Transportation
Singapore is one of the easiest cities in the world to get around.
Its public transportation system is comprehensive, safe, efficient and convenient, not to mention easy on the pocket!
MRT
If you want to move quickly and easily from place to place, the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is it. With four lines and over 70 stations, it has got most of Singapore covered. The trains are safe, clean and reliable, arriving every three to eight minutes from 5.30am to 12.30am daily.
The Light Rail Transit (LRT), with 14 stations, serves the Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang estates and is linked to the MRT. Currently under construction, the Downtown Line will be the fifth MRT line when it is ready in 2013, serving the Bukit Timah and eastern areas of Singapore.
To travel on the MRT and LRT, you may either purchase single trip tickets or the more convenient EZ-link card. The EZ-link card is a stored value card which you can use to travel on trains and buses without having to work out the exact fare. It even gives you rebates for multiple trips and transfers!
Fares on the MRT are very affordable, from SGD 1 to 2.20 for a single trip, even less if you use the EZ-link card. You may use this online tool to calculate your train fare.
EZ-link cards may be purchased or topped up at any MRT/LRT station and bus interchanges. Do check out more details on the Transitlink website.
For more details on MRT routes, fares and travel times, visit the SMRT website.
Buses
For affordability, you can’t beat public buses. But don’t let the low fares fool you – public buses in Singapore are efficient, convenient and reliable, covering almost all parts of the island. Bus stops are often located right next to MRT stations, so the most effective way of getting from point to point is often to combine MRT and bus rides.
Bus services are regular, with waiting time averaging 10 to 20 minutes. They run daily from 5.30am to midnight. Fares range from SGD 0.80 to 1.80 for a single trip. To travel on buses, you may either pay the exact fare via a coin slot right next to the bus driver’s seat (no change will be given), use the EZ-link card which is also operable on the MRT/LRT or your student concession card. Just as with the MRT, the EZ-link card offers better value and convenience for bus rides.
Need to calculate your fare based on your bus route? You can do it here.
The majority of buses in Singapore are run by main bus operators SBS Transit Ltd and SMRT Buses Ltd. Their websites offer online help with bus routes and fares, even a convenient journey planner. If you plan to ride on buses frequently, the Transit Link Bus Guide which lists all the bus and SMRT services and routes would come in handy. You can buy the guide from all SMRT stations. As an added bonus, you can even find out when the next bus will arrive at your bus-stop using the IRIS service.
Taxis
It’s easy to get a taxi, except perhaps during certain public holidays or when there is heavy rain. You may go to a taxi stand, make a booking via phone or internet, or flag one down from the side of the road (except in the city). Taxi fares are relatively cheap compared to other major cities in the world though you will need to take note of surcharges for ERP, peak hours, midnight, public holidays and certain locations such as Singapore Changi International Airport and Singapore Expo.
If you have difficulty getting a taxi, you may want to call for one. These are the numbers for the following taxi companies: