HISTORY OF

SINGAPORE-
JOHORE RAILWAY
 INTRODUCTION
• This topic is about the history of Singapore-Johore Railway.
Early experimental line were constructed in 1892 by C.B.
Buckley but eventually it was abandoned. It was a
breakthrough as railway development had been a topic of
discussion for more than two decades when In 1896, the
Straits Government has approved the project.

• On 1st Jan 1903 the first phase of the railway, i.e.

Singapore-Kranji Railway was completed. This analysis was
based on several documents taken from newspaper’s articles
published in Singapore to understand more clearly with
regard to the Singapore-Johore Railway history.
 TOPIC BACKGROUND

• This documents told about the construction of Singapore-Johore

Railway. Early experimental line across Singapore invested by
C.B Buckley a prominent Singapore resident in 1892 but his
endeavour curtailed further participation of the private sector.
• In 1896, the Straits Government made provisions to begin work,
including conducting a detailed survey, on the construction of a
railway to connect Singapore and Johore. There were some
objections due to public opinion was against the use of public
funds for private interests and also the project was seen to largely
benefit those who frequented the gambling dens in Johore.
• The government’s proposal and estimates eventually
convinced the Legislative Council and on 22 August
1899, the council passed the motion authorising the
Straits Government to build railway from Singapore to
Johore, for the immediate purpose of carrying passengers
between the two towns.
 TYPE OF DOCUMENT
 Articles from newspapers taken from website HistorySG (an
online resource guide) Singapore.
i. The proposed railway to Johore. (1896, April 21). Mid-day
Herald, page 2.
ii. Railway to Kranji. (1896, April 15). Mid-day Herald, page
20.
iii. Singapore-Johore Railway. (1899, August 21). The
Singapore Free Press and Mercantile advertiser, page 3.
iv. Railway Extension. (1901, January 17). The Straits Times,
page 7.
 DOCUMENT’S PURPOSE
• The propose of these documents is to inform the public
regarding the construction of Railway Singapore-Johore
Railway.
• One of the articles (Singapore-Johore Railway, 1899, August
21, page 3, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile
advertiser) informed the public the details information about
the project based on the plan which was submitted to the
Legislative Council.
• Another articles (Railway to Kranji, 1896, April 15, page 20,
Mid-day Herald) mentioned the statistic works conducted by
P.W.D concerning the number of people travelling to Johore
daily, estimated cost to build the railway and its purpose.
 WRITERS, PUBLISHED DATE,
MOTIVE AND AFFECT.
• The articles did not mention their writers.
• The articles did have the dates they were published, pages and the
name of the newspapers.
• The motive of the articles is to give a picture, understanding and
actual information regarding the proposal and construction of the
railway.
• The articles gave more understanding about the railway to the public
as during this era, government widely used newspaper to deliver
information.
• The articles also gave a picture to the current readers the mode of
transportation during this period.
 OTHER SOURCES ABOUT
THE TOPIC
i. The Land Transport of Singapore: From Early Times to
the Present
ii. One Hundred Years of Singapore, The Land Transport
of Singapore
iii. Singapore: A Pictorical History 1819-2000, Keretapi
Tanah Melayu: The Malayan Railway
iv. Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya: Its
history, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources
 DOCUMENT CONTENT

i. The proposed railway to Johore. (1896, April 21). Mid-day

Herald, page 2.
• The article mentioned the opinion by The Straits Moralist, the
proposed railway to Johore means the making of the road to
perdition cheaper, easier and quicker.
• But then the railway is not intended for any such purpose.
ii. The proposed railway to Johore. (1896, April 21). Mid- day
Herald, page 2.
• The article mention the works of P.W.D in collecting
statistic data on the number of people daily travelling to
Johore.
• For the past eight months P.W.D found that about 250-300
people travelling to and from Kranji on ordinary days and
between 400-600 people on weekends.
• From this statistic, the article felt it was an encouraging
number for the government to invest on the railway.
iii. Singapore-Johore Railway. (1899, August 21, page 3,
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile advertiser).
• This article mention the details information on the railway
based on the plan submitted by the Colonial Engineer to
the Legislative Council.
• The article touched on the proposed Singapore Terminus,
the Route, the Flag Station, Woodlands Station, the Length
of the Line, the Land and Compensation.
iv. Railway Extension (1901, January 17, The Straits
Times, page 7).
• This article was written after four years the first phase of
the railway completed (from Tank road to Bukit Timah
station).
• The article mentioned the extension from Tank road to
Pasir Panjang which was completed on 21st January 1907.
 DOCUMENT CONTRIBUTE TO
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
WORLD AT THAT TIME
• All the articles give better pictures and understanding to
the current readers about the situation of the Singapore-
Johore Railway from its proposal until the extension to
Pasir Panjang.
• They also gave pictures on the mode of the transportation
widely used during the period such as gharries and
rickshaws.
• They also gave an impression that during that time Johore
is a place for the people to go for gambling and vacation.
 USEFULNESS TO THE HISTORIAN

• They were categorised as primary resources because they

were written during its happened.
• They were considered as a reliable source because
during this period, government used extensively
newspapers as information tool.
 USEFULNESS IN ENABLING HISTORIANS
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MALAYSIAN
HISTORY

• The articles gave information that during they were

written, Singapore was governed by the Straits
Government but any decision related to usage of public
fund has to get approval from the Legislative Council.
• The articles gave pictures and enabling historians to
understand the situation in Singapore and Johore
especially in transportation during the period including
the expansion of the socio-economy.
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CONCLUSION
Although the articles informed us the events
surrounding the construction of the railway, but if
we would to study further, the railway also
brought new information and knowledge
regarding the used of train to transport people
instead of carrying goods especially from one place
to ports only. This has shown that the Straits
Government has acknowledged the people
opinions and their welfare. The proposal and
construction of the railway also indicates that the
Straits Government was considered carefully on
the development of new residential area and urban
area along the route of the line. With this new line,
the socio-economy of the people also will increase
not only for Singapore but also Johore and
eventually to whole Tanah Melayu.