Back in the day, the railway lines between Singapore and Malaya were separated by the Johore Strait, where 2 ferries operated to transport passengers across the waters. When initially completed, the terminus of this railway was at Kranji, with Singapore, Newton, Cluny and Bukit Timah being the 4 other stations of the northbound railway. Yet, Kranji only held this place for a meagre 3 months, before extensions made afterwards shifted the terminus to Woodlands, and later, into the heart of Malaysia with the completion of the Causeway. Today, we find no trace of this terminus in Kranji at all.
Here, we look to the history of the KTM railway, also known as the Singapore-Malaysian Railway, which has served both countries alike since its opening in 1903 and has accumulated over 100 years of service in the process.
Instead, what was left behind up until several years before was the railway crossing, the one and only in Singapore, which cut across Kranji Way. On first glance, one would be able to tell how rudimentary this crossing was, with 2 simple barriers to prevent cars from moving as the train passed by and a dilapidated hut at the side to manually control these barriers. Today, we have lost this tiny piece of gem tucked in the countryside with the shifting of the southernmost terminus of the train service to Woodlands, followed by new projects that are slated for the area.
Yet, if you liked to, you can still go and take a stroll along where the crossing once stood. Walking down this path, it is as if you can still feel the presence of trains running through the grassland, ABOUT TO KNOCK YOU DOWN (MWHAHHAHAHA). Just kidding, there are no more trains here :(
