line in New York (though MUCH hotter)!
Hiking Information
- The full trail (end to end) is 24km, and hiking it will take between 6-8 hours depending on pace.
- You can easily do shorter segments and still get a great experience.
- The trail largely segments in to three sections of around 5-10km each – the northern section, central section and southern section. Each takes 1-3 hours to walk.
- The Rail Corridor is open 24/7 but not lit at night so do not hike it in the dark.
- Access is really good, with multiple entrances/exits up on to the trail. Some of the best points to join include at Hillview MRT, Beauty World MRT and Buona Vista MRT. This makes it easy to customise your hike based on time and energy.
- I completed this hike solo and had no issues; I didn’t get lost, it’s well signed, and I never felt unsafe even in parts of the trail where I was alone.
- There is nowhere to eat immediately along the trail, so if you are planning to walk the full stretch, ensure you have plenty of food and water with you.
- Wear comfortable shoes and sensible clothing. Take lots of water, and wear suncream.
- The walk terrain is largely flat and easy.
Top Tip: Start early, ideally before 8am, to beat the heat. Late afternoons can also work, but midday sun can be intense since parts of the trail are exposed. If you can’t walk the full distance, prioritise the central section. I started at 7am and finished at 2.30pm.
What is the Rail Corridor and why visit it?
The Rail Corridor is a continuous green passage built along the old Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway line that once connected Singapore to Malaysia. The railway was opened in 1903, and the final train left along this route in 2011. Today, it’s a multi-use trail that spans 24km, linking the north and south of Singapore.
A visit to the Rail Corridor trail will enable you to experience rustic railway heritage with interesting historic points along the trail, all whilst enjoying views out to lush secondary rainforest and a chance to see some of Singapore’s quiet neighbourhoods and hidden nature pockets.
It’s much more than a typical park, and really enables you to see lots of varied faces of Singapore – and that’s exactly why I fell in love with it.
Important: Some sections of the trail are more wild than others, so make sure you have insect repellant with you!
Rail Corridor Route Overview
Northern Section (Kranji to Hillview)
Start this section by arriving in to Kranji MRT, and exit at Hill view MRT (if not hiking the full route).
The northern section of the line from the end point in Kranji, down to Hillview is a quieter stretch with a more “wild” feel. This section of the walk has the fewest people, and feels remote, walking alongside the Pang Sua Canal and through open fields.
Highlights of this section include the new Hillview Bridge, in to which railway tracks are embedded to remind visitors of the Rail Corridor’s history as a railway. This section also includes Upper Bukit Timah Road, which has been extended to connect directly to the Rail Corridor. This provides anyone who needs a break for food and water with more direct and convenient access to the amenities at The Rail Mall.
Central Section (Hillview to Bukit Timah)
Start this section by arriving in to Hillview MRT, and exit at King Albert Park MRT (if not hiking the full route).
This was the section of the walk I enjoyed the most, and is known to be the most popular part, especially around Bukit Timah Railway Station, a beautifully preserved heritage building. I really enjoyed the walk under old railway bridges, and the Bukit Timah Truss Bridge which I loved! All along are also lovely views out to residential areas in Singapore and lots of lush greenery. In total this section took me 1.5 hours to walk (longer than it should have done as I drooled at all the houses I wished I owned), and if you’re pushed for time – just do this bit!
Southern Section (Bukit Timah to Tanjong Pagar)
Start this section by arriving in to King Albert Park MRT, and exit at Outram Park MRT (the end of the walk).
The highlight of this part for me is walking through the beautiful Clementi Forest, full of thick green foliage. After passing through the forest, this stretch brings you closer to the city, ending near the historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. I also like that this section is designed with thematic planting showcasing shrub species from the 1960s to 2010s, reflecting the area’s heritage. This section is slightly longer than the others, and takes around 2.5 hours to walk. And as the walk concludes, it’s amazing to know you’ve also almost walked the full length of Singapore!
Important: The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is currently closed as it’s being re-developed. It’s beautiful from the outside though!
Singapore’s Rail Corridor is an amazing example of the country’s heritage being preserved in such a beautiful way, and creating yet more green space in a way only Singapore seems to do. Walking the route is about experiencing a quieter, greener side of Singapore that many people overlook, and it’s well worth it if you have time and want to get off the tourist trail!
What do you think of the Rail Corridor? Let me know in the comments below, and as always stay safe and happy travelling!
Enjoyed this? Check out more of my Singapore posts!
- Singapore 2 Day Itinerary HERE
- Singapore Layover Guide HERE
- Free things to do in Singapore HERE (coming soon)
- Gardens by the Bay HERE
- Singapore Botanic Gardens HERE
- Mount Faber & The Southern Ridges Walk HERE
- Singapore’s Best Gardens HERE
- Singapore’s WW2 history HERE
- Jurong Lake Gardens HERE
- MacRitchie Treetop Walk HERE
- Bukit Timah Nature Reserve HERE
- Singapore Museums HERE (coming soon)
- Civic District Area Guide HERE (coming soon)
- Sentosa Area Guide HERE (coming soon)
- Chinatown Area Guide HERE (coming soon)
- Marina Bay Area Guide HERE (coming soon)
- Bukit Timah Area Guide HERE (coming soon)
- Hotel Reviews: Raffles Singapore HERE, Conrad Marina Bay HERE, & The Clan Hotel HERE (coming soon)
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