Fastest, most efficient way to get across the Causeway?

From Monday, you can get from Tanjong Pagar Railway station to Johor Baru (JB) for less than it costs you to get from Bukit Panjang to Punggol by train.

The standard train fare from Bukit Panjang to Punggol costs $3.20.

But, for just $3, you can hop onto the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to Danga City Mall in JB. The journey takes about 90 minutes, including time spent clearing immigration.

In a bid to provide alternative modes of public transport between JB and Singapore, trains which can carry up to 200 passengers will ply the route before continuing to Kempas Baru.


You can buy tickets at KTM stations. You can also book tickets online or through SMS.

But is the train the best way to get to your favourite shopping centres in JB?

Some, like undergraduate Hansel Chen, felt that the shuttle service was a good idea and would use it to beat the jam at the Causeway.

Others, like student Pang Meiqin, 20, who travels to JB twice a week to visit her family members, are less enthusiastic.

She said: 'I prefer to take bus service 950 because I can take the bus from the stop near my home in Woodlands, and the fare is less than $1 using my ez-link card. Furthermore, Danga City Mall is quite out of the way, and there are no other malls nearby.'

The New Paper checks out the various routes:

KTM train

Time taken: 90 minutes to Danga City Mall

Cost: $3

Advantages: The Tanjong Pagar railway station is just off the central business district. You also get to beat the frequent traffic jams at the Causeway and avoid the 200,000 commuters and motorists who use the Causeway daily.

Only an average of 300 people take the KTM train from Tanjong Pagar to JB daily.

There is only one stop at Woodlands for customs and immigration clearance.

Disadvantages: Miss your train and you are in for a long wait. There are only four trains departing from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station daily - at 5.35am, 7.40am, 2pm and 7.10pm.

When you reach Danga City Mall, you will have to take a five-minute taxi ride to malls like City Plaza and Plaza Pelangi.

Bus 950 from Woodlands regional interchange to Johor Baru checkpoint

Cost: $1.20

Time taken: 20 minutes (excluding time taken to clear immigration).

Advantages: It is the cheapest way to JB, with only seven bus stops along the way. The service runs from 5.30am to 11.30pm daily.

Disadvantages: If you do not live in the north, you would have to travel there to take the bus, which only passes by Woodlands and Marsiling.

Bus 170 from Queen Street to Larkin terminal

Cost: $1.60

Advantages: The service runs from 5.20am to 12.10am every day from Queen Street terminal to Larkin terminal.

Disadvantages: This is not the way to go if you have bulky luggage. The bus will not wait for you to clear immigration at the Singapore and Malaysian checkpoints, so you will have to keep taking all your belongings with you.

It is also a long journey as there are several stops along the way.

After clearing immigration, you can either walk straight into JB or hop on the next Service No 170.

You have to keep your bus ticket so that you don't have to pay again if you intend to catch the next bus 170.

Car
Time taken: Depends on the Causeway jam. It can take more than an hour if it is bad.

Advantages: Takes you straight from your doorstep to anywhere you want without the hassle of having to wait for public transport.

Disadvantages: Long waiting time to clear immigration with cars stuck bumper to bumper in heavy traffic at the Causeway.