The Rail Corridor: Routes, Access Points and What to See

By The Diary desk · Last verified 11 October 2026

The Rail Corridor is a 24km green trail on the land of the former Malayan railway line, running from Woodlands and Kranji in the north to Tanjong Pagar in the south. It is managed by NParks, free to use and open round the clock, though it is not lit at night. The best first visit for most people is the stretch between the two 1932 truss bridges, about 4km, passing the restored Bukit Timah Railway Station, which is a five-minute walk from King Albert Park MRT (Exit A). Cyclists share the trail at a 10km/h speed limit. As of October 2026, part of the southern stretch, between Henderson Road and Spooner Road, is closed for improvement works.

Think of it as a long, leafy ribbon through the island: old railway bridges, quiet forest edges and plenty of history underfoot. Here is how to pick your piece of it.

Quick facts

• Length: 24km, from Woodlands to Tanjong Pagar.
• Cost: free; no booking needed for individuals and small groups.
• Hours: open 24 hours, but unlit, so NParks asks visitors to leave by nightfall.
• Surface: gravel and crushed-stone aggregate in the south; grass and gravel in the north.
• Cycling: allowed at up to 10km/h; dismount on bridges; no motorised PMDs or PABs.
• Groups of 30 or more need an NParks permit.

How the route is laid out

NParks splits the trail at Rifle Range Road: the northern stretch runs up to Kranji, the southern stretch down to Tanjong Pagar. Its maps also label a Central section around Bukit Timah, where most of the famous sights sit.

Stretch	Runs between	Trail surface	Highlights
North	Kranji to Rifle Range Road	Grass and gravel	Kranji community node opposite Kranji MRT; quieter, more rural walking
Central (Bukit Timah area)	Around Hillview to King Albert Park	Gravel and aggregate	Upper Bukit Timah and Bukit Timah truss bridges, Bukit Timah Railway Station, Hindhede underpass to the nature reserve
South	Rifle Range Road to Tanjong Pagar	Porous gravel and crushed-stone aggregate	Buona Vista community node, Clementi Forest edge, the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station at the end

Closure to note: since 9 March 2026, the southern stretch has been closed between the access points after Henderson Road and before Spooner Road for phase 2 trail works. The Jalan Kilang Barat to Henderson Road section has reopened. Check NParks before you plan a southern walk.

What to see along the way

• The truss bridges. The Bukit Timah Truss Bridge and the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge both date from 1932 and reopened to walkers in 2020 and 2021.
• Bukit Timah Railway Station. The old station sits around the midpoint of the corridor on a 4.3-hectare site. You can view the signal room and waiting area; part of the building has been closed for maintenance.
• Nature on the doorstep. The Hindhede Drive underpass links to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and from the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge you can reach Dairy Farm Nature Park and the Singapore Quarry.
• Kranji node. Opposite Kranji MRT, with a short nature trail and an events field.
• Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. The grand former terminus marks the southern end and is part of a longer-term redevelopment; check URA for access before you go.

A good first walk, step by step

1. Take the Downtown Line to Hillview MRT and join the corridor near the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge.
2. Head south along the trail, past the Hindhede underpass, towards Bukit Timah Railway Station.
3. Pause at the station, which has public restrooms on lit paths.
4. Carry on to the Bukit Timah Truss Bridge, pushing your bike across if you are cycling.
5. Leave via the landscaped entrance on Bukit Timah Road and walk about five minutes to King Albert Park MRT, Exit A.

The stretch between the two truss bridges is about 4km. At a relaxed 4km an hour that is roughly an hour of walking, plus stops. Go early, before the midday heat, and bring water.

The rules, and getting there

Topic	What NParks says
Cycling	10km/h limit, give way to pedestrians, ring your bell when overtaking, dismount on bridges
PMDs and PABs	Motorised devices not allowed
Wildlife	Observe from a distance
Large groups	Permit needed for 30 or more people
Bad weather	Seek shelter and avoid forested areas during and just after storms
Parking	No car park at the Bukit Timah Railway Station node
Buses to the station	Stop 42051 at King Albert Park MRT, on Bukit Timah Road, served by 67, 74, 77, 151, 154, 157, 170, 174, 852, 961, 961M and 970

The WahLiao Verdict

Start with the Hillview to King Albert Park walk on a weekend morning: it has the bridges, the old station and two MRT stations bookending it, so you cannot go far wrong. Leave the long northern stretch for a cooler, drier day when you are ready for grass underfoot, and check the NParks closure notice before any southern outing. Go by MRT, carry water and be out before dusk.

Questions people ask

Can you cycle the whole Rail Corridor?

Cycling is allowed at up to 10km/h, with walkers given priority and bikes pushed over bridges. Sections under works are closed to everyone, so check NParks first.

Is the Rail Corridor safe at night?

It is open 24 hours but unlit apart from some access points, main paths and routes to restrooms. NParks encourages visitors to leave by nightfall.

Which MRT stations are closest?

King Albert Park for Bukit Timah Railway Station, Hillview for the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge, and Kranji for the northern end. Many other access points are shown on NParks’ maps.

Is the Bukit Timah Railway Station wheelchair accessible?

NParks says the Bukit Timah Railway Station community node is wheelchair accessible. Trail surfaces elsewhere vary between aggregate, gravel and grass.

Sources: NParks, Visit Rail Corridor: route, rules and closures; NParks, Bukit Timah Railway Station access and buses; URA, Rail Corridor plans; Time Out Singapore, sights and start points; Wikipedia, history and truss bridge dates. The Diary explains; it does not advise.

Read next: Park Connectors in Singapore · MacRitchie and Bukit Timah: Trails and When to Go · Back to The Diary

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