It is very sentimental to many that KTM has ceased operating from Tanjong Pagar Station, Singapore. I won’t make any political nor racial statements here today about this historical event. I trusted Tun Dr. Mahathir. If he says okey to what Najib’s administration is doing, I’ll say okey too.
I remember taking KTM train twice to Tanjong Pagar when I had to finish my masters thesis. I had to go to NUS and NTU to extend my literature review as requested by my external examiner. Those were my sentimental memories with Tanjong Pagar Station. Now my thesis feels like incomplete again.
I took the chance to experience the last KTM train heading out from Tanjong Pagar on June 30th 2011. The trip started in KL Sentral 9am to Singapore, arriving at Tanjong Pagar a little after 5pm. Then coming back to KL at 10pm and arrived at 6am July 1st 2011.
Enjoy some pictures I took from the training starting from JB Sentral until Tanjong Pagar. In some of the pictures I don’t really know what I was snapping at, but those snaps can never be taken from a KTM train anymore.
From Tanjong Pagar KTM, I walked to Tanjong Pagar MRT, from where we can find Masjid Al-Abrar just a walking distance away. It is now, sadly, just part of a terrace shop lot along Teluk Ayer Road:
This historical event has sentimental value to the Singaporean as well. On the way to Tanjong Pagar, I have a Chinese Singaporean lady sitting behind me, taking the train just to take some last pictures of Singapore from the train. On the way back there were so many Singaporeans lining up along the road and highways to snap the last train coming out of Singapore. In Bukit Timah Station there was a huge crowd.
I thought my train was the last KTM coming out of Tanjong Pagar, but the very last one was the one operated by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, The Sultan of Johor. They had a special marching out of the last train to be piloted by him.
KTM even gave certs to those who ride the last train, but I didn’t manage to get it. So I took its snapshot to share it with all of you.
I remember taking KTM train twice to Tanjong Pagar when I had to finish my masters thesis. I had to go to NUS and NTU to extend my literature review as requested by my external examiner. Those were my sentimental memories with Tanjong Pagar Station. Now my thesis feels like incomplete again.
I took the chance to experience the last KTM train heading out from Tanjong Pagar on June 30th 2011. The trip started in KL Sentral 9am to Singapore, arriving at Tanjong Pagar a little after 5pm. Then coming back to KL at 10pm and arrived at 6am July 1st 2011.
Enjoy some pictures I took from the training starting from JB Sentral until Tanjong Pagar. In some of the pictures I don’t really know what I was snapping at, but those snaps can never be taken from a KTM train anymore.
RTM TV crew interviewing passenger for a documentary of this historical event
New JB Sentral Station
A view of JB from the train just about to enter Selat Tebrau
A view of Singapore from the train just about to enter the island. Can you see the controversial big fresh water pipes below?
Traffic at Tambak Johor
The border in the middle of Tambak Johor
Woodlands Checkpoint from a distance
At Woodlands Checkpoint
Singapore MRT track crossing KTM track from above
Singaporean lifestyle - condominiums
More condominiums
West View Primary School
Some famous building?
A glimpse of the crowd in Bukit Timah Station that I managed to catch. At night there was a much bigger crowd.
A few Singaporeans taking pictures from outside of Tanjong Pagar Station
One of KTM locomotives at Tanjong Pagar
A proof that I was actually there
The other side of Tanjong Pagar Station
A view of the old Malaysian Custom checkpoint area - with an unwittingly posing (Malaysian) policeman
KTM Tanjong Pagar sign board
Front view of Tanjong Pagar Station
From Tanjong Pagar KTM, I walked to Tanjong Pagar MRT, from where we can find Masjid Al-Abrar just a walking distance away. It is now, sadly, just part of a terrace shop lot along Teluk Ayer Road:
Masjid Al-Abrar
Masjid Al-Abrar and Tanjong Pagar MRT in Google Maps
This historical event has sentimental value to the Singaporean as well. On the way to Tanjong Pagar, I have a Chinese Singaporean lady sitting behind me, taking the train just to take some last pictures of Singapore from the train. On the way back there were so many Singaporeans lining up along the road and highways to snap the last train coming out of Singapore. In Bukit Timah Station there was a huge crowd.
Night crowd inside station
Night crowd along the track
The old Malaysian Custom checkpoint, again
I thought my train was the last KTM coming out of Tanjong Pagar, but the very last one was the one operated by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, The Sultan of Johor. They had a special marching out of the last train to be piloted by him.
The very last train heading out covered by a long banner
KTM even gave certs to those who ride the last train, but I didn’t manage to get it. So I took its snapshot to share it with all of you.
The certificate of history
Next, you may want to,
- read this article from Singapore Straits Times about Sultan of Johor driving that last train, or
- if it is not in their archive anymore, you can read from my local copy of the same article, or
- enjoy a YouTube of the farewell showing the long crowd line-up at Bukit Timah:
...oooOOO000OOOooo...
1 comment :
sikit masa lg blog en ni jd rujukan sejarah lah nampaknya...
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