Hidden Gem: The Abandoned Jurong Railway & Clementi Road Railway Tunnel in Clementi, Singapore

“Old Jurong Railway Line+ Clementi Road Railway Tunnel”‘s Popularity / Hidden Gem Level★ : 2

★★☆☆☆ : Star 2 → [Hidden Gem]
Ira’s Comment: It is expected to change to Star 3 in the future if the old railway route is officially developed and opened as a nature trail according to government plans. But by then, you would be late to the party.
It used to be a Star 1 location, mainly a holy site for ruins and railway enthusiasts.
As more hikers came even if they got muddy, its recognition grew over the last 10 years.
That is why going there ahead of others brings a sense of achievement (in a good way).
Living in Singapore builds Kiasu. Let’s have fun.
Even as of the publication date of this article, the number of reviews on Google Maps is around 30. Star 5 places like Marina Bay Sands have 5-digit reviews.

Singapore’s Historical Heritage and Popular Hiking Spot

The Old Jurong Railway Line was a dedicated freight railway built during the early nation-building era of Singapore in the 1960s to support trade and the development of the Jurong Industrial Estate in the west.

It served as crucial economic infrastructure, directly transporting raw materials like rubber and timber from mainland Malaysia to factories in Jurong, and exporting processed goods.

However, due to the expansion of the road network and the shift toward truck transport, demand plummeted, leading to its decommissioning and abandonment in the early 1990s.

Difference Between Old Jurong Railway Line and Clementi Road Railway Tunnel

Item	Old Jurong Railway Line	Clementi Road Railway Tunnel
Definition	Refers to the entire railway line laid in the 1960s	A specific infrastructure built along the Old Jurong Railway line
Length	Total length approx. 19.3 km (Main line is approx. 14 km)	Total length approx. 45m
Start & End Points	From Bukit Timah Railway Station to Shipyard Road (near Jurong Port and refineries)	Located at the eastern entrance of Maju Forest, passing directly under Clementi Road
Relationship	Entire line. Includes 2 steel bridges and 3 tunnels	Part of the Old Jurong Railway line

[2 Routes] How to Get to Clementi Road Railway Tunnel

Shoes and hikers covered in mud on the trail to Clementi Road Railway Tunnel. Hikers in tall rain boots won total victory. You can see that even an adult woman’s thighs are stained with mud.

Route	Conditions	Tunnel & Surroundings	Time Required & Difficulty
① “Jungle & Mud-Slide Route” Descending Directly Behind the Bus Stop	No paved roads or stairs exist. Slide down an undeveloped steep slope of 45+ degrees (tropical brush) behind the bus stop while holding onto nearby trees and grass.	A tunnel approx. 45m long. No lighting inside, but large openings at both ends allow natural light to reach the interior.	Takes about 10–15 mins to overcome the slope (Though the distance is only 20m, reaching it in a few minutes is difficult due to extremely poor footing) [Difficulty: Intermediate] *Entry not recommended in the rain as the slope may collapse
② “Full-Scale Jungle Trekking Route” from Clementi Forest Side [This one is more popular]	Enter the deepest part of Clementi Forest, a wild area with no paths or signs. Push through chest-high vegetation, crossing abandoned old tracks, fallen trees, and muddy streams multiple times toward the tunnel.	Same as above. Since it is a jungle up to the tunnel, it is dimly lit.	Takes about 45 mins to 1+ hour to break through the muddy jungle (Takes significant time as your feet keep getting trapped in mud) [Difficulty: Advanced]

💐Overview and Key Features of the Old Jurong Railway Line

Item	Content
Official Name	Jurong Branch Line / Jurong Spur (Malayan Railway Jurong Branch Line)
Construction Start Year	1963 (Official construction started on September 9, 1963; first test run of freight train on November 11, 1965)
Official Operation Start Year	1966 (Official opening and opening ceremony held on March 4, 1966)
Historical Value	Remains of Singapore’s oldest industrial and freight-only railway line that supported Jurong’s industrialization and trade in the nation’s early building era
Total Length	Total length approx. 19.3 km including the main line and branch lines within the industrial estate (Main line alone is 14 km)
Historical Period of Operation	From the economic expansion era of the 1960s until 1992 (decommissioned), when operations completely stopped due to the shift to truck transport
Main Existing Structures	Steel bridges: 2 (Truss bridge at Sunset Way, etc.), Tunnels: 3 locations (Under Maju Camp, etc.)
Completion Date for Nature Trail Transformation	End of 2026 (An approx. 4.0 km section is scheduled to be progressively developed into the “Old Jurong Line Nature Trail”)
Area	Clementi in West Region
Access & Nearest Stations	2 locations ① Opp Maju Camp (Bus Stop ID: 12051): Directly connected to the tunnel entrance ② Blk 308 (Bus Stop ID: 17201): Directly connected to the Sunset Way steel bridge Transfer from Beauty World MRT Station (DT5) or Clementi MRT Station (EW23) for both bus stops.

Clementi Road Railway Tunnel