Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. – Oscar Wilde

Nature Society (Singapore) (NSS) has submitted a proposal,The Green Corridor: A Proposal to Keep the Railway Lands as a Continous Green Corridor, to the Singapore government on 21 October 2010. NSS proposes to retain the current KTM Railway Land as a Green Corridor after the train operations cease.

Background on the Railway Lands

On 24 May 2010, Singapore and Malaysia leaders agreed on the issue of the Malayan Railway Land in Singapore. Malaysia will move the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB station) to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint by 1 July 2011, and will co-locate its railway Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facility there. Both leaders also agreed that the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station Passenger Terminal building would be conserved given its historical significance, and that the old Bukit Timah Railway Station building at Blackmore Drive can also be conserved.

Both countries will also set up a company, M-S Pte Ltd, by 31 December 2010, with Malaysia having a 60% share under Khazanah Nasional Berhard and Singapore having a 40% share under Temasek Holdings. The company will handle the joint development of the three parcels of KTM land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands, and another three pieces of land in Bukit Timah.

On 20 September 2010, Malaysia agreed to accept the land swap offer by Singapore for four land parcels in Marina South and two pieces in Orphir-Rochor in exchange for the land parcels of KTM land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji, Woodlands and Bukit Timah. This means that all the railway land would be available to the Singapore government for development after 1 July 2011. There is no announcement yet on how the government would develop the land.

The Green Corridor Proposal

The least challenging and most unimaginative “solution” would be for policy makers, planners and developers to parcel the land out as real estate, dismantle the line, erase the railway and its memory from the public domain and relegate it to textbook history. That would be a costly mistake. – Dr Geh Min

In The Green Corridor proposal, NSS refers to the Railway Lands as “several plots of land, at Tanjong Pagar, Kranji, Woodlands and Bukit Timah, the two main lines of track, the Woodlands – Tanjong Pagar and Jurong lines and other small disconnected stretches. The combined area for the Railway Land is 173.7 hectares, almost three times the size of the Botanical Gardens (63.7 hectares), and 0.24% the land mass of Singapore.”

It Connects Many Green Spaces Together

The Railway Land connects many green spaces together and is “already like a nature park; much of it a mix of secondary forest growth, grasslands, and small scale fruit and vegetable farms. Open areas are interspersed with canals, streams and marshland on both sides of the tracks.” There are 6 main green areas that the Railway Lands connect:

1. Southern Sector
2. Clementi Woodlands
3. Jurong Line
4. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
5. Bukit Panjang / Chua Chu Kang / Pang Sua
6. Kranji / Mandai Mangrove & Mudflats

NSS emphasised that preserving the Railway Land as a Green Corridor “will not only make it possible for Singaporeans to hike from the wetlands in Kranji to Rainforests in Bukit Timah and the hilltops of Henderson through a continuous nature trail; the Green Corridor is also important for preserving our Natural Heritage by acting as a connector for flora and fauna movement across the island, to some extent mitigating the effects of the fragmentation of our Nature Reserves.”

It Connects Many People Together

The Green Corridor has the potential to serve 1.2 million people living in estates along the entire stretch of the railway by transforming the areas into parks, recreational areas, or for community gardening and farming. NSS explains that there are “currently scenic vistas of forests and rivers, canals and wetlands right at our doorstep. The construction of simple walking trails, lighting, resting points and directional signage would make all of this accessible and inviting to hundreds of communities nearby. A pedestrian link between communities could also enhance neighbourliness and a sense of “kampong” atmosphere along the Green Corridor.”

A Clean and Green Transport Route

NSS proposes that the Railway Land can be converted, with creative planning and without a high level of investment, into a transport route through the heart of Singapore from North to South. The transport route could include the following:

• A cycling and pedestrian path can be built on either side of the railway tracks
• The existing railway tracks could accommodate low speed forms of trams powered by clean energy sources or even human power
• The continuous length of the Green Corridor can host all forms of Sports and Recreational Activities including long distance running or cycling activities

NSS explains that: “With increasing numbers of Singaporeans adopting a healthy and active lifestyle, there is an urgent need to provide spaces conducive to such activities. The Green Corridor allows not just a place to play sports and exercise, it also opens up spaces for gardening, fishing and camping. Increasing the amount of greens spaces for recreation is imperative if we seek to increase our population and improve our standards of living at the same time.”

