Buzz
For an adventurous journey through Singapore, opting for the subway is not only a significantly cost-effective choice but also a convenient way to explore the beautiful island nation.
Travelers also have the opportunity to experience the most advanced subway system in Southeast Asia when visiting the Lion City.
Navigating the Singapore Subway System
Moving from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 at Changi
Some budget airline flights land at Terminal 1, Changi Airport, Singapore. During these flights, flight attendants will distribute immigration forms for foreign travelers.
In addition, you can grab pre-filled immigration declaration forms at designated wooden tables. Adjacent to that are two display shelves showcasing free maps of Singapore featuring routes, subway systems, shopping centers, and entertainment spots.
After completing the immigration process, follow the Skytrain to T2 signs to catch the free shuttle from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 – where the subway station connects to the city center.
At Terminal 2, follow the signs for the Train to city subway direction, take the escalator down, then turn left. Walk straight for about 50 meters until you reach the entrance of Terminal 3. Right in front of the entrance, there will be an escalator leading to the underground floor – the location of the subway station.
How to purchase subway cards at the airport
You'll spot the Passenger Service counter right away. Queue up to buy an EZ Link card priced at 12 Singapore Dollars (SGD) (approximately 195,000 Vietnamese Dong), valid for 5 years, with 7 SGD – around 115,000 Dong preloaded.
You can top up your EZ Link card at the Customer Service counter or the money-loading machine – the Ticket Machine next to the subway station. The lowest denomination the machine accepts is 10 SGD (approximately 165,000 Dong). If you don't have small bills, you can exchange currency at the counter.
For a 4-day, 3-night adventure, just top up 10 SGD or 20 SGD (approximately 165,000 – 330,000 Vietnamese Dong) to travel comfortably around Singapore.
The EZ Link card for the subway is a contactless smart card that automatically deducts the corresponding fare based on your destination, ranging from 0.87 SGD (around 14,000 Dong).
Subway routes in Singapore
The East-West Line (in green), also known as East West, abbreviated as EW, consists of 31 stations. It starts from Pasir Ris EW1 and ends at Joo Koon EW29. Two additional stations from Tanah Merah to Changi Airport are Expo CG1 and Changi Airport CG2.
The North-South Line (in red), named North South, abbreviated as NS, comprises 28 stations, starting from Jurong East NS1 and concluding at Marina South Pier NS28.
The East-North Line (in purple), named North East, abbreviated as NE, has 17 stations, starting from Harbour Front NE1 and ending at Punggol NE17.
The Circle Line (in orange), also known as Circle, abbreviated as CC, consists of 30 stations. It starts from Dhoby Ghaut CC1, ends at HarbourFront CC29, and includes an additional station, Bayfront CE1.
The Downtown Line (in light blue), abbreviated as DT, is currently under construction. Currently, 6 stations have been completed in the initial phase: Bugis DT14, Promenade DT15, Bayfront DT16, Downtown DT17, Telok Ayer DT18, and Chinatown DT19.
How to read station names and directions
When taking the subway, pay attention to both the station names and directions.
Station names consist of the abbreviated line name and the station number. For example, the starting station is HarbourFront, indicated as NE1 (part of the purple line), and the destination station is Little India, indicated as NE7 (also on the purple line).
Directions are named after the last station of the line, displayed right above the subway entrance. For example: the purple line has two directions, HarbourFront and Puggol; the red line has two directions, Jurong East and Marina South Pier; the green line has three directions, Pasir Ris, Joo Koon, and Changi Airport.
For interchange stations between different colors (interchange), some locations serve as the interchange of the green and purple lines, such as Outram Park; the red, purple, and yellow lines, like Dhoby Ghaut... You can easily spot them on the subway map.
Getting into the city center
To travel by subway from Changi Airport to the heart of Singapore, start from MRT Changi Airport CG2 to MRT Tanah Merah EW4. Once there, switch to the Joo Koon line. Depending on your accommodation in Singapore, choose a suitable station or change subway lines accordingly.
Many travelers prefer staying in Clarke Quay or Chinatown for dining convenience. From MRT Tanah Merah, proceed to MRT Outram Park. The next step is switching from the green to purple line, heading towards Punggol, and alighting at either MRT Chinatown or MRT Clarke Quay. The travel time from the airport to these areas takes about an hour.
If you opt for accommodation in the Kallang or Bugis area due to affordability and proximity to shopping districts, from MRT Tanah Merah, travel 6 more stops to reach MRT Kallang, or go 8 more stops to reach MRT Bugis (both on the green line).
Additional notes
Stand behind the yellow safety line while waiting for the train, facing the direction of boarding; avoid standing directly in the path of exiting passengers. When boarding the subway, be mindful of the gap between the platform and the train to prevent tripping.
When the train arrives, allow passengers to exit before boarding. Additionally, pay attention to the electronic display board with scrolling information about each station passed/next station to promptly prepare for your arrival station.
Reference: VnExpress
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Source: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourNovember 17, 2015
