The need for a rail system in colonial Singapore arose as early as the 1860s when demand for primary produce from the Peninsula grew. Materials and goods had to be moved efficiently to Keppel Harbour which was the main point of import/export trade. But, the construction of the much needed railway only started in 1903.

The first system centred around the main station at Tank Road located at the existing large traffic island in front of the Tank Road Chettiars Temple. In the 1910s, the line was extended south across the river, finally connecting to the Tanjong Pagar Docks and all the wharves. A direct link to Johor was later realised when the Causeway was constructed in 1923.

This marked the beginning of the heydays of rail as a means of goods transport, communications and travel between Singapore, Malaya and Siam. The natural wealth of Malaya, particularly tin and rubber, could now be seamlessly transported to the ships by a combination of human sweat and steam power to the markets of the world.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
Singapore was envisioned to be the starting and ending point of a rail network which would stretch West to Calais in France, North to Hankou in China and onwards to the Trans-Siberian network.

This gave impetus to create a main railway station worthy of its role as a gateway to Asia. Thus, between 1929 and 1932, the railways were realigned and the Tanjong Pagar (Singapore) Railway Station was built. It surpasses the other stations of the rail network that stretches from Singapore up to Thailand, in terms of artistic and symbolic value.

Opened on 2 May 1932 by then Governor of Singapore,Sir Cecil Clementi, the TPRS is a fine example of Modern Architecture with Neo-Classical and Art-Deco influences and, an integration of public art and local design motifs. The design of the part-2 part-3 storey building with a lofty vaulted atrium is credited to the acclaimed Singapore firm - Swan & MacLaren.

Its key feature is the 21.6 m high vaulted space above the main waiting hall (equivalent to 3 storeys). The airy interior provides a sufficient climatic buffer to ensure a pleasant temperature at all times, while creating an impressive public civic space. On the exterior of its front facade stand four heroic sculptures representing the four sources of wealth of Singapore and Malaya - Agriculture, Commerce, Transport and Industry.

On three sides are impressive palatial scale facades; one overlooks the station forecourt while the other two front Keppel Road and Spottiswoode Park Road.

During the time when rail travel was considered novel and glamourous, a hotel used to occupy the upper storeys of the TPRS. Weary travellers who needed a place to rest could book one of these 2nd storey rooms.

The TPRS was gazetted in 2011 as a national monument in recognition of its architectural and social significance.

Bukit Timah Railway Station (BTRS)
The BTRS was part of the three (Alexandra and Tanglin Halt) smaller railway stations constructed to serve the suburban areas of Singapore. 

The BTRS followed the style of the traditional small town stations that were common in the United Kingdom and Malaya.
It is an open-sided single-storey brick building that fronts the main railway line with an open platform. Its cosy country cottage appearance has made it an endearing local landmark.

Cargo such as horses used to be unloaded and loaded at the BTRS. While it no longer performed the role of a freight interchange in its recent history,  the BTRS was where key tokens were exchanged between the train drivers and the station master.

The exchange of key tokens was to ensure the safety of the trains and prevent head-on collision with an on-coming train, as the entire route is on a single track, except at the stations. A train coming from the north would deposit the key token for the northern stretch (ie Woodlands to Bt Timah) before picking up the key token for the southern stretch (ie Bt Timah to Tanjong Pagar) at BTRS. The key tokens have thus come to symbolize the authority to pass through a sector. The BTRS was gazetted in 2011 as conserved building.