Preserving History

The railway line serves as a reminder and a physical historical record of the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia. NSS proposes that “the whole stretch of the railway line can be turned into an outdoor ‘museum’ with ‘walking commentary’. Because of its linearity, points of historical interests can be planned along the route to educate the public about life in the 50s, 60s and up to the 70s.” The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, the Bukit Timah Railway Station, and the cast iron railway bridges across Bukit Timah Road, Upper Bukit Timah Road and Ulu Pandan Canal should be preserved. The Railway Land also has the potential to be an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

NSS concludes with:

There are so many compelling reasons to preserve the Railway Land as a Green Corridor. It is readymade Nature Corridor, Recreational Space, Eco-friendly transport route all rolled into one. It is a valuable piece of ecological and historical heritage that should be preserved for future generations of Singaporeans.

Why We Should Have The Green Corridor

The NSS proposal has eloquently stated the need to keep the Railway Lands as a green corridor based on environmental, social, recreational, and historical benefits. Others have also made good comments on theeconomic benefits of having a green corridor, that it is “a key competitive advantage that helps attract or retain top talent and brings more economic development to Singapore. It could well bring other financial benefits, too, including increased property value for nearby residents.”

We support the proposal by NSS and feel strongly that we should have the Green Corridor because it will improve Singapore’s long-term survival and resilience. The biggest threat to Singapore is not terrorism or slow economic growth. The biggest threat to Singapore is apathy, or you could call it indifference, bochap, can’t be bothered, or none of my business. When Singaporeans do not feel a sense of belonging and are not bothered with what goes on here, then Singapore is in trouble.

At a recent forum, the following discussion took place between a young Singaporean and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong:

“This is your country,” SM Goh replied. “What do you want me to do to make you feel you belong?”

“For my part, don’t worry about me,” Mr Lim said. “I will definitely do something, if I can, for Singapore. But I can tell you honestly that the sentiment on the ground is a bit different.”

“If this is happening, it is very serious,” said SM Goh.

“If the majority feel they don’t belong here, then we have a fundamental problem. Then I would ask myself: What am I doing here? Why should I be working for people who don’t feel they belong over here?” asked SM Goh.

We think that the government can make Singaporeans feel they belong here by preserving our shared memories and creating our shared vision.

Preserving Our Shared Memories

The Green Corridor will strengthen our shared memories by preserving our past with Malaysia, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, the railway bridges, and also creating opportunities for history education and discovery. This is necessary and urgent as the pace of erosion of our memories quicken in our urban city.

When we talk about our shared memories, it brings a smile to us and brings us closer together, knowing we have experienced the same history. Without shared memories across different generations and between different immigrant groups, we would feel like strangers and find it harder to understand each other.

We remember watching Royston Tan’s Old Places and discussing it with friends, and how it brought back shared memories and how we feel a sense of belonging and connection even though we may not be familiar with all the old places.

We should have the Green Corridor because it helps us to preserve our shared memories.

Creating Our Shared Vision

The Green Corridor will strengthen our shared vision by creating opportunities for different groups, sectors and communities to come together, plan and work towards a common vision of a Singapore where nature and our economic activities can co-exist. The long stretch of the Railway Lands connect communities and spaces, and allows greater cooperation and collaborative partnerships from North to South. This is something new and not seen before, and if a bottom-up approach is adopted, it would allow Singaporeans to have a shared vision and to actually turn it to life, with creativity and innovation.

When we talk about our shared vision, it excites us and motivates everyone to work together for a common good. When we work with our own hands and sweat together,  we are building bonds and resilience. Without a shared vision, everyone does things on their own and are not bothered with what the others are doing.

We should have the Green Corridor because it helps us to create our shared vision.

Support the Green Corridor

For Singapore to survive and prosper in the long term, it is necessary to have more opportunities in preserving our shared memories and creating our shared vision. And keeping the Railway Lands as a Green Corridor is one opportunity not to be wasted.

Show your support:

1. Read the NSS proposal – The Green Corridor: A Proposal to Keep the Railway Lands as a Continous Green Corridor

2. Send your feedback and suggestions to Nature Society (Singapore)

3. Share the proposal with everyone

4. Like the Facebook page “We support The Green Corridor in Singapore” and share it with your friends. You can share your memories, stories and photos of the railway lands, and share your vision for The Green Corridor. What types of environmental, social, cultural and historical activities do you wish to see happening there?

5. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/greencorridorsg and share our tweets with your friends.

In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy. – John C. Sawhill

This article originally appeared in AsiaIsGreen.com founded by Eugene Tay. He administers the Facebook Page: We Support the Green Corridor in Singapore where you’ll be able to follow the progress of this campaign. He can be contacted at Eugene@GreenFuture.sg

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How convenient is Singapore’s public transport system to use, and does it serve as role model for other Asian cities? How is one nation’s public transport a global issue? Learn about “GO GREEN WITH SMRT” – the public awareness campaign by Singapore’s multi-modal transport operator, and take a small quiz to win a recycled bag!

When I first came to Singapore several years ago, one of the first things that struck me was the excellent public transport infrastructure in the city state. It freed me from the need to own a personal vehicle – something I was forced to acquire in several other cities that I had lived in before.

The range of options makes it really easy to travel here, and as a last resort, taxis are readily available for the more inaccessible and less connected places.  Though trains and buses can be crowded during peak times, and some of the feeder bus services from MRT stations need to be more frequent, by and large however, Singapore has made public transport clean, punctual, convenient and affordable. Transactions are well facilitated by the electronic swipe card called the ez-link which can be used on buses, trains, taxis and even to pay one’s dues in the public library!

In fact, the longer the distance, the more attractive it is to take trains in particular. Staying as I do in the western part of the city, my personal favourite is the East-West line which stretches from Joo Koon in the extreme west while traversing the entire breadth of Singapore all the way to Changi International Airport in the east. Many a book have I read, and many a moment of silent reflection have I gathered while rollicking on the serpentine trains of Singapore.

Circle Line in Yellow (Click for larger picture)

Once the upcoming 33.3 km long Circle line is fully completed later in 2010, connectivity should get even better. With 29 stations, the line will be completely underground, with an orbital network linking all radial lines leading to the city – connecting and interchanging with the North-South Line, East-West Line and North East Line.

At a cost of Sing $6.7 billion, the Circle Line is one of the world’s most complex and challenging underground lines ever built. (See video links at the bottom of the article). Watching the Discovery Channel video made me realise what an enormous effort and risk the workers have undertaken to get this built. The public should be certainly be nudged to make full use of the infrastructure that has been established with such huge outlays and human sweat.

Making available a variety of effective alternatives to the personal automobile is a key hallmark of a sustainable city.  Though more needs to be done for safer cycling and scooter routes, Singapore certainly scores high in the establishment of public transport infrastructure for pedestrians, buses, trains and taxis.

When SMRT (one of two transport operators in Singapore, the other being SBS Transit) approached me to spread the word about their public awareness campaign to encourage the use of trains and buses, it was easy for me to support their initiative.

Public Transport is an International issue

All SMRT trains run on electricity and generate zero air polluting emissions. Regenerative braking technology converts kinetic energy to electricity, which powers other trains and stations. Travelling on our train network is more energy efficient and lowers your carbon footprint to 13.2g per passenger-kilometre.

SMRT Euro 5 Buses are more fuel efficient thus emitting lower particulate matter. Their eco-friendly engines convert harmful nitrous oxide emissions into nitrogen and water vapor. When you take the bus, you lower your carbon footprint to 73g per passenger-kilometre and reduce carbon emissions.

The Singapore Public Transport Model and Usage Patterns

Singapore has done well to balance the controlled development of private vehicle use and public transport and can serve as a role model for other Asian cities.  More details are available in this informative document called “Sustainable Transport Planning in Asia: The Singapore Story” by Dr. Sun Sheng Han, Associate Professor in Urban Planning, the University of Melbourne, Australia.

All privately owned vehicles and taxis are taxed by the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system or tolls on roads to control vehicular flow in traffic prone areas – such as the Central Business District (CBD) and motorways. To own a car itself requires a licence called the Certificate of Entitlement(COE), the pricing of which is regulated by the government. Singapore is taking baby steps towards the introduction of electric vehicles.

According to official Government statistics :

Click to see document

“Public transport remained the most important mode of transport for commuting to work in Singapore. In 2005, one in two residents commuted to work by public transport (public bus, MRT, LRT or taxi).  This proportion had remained stable in the last five years.

A higher proportion of residents in lower-income households commuted to work by public transport. In contrast, a higher proportion of those in higher-income households travelled to work by private car.

About 60 – 70 per cent of resident working persons in the smaller HDB (Housing Development Board which is another name for Singapore’s public housing) flats commuted to work by public transport in 2005 .

Among those in HDB 4-room or larger flats, at least half relied on public transport. In contrast, 54 per cent of resident working persons staying in private housing relied on car as their mode of transport to work in 2005.”

Despite the high quality of infrastructure, usage rates have been fairly stagnant over the years as mentioned above, and this is why more people need to be encouraged to switch to public modes of conveyance.

Needless to say, this is a matter of national as well as international importance.

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Bhavani Prakash is an avid user of public transport in Singapore, and believes this is one of the important solutions to climate change. She also believes the exercise that comes with walking to and fro MRT stations and bus stops keeps her healthy and fit. She is the Founder of Eco WALK the Talk and can be contacted at bhavani [at] ecowalkthetalk.com

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GO GREEN WITH SMRT:

SMRT’s green initiatives in terms of reducing energy and water use are presented here in these animations.

Photo :singaporebuspage.files.wordpress.com

From 5 June – 30 September 2010, one can win 1-year unlimited free rides on SMRT Trains and Buses for four. Check out GoGreenwithSMRT.com for more information on how to increase your chances of winning.

In line with the campaign, Eco WALK the Talk.com is organising a simple quiz for Singaporean residents and citizens .

Reply to these three questions before 30th June 2010 to info@ecowalkthetalk.com with your full name, NRIC number, phone number and email id. The first 5 winners with the correct answers will be notified. Winners will be awarded this recycled bag made from SMRT banners by weworkz, a social enterprise in Singapore that helps low-income women. Collection will be at an SMRT office in Singapore.

1. What is Go Green with SMRT’s message?
2. Describe why it is “Better by Bus?”
3. Describe why it is “Better by Train?”

Answers can be found on the GoGreenwithSMRT.com website.

Facts and links about SMRT:

1) When was the first SMRT train?
On 7 November 1987, SMRT started services with five stations from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh.

2) How many passenger trips are made? 2.2 million passenger trips are made on the SMRT system everyday (train and bus).

3) How many trains, lines and stations are there?
SMRT manages a fleet of 146 trains which operate on the North-South, East-West and Circle Lines, with a total of 69 MRT stations. It also have 19 trains which operate on the Bukit Panjang Line, serving 14 LRT stations.

4) How many buses are run? SMRT manages a fleet of over 900 12-metre and 18-metre buses. These buses are made up of 46 trunk services, 19 feeder and intra-town services and seven night services. They ply a total of 72 routes and serve mainly Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Sembawang, Woodlands and Yishun. Its subsidiary, Bus-Plus Services Pte Ltd, operates a fleet of more than 50 luxurious minibuses aimed to provide commuters an exclusive and luxurious way of travelling.

5) How many energy efficient buses are there?

SMRT Euro 5 Citaro

Of the 900 buses, 134 are Euro 5. The Euro 5 bus operates on BlueTec Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) engine technology which converts harmful nitrous oxide emissions into mostly nitrogen and water vapour. This makes emission from the bus cleaner and safer. Consequently, the Euro 5 bus emits 42 per cent less nitrous oxide pollutants compared to the Euro 4 bus.

In March 2010, SMRT launched a one-year trial for Southeast Asia’s first full low-floor Euro 5 Citaro bus. The Citaro bus is about one ton lighter than SMRT’s current fleet of Euro 5 buses, increasing the mileage and improving fuel efficiency by about seven per cent. Better insulation also makes the Citaro quieter, thus minimising the impact of noise pollution on the urban environment.

6)  The following Discovery Channel video on the Circle Line  shows how the Sing $6.7 billion dollars underground line- one of the world’s most challenging and complex underground lines is being built.

Watch Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 of the above video.

Further links you may be interested in:

Btw, if you’re visiting Singapore and are looking for a great selection of places to stay with discount prices, visit Singapore Hotel for more information.

EWTT : Can Electric Vehicles change the world? Part 2/3 EVs in Singapore
EWTT:  Bike the Talk: the green solution to urban transport

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