How to catch the train in Singapore
Singapore has an extensive Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network of train lines that criss-cross the island. It can feel overwhelming to navigate this system if you’re a new visitor to Singapore. The first time I visited Singapore, I was a fair bit confused about how to buy a ticket, which trains I should catch, and how to navigate the network - I had no idea what I was doing. I put this guide together hopefully to help visitors to Singapore feel less confused when they first encounter this incredible train system.
It typically costs between S$1.10 and S$2.00 for a single train journey in Singapore. Expect to pay slightly more if you are catching the train from Changi airport, or over similar long distances. Credit card is the easiest way to pay for the fare, or alternatively a prepaid EZ Link card can be purchased. Google Maps is a good tool to plan your route, however it occasionally makes mistakes with transfer options (particularly if transferring to a bus).
I put together this step-by-step guide to cover:
- How to buy a ticket
- How to plan your route
- How to ride the train
- How much it costs
This guide focuses on how visitors can catch the MRT in Singapore. For more info about how to catch the KTM train to/from Malaysia, check out the References section at the bottom of this guide.
Step 1: Buy a ticket
There are two main ways to pay for an MRT ride in Singapore:
- Credit or debit card
- EZ Link
Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards are accepted for use on Singapore trains. This is the way I recommend most foreigners pay for their train fares, and the way I personally pay for my own. Apply Pay and Google Pay also work when used with a Visa or Mastercard.
There is a 60 cent per day charge for using a non-Singaporean credit card. This charge applies regardless of how many journeys you make in a day.
For most visitors to Singapore, paying this charge is still better than using an EZ Link card due to a non-refundable S$5 card fee when purchasing the card.
EZ Link is the prepaid fare card in Singapore. It can be purchased from MRT stations and convenience stores island wide. If purchased at an MRT station, it costs S$10 and comes with S$5 credit; convenience stores are allowed to charge a slightly higher price for the same S$5 credit. This is enough credit for 3-4 single trips on a train.
The S$15 tourist SIM card from Singtel includes an EZ Link card with S$3 on it. This is enough to get you anywhere in the city from the airport.
Topping up a prepaid card can be done using machines at train stations, or at the customer service desk.
Cash tickets have been phased out and cash can no longer available as a payment method on the Singapore MRT.
Kids can travel free on the Singapore MRT if they are below 90cm and under 7 years old.
Step 2: Plan your route
The most straightforward way I’ve found of planning a route is to use Google Maps. While it occasionally makes mistakes by suggesting a route that I know will be slower, I’ve found it to be the easiest for a visitor to use when coming to Singapore. It can also suggest where to interchange for a bus if that will help you reach your destination quicker (or with less walking).
There are 6 MRT lines in Singapore:
| Line | Interesting Destinations |
|---|---|
| North South Line (red) | Downtown/CBD, Newton, Marina South Pier (cruise terminal), Khatib (bus stop for Mandai wildlife parks) |
| East-West Line (green) | Changi Airport, Downtown/CBD, Tanjong Pagar |
| North-East Line (purple) | Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Little India, Harbourfront (Sentosa) |
| Circle Line (yellow) | Marina Bay Sands, Suntec |
| Downtown Line (blue) | Downtown/CBD, Chinatown, Little India |
| Thomson East Coast Line (brown) | Maxwell, Gardens by the Bay, Springleaf (bus stop for Mandai wildlife parks) |
There are also 2 LRT (light rapid transit) serving the heartland towns of Sengkang and Punggol.
A detailed map can be found at every train station showing details of every line in Singapore. This is great if you know which station you need to go to. There are also maps on the platform that show you which direction that platform is travelling in, and how long it will take to reach each station.
Trains in Singapore operate on a frequency basis, meaning there is no real timetable. Expect trains to come every 2-5 minutes depending on the time of day.
The first train each day is usually around 6am and the last train usually around midnight, depending on which line. This is slightly different for Changi Airport:
- First train to Changi Airport is around 5:30am most days or around 6:00am on Sundays and public holidays
- Last train from Changi Airport is around 11:15pm every day
For more accurate detail that’s updated frequently by the train operator SMRT, check out the website here.
Step 3: Arrive at the station and ride the train
At a train station in Singapore you will typically find:
- Toilets
- Automated ticket top up machines
- Staffed passenger service centre
Toilets can be located within the paid area or unpaid area depending on the station; some stations have their toilet located in a connected shopping mall. Convenience stores and small shops can also be found in many stations, though remember that eating and drinking in paid areas of stations is not allowed.
Tap your payment card at the fare gate and pass through to enter the paid area of the station. From here, nearly all stations will require you to take an escalator to your platform. Lifts are also available with priority given to the elderly, disabled, and prams (if using Bencoolen MRT I highly recommend using the lift instead of the escalators).
Signs will indicate which direction trains are travelling on each platform - make sure you pick the right one. The direction will be indicated as the last station on the line, or the last station that train is travelling to.
If you’re lost, there are maps on the platform that list every station trains on that platform will stop at.
Interchanging between trains is simply a matter of following the signs directing you to the other line. Nearly all interchanges in the city do NOT require you to tap your card (I think you have to at Newton, but you’re not charged any extra for doing this).
The fare will be automatically calculated when you finish your journey (and tap to leave the station) based on the distance you travelled. If you do not tap your card when you exit (e.g. you tap the wrong card), you will be charged the maximum fare (currently S$2.37)
You can sit anywhere on a train, though there are priority seats for the elderly, pregnant, and disabled. Singaporeans also like to offer their seats to children, though this isn’t a requirement. I like to stand for most train journeys though as - due to my westerner size - I’m too wide to fit on the train seats.
How much it costs to catch the MRT in Singapore
A single journey on a train will typically cost between S$1.20 and S$2, depending on how far you travelled. Interchanges between trains do not come with an additional charge.
I wrote a whole guide on how much it costs to catch the train in Singapore. Check it out here: reachingsingapore.com/singapore-train-cost
The minimum fare is currently just over S$1, though this will only include 1-2 stops.
The maximum fare is currently S$2.37. Meaning no matter how far you travel, you will not pay more than this for a journey. This is a very expensive journey by Singapore standards and would cover you from one end of the island to the other.
Fares are expected to increase for 2024, so check back here and I will update when they do.
There is no daily fare cap in Singapore. Each journey is paid for separately, and if you take many journeys in a day this can add up. A journey is the end-to-end trip that you take - you will not be charged extra for interchanges/transfers. An explanation of the transfer/interchange rules can be found here.
Unlimited travel on trains is possible using the Singapore Tourist Pass, but this is very expensive. The tourist pass starts at S$22 for a single day, but can be purchased for 3 days (where the S$34 cost translates to S$11.33 per day). I often find that it is NOT worth recommending for most visitors to Singapore. If you plan on taking trains (or buses) a lot, then you can consider this pass.
References
These are sources I used, and further reading you might find interesting:
- For more detail about catching the KTM train to Malaysia from Singapore, check out their website here.
- The rules around children’s fares are explained fully (but hidden at the bottom) on SBST’s website here.
- Details of the complete fare table can be found on LTA’s website here.
- My guide, including data, on how much trains cost in Singapore. Check it out here
