Singaporeans, Malaysians and Foreigners alike are crossing the borders of Singapore and Malaysia everyday of the year 24×7. There never comes a moment where footsteps does not echo through the immigration hallway. This seemingly comfortable and direct commute can take as short as 30min, but also escalate exponentially to more than 3 excruciating hours !
Fortunately, we do have various transport options to consider for commuting into Johor Bahru from Singapore. Let’s do an overview of every options on hand before we drill down into their respective pros and cons.
Remember to always check the live traffic condition at Woodlands or Tuas immigration checkpoint before you make the trip on the day, to estimate the expected queuing time to clear the borders. This will make your journey a lot less time consuming, and hassle free.
Let’s look at some of the exit points in Singapore where you can catch a ride to cross the border from Singapore to Malaysia.
- Public bus
3. Private taxi services from Singapore to Malaysia
Public Bus
Kranji MRT
For the Northerners of Singapore, the oldest and most familiar trick on the book is to head to Kranji MRT and take SBS Transit 170X or Causeway Link CW1 (yellow bus). Both buses depart regularly and is a stone throw away from Woodlands Checkpoint (by car).
The other way is to head over to the opposite of Kranji MRT and hop on to SBS bus service 160 or 170.
My personal recommendation, choose the 1st option over the 2nd. The latter are not meant for the faint-hearted, as the situation can get rough at times.
Pros
Bus stops right in front of the MRT station and is the shortest distance to Woodlands Checkpoint, plus you have a total of 4 different bus services to choose from. If you are heading to Johor Bahru city, this is the place to start your journey.
Cons
For the newbies, it is a daunting tasks to find the queues (and at times, the lack of it) for the correct bus. The queues itself can get very lengthy during rush hour or on Friday & weekends. To add to the agony, you get loads of “queue-cutters” (especially for 170X) and sometimes it can get pushy when you board the bus
Frequency for SBS bus service 170
Frequency and fare table for Causeway Link bus service CW1
Locations in Singapore where Causeway Link operates the cross border bus services.
Kranji MRT station
1. Bus service CW1
Jurong East MRT station
1. Bus service CW3
2. Bus service CW4
3. Bus service CW6
Newton Circus MRT station
1. Bus service CW5
Queen Street bus terminal (nearest to Bugis MRT station)
1. Bus service CW2
Woodlands Interchange
You can take SMRT bus service 950 to Woodlands Checkpoint directly, or alternatively SMRT bus service 911/912/913/903/856 to alight at the bus stop opposite Old Woodlands Interchange. From here, you can take a 10 minute walk to the Immigration Hall. This is especially useful on Friday evening.
Pros
Can bypass the traffic jam heading into the Immigration bus bay areas, from Kranji Road. Queuing up to board the bus is a much more orderly affair compared to Kranji.
Cons
Choosing over so many different bus services can sometimes be like trying to hit the jackpot. You either end up waiting indefinitely or get to board the bus within minutes, as their bus frequency is longer than 170X.
Jurong East Bus Interchange
If you happen to live around Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Batok or western part of Singapore, then Jurong East Interchange is to go-to place for your cross-border transport.
You can take SBS Transit service 160 to Woodlands Checkpoint or board Causeway Link CW3 to Tuas Checkpoint.
Bus frequency for 160
Frequency for Causeway Link bus service CW3
Pros
The Jurong East crowd are seemingly lesser than Woodlands and if you are looking to go Bukit Indah area in Nusajaya then this is for you. Traffic jam at the Immigration are usually manageable, unless its the beginning of a long holiday where many are heading north into Malaysia. Majority use Tuas Checkpoint as a gateway into Malaysia when they are north bound.
Cons
This is not for you, if you are looking to go shopping in Johor Bahru city as it is quite a distance from Bukit Indah. Avoid going via Tuas Checkpoint or long weekends or beginning of holidays.
Boon Lay MRT
Boon Lay residents or those working at Tuas can board Causeway Link CW6 at the bus stop outside Boon Lay MRT. This bus service goes via Tuas Checkpoint to Bukit Indah area too.
Pros
Similar to the ones I’ve highlighted for Jurong East
Cons
Similar to the ones I’ve highlighted for Jurong East
Queen Street Bus Terminal
From Bugis MRT station, follow the sign that leads you to Rochor Road. The unsheltered bus terminal will be after Rochor Centre and beside “Our Lady of Lourdes” Catholic Church. From the bus terminal, you can choose between Causeway Link CW2 or SJE (Singapore-Johor Express). Both will take the Woodlands Checkpoint route, heading into Malaysia and subsequently ending at Larkin Bus Station.
