With all the buzz around plans to eventually replace the Sentosa Express as part of the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, some Singaporeans – us included – might be feeling a little sentimental. After all, this 4-station monorail from VivoCity to Sentosa has been the go-to way for both locals and tourists to enter the island for years.
But long before the current system ferried beachgoers and staycationers around, there was another OG ride that visitors might remember: the old Sentosa Monorail. Here’s a look back at the retro ride that once looped around the island before making way for the Sentosa Express we know today.
Image credit: Roots
In case you didn’t know, Sentosa was known as Pulau Blakang Mati, which translates rather ominously to “Island Behind Death”. Then in 1970, the name was changed to Sentosa after a naming contest organised by the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board (STPB).
Efforts to transform the island into a tourist and leisure destination soon began after the name change, and in 1972, the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) was formed to oversee its development.
By 1980, plans were underway for another round of upgrades to draw even more visitors. And because getting around the island mostly meant hopping on buses at the time, a monorail system was proposed to improve connectivity. The project then took shape as a 6km monorail line, with a price tag of $16 million.
Image credit: Roots
The old Sentosa Monorail ran on an electric rail system and replaced the island’s double-decker buses as the main way to get around Sentosa.
Fun fact: Many of the monorail drivers were actually former bus drivers and guides who had worked on Sentosa before the new system was introduced. Instead of being displaced by the upgrade, they were retrained to operate the trains instead – a wholesome bit of trivia from the island’s early development days.
The Swimming Lagoon, now known as Palawan Beach.
Image credit: Roots
Our current Sentosa Express only has 4 stations, but the old Sentosa Monorail used to cover a lot more ground. Back then, the train made a 6km loop around Sentosa, stopping at 7 stations across the island on its 30-minute route.
The ride began and ended at the Ferry Terminal station, and took passengers past several key spots, including the former Apollo Sentosa Hotel, the Swimming Lagoon, Fort Siloso, and the cable car station.
Image credit: Roots
Train carriages also had an open-air design, which meant passengers could enjoy the breeze and unobstructed scenery along the ride. Of course, that meant no air-conditioning, so riders were very much at the mercy of Singapore’s weather. Each train had about 15 cabins and could carry roughly 1,000 passengers per hour.
According to Roots, one of the most memorable stretches was the section that curved around the island’s western tip, where riders were treated to views of nearby islands and the lush greenery of Mount Imbiah.
Screenshot from: Facebook
Some Singaporeans online have also been reminiscing about the ride, recalling how it felt like a sightseeing tour around the island. But not everyone remembers it as the most comfortable experience – apparently, the ride could be slow and hot.
There were even stories of monkeys occasionally hopping into the cabins to join the ride, which probably made the journey a lot more exciting than expected.
Old Sentosa Monorail (left) and the current Sentosa Express (right).
Image adapted from: Roots, Sentosa
While the old monorail definitely earns points for nostalgia, we’re probably all a little grateful today when we board the air-conditioned Sentosa Express and immediately feel that blast of cool air.
Image credit: Roots
The old Sentosa Monorail officially began operations on 23rd February 1982 and ran until 15th March 2005, clocking an impressive 23 years of service around Sentosa. For many visitors back in the day, it was part of the Sentosa experience.
But by the early 2000s, expectations had changed. Visitors were starting to look for faster, more comfortable ways to get around the island, including air-conditioned rides and shorter travel times. So in 2007, the old system was replaced by the Sentosa Express, a newer light rail line with a higher passenger capacity that connects directly to VivoCity.
Image credit: Roots
Even though the trains themselves are gone, parts of the old monorail’s legacy still live on. Some former stations were repurposed into attractions, such as the Sentosa Nature Discovery at Imbiah Lookout and the museum at Fort Siloso. There’s even a section of the old tracks that has been turned into an elevated walking path leading to Sentosa Nature Discovery.
It’s been decades since the old Sentosa Monorail retired, but anyone who rode it still remembers it fondly. Maybe that’s your sign to appreciate the Sentosa Express while it’s around. One day, this too will become another nostalgic chapter in Sentosa’s story.
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Cover image adapted from: Roots
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