Pros
Direct service between Queen Street Bus Terminal and Woodlands Checkpoint. After passing the immigration hall, only SJE ticket holders will be allowed to board the bus, avoiding the need to queue with others. Since the journey from Queen St to Woodlands Checkpoint is about 30min, one can always take a short nap since everyone is guaranteed a seat. No standing in the bus is allowed.
Cons
Tickets holders for CW2 will need to rejoin the queue with the rest of the other CW bus ticket holders, after immigration clearance. SJE bus frequency can get seriously long at times, not recommended for late night trips.
Resort World Sentosa
Transtar TS8 cross border bus service plies the route between Resort World Sentosa and JB Sultan Iskandar CIQ in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Timings from Resorts World Sentosa |
Weekdays | Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
| 08:00 – 23:00 | 09:00 – 23:00 | |||||||||||
| Departure Timings from JB CIQ |
Weekdays | Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
| 05:30 – 21:00 | 06:00 – 21:00 | |||||||||||
| Frequency |
||||||||||||
| From RWS |
60 – 120 mins | |||||||||||
| From JB CIQ |
45 – 120 mins (Weekdays) 60 – 180 mins (Weekends & Public Holidays) |
|||||||||||
Pros
The only bus service that brings you to the Southern region of Singapore.
Cons
High demand for the cross border service especially during weekday peak hours, so plan ahead and avoid the peak hour traffic.
KTM Train
KTM Tebrau Shuttle
You can board KTM Tebrau Shuttle before the sky-bridge leading into the Immigration Hall when you alight at the bus stop opposite Old Woodlands Interchange. To alight at the bus stop opposite Old Woodlands Interchange, you can take 911/912/913/903/856 (Woodlands MRT) or 170/178 (Kranji MRT).
Ticket price is SGD5 (Singapore – Johor Bahru) and RM5 (Johor Bahru – Singapore), and you can only buy a single trip ticket at the KTM counter. The return trip ticket has to be purchased at JB Sentral KTM counter.
For convenience, Shuttle Tebrau ticket can also be purchased online and you may refer to our 10-step guide to purchase the ticket online.
Remember to check-in 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
*2022* Tebrau Shuttle timetable for JB Sentral to Woodlands
| Station | ||||||||||||||||||
| JB Sentral | 0500 | 0530 | 0600 | 0630 | 0700 | 0730 | 0845 | 1000 | 1130 | 1245 | 1400 | 1515 | 1630 | 1745 | 1900 | 2015 | 2130 | 2245 |
| Woodlands | 0505 | 0535 | 0605 | 0635 | 0705 | 0735 | 0850 | 1005 | 1135 | 1250 | 1405 | 1520 | 1635 | 1750 | 1905 | 2020 | 2135 | 2250 |
*2022* Tebrau Shuttle timetable for Woodlands to JB Sentral
| Station | |||||||||||||
| Woodlands | 0830 | 0945 | 1100 | 1230 | 1345 | 1500 | 1615 | 1730 | 1845 | 2000 | 2115 | 2230 | 2345 |
| JB Sentral | 0835 | 0950 | 1105 | 1235 | 1350 | 1505 | 1620 | 1735 | 1850 | 2005 | 2120 | 2235 | 2350 |
Pros
Fastest method to beat the traffic jam on the causeway, and a hassle free immigration clearance process. You can clear both Singapore and Malaysia immigration in the same building itself. You can even get wheelchair facilities for the elderly or physically challenged. Train usually sets off on schedule.
Cons
Expensive ticket at SGD5 for a 5-minute journey, and tickets can be hard to get especially during morning & evening rush hours. Limited timeslots and seating capacity.
Singapore to Malaysia Private Taxi Service
You can pre-book a cross border taxi service from at least 12 hours in advance from Singapore to Johor Bahru (or any parts of Malaysia). Private taxi service company communicates via WhatsApp (+6011-2183 8820), WeChat (okgojb), SMS (+6011-2183 8820) or E-mail ([email protected]) for enquiries or request for quotes based on your itinerary. For instant booking, you can complete your taxi reservation online. They provide door-to-door service at your preferred time and allows customization of your travel plans.
Prices start from SGD70 for a 7-seater MPV
Pros
Door-to-door service at your preferred pick up time, and allows customization of travel plans. You no longer need to worry about traffic jam, or search your GPS for the destination. Passengers can also remain in the comfort of the car for immigration clearance (up to 10-seater mpv only). A hassle-free & convenient way for your next travel plan.
Cons
Pricier than conventional public transport
WeChat okgojb
WhatsApp (+60)11 2183 8820
Email [email protected]
INSTANT BOOKING For Private Taxi Service To Johor Bahru (JB)
