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Travelling from Singapore to Johor Bahru by Bus?
By Felix Ker on May 24, 2010

Just a brief introduction of myself, I’m a frequent traveller to and fro the two cities. I’ve been doing this for the past 15 years, not one or two. Doing this for such a long time, I realised that there’s a pattern to the buses.

Travel fares (As at publishing date)

Note that if you travel from JB, you pay fares in Ringgit Malaysia. If you board the bus at Singapore Customs or in Singapore, you’d have to pay in Singapore Dollars.

Want to be time and cost efficient? You can be a smart traveller. Read on.

JB Customs to Kranji
Causeway Link (Bus CW1) – $0.90
SBS Transit (Bus 170) – $1.00
JB Customs to Jurong East
SBS Transit (Bus 160) – Not sure of price, but there’s no competitors.
JB Customs to Woodlands Interchange
SMRT (Bus 950)
JB to Queens Street (Bugis)
JB-SG Express (Only 1 bus) – $2.50
Causeway Link (CW2)- $2.50

If you just got off the bus/mrt with an ezlink card, it would be worth it to use the transfer rebate and get on a SBS/SMRT Bus.

Travelling Strategy

There are certain times that we consider peak hours:-

  • Monday Mornings (7am-9am) – Out to Singapore
  • Everyday (530pm-8pm) – to JB
  • Friday Evenings (5pm-10pm) – to JB
  • Saturday & Sunday (Whole morning and afternoon) – to JB
  • Sunday (4pm – 10pm) – to Singapore

During peak hours, the queues are usually longer than usual. I mean really a lot longer.

What bus to take?

Depending on where you are travelling to. If you’re travelling from Queens Street, you can take both buses, they’re both okay. What you’re going to read below is for boarding the bus at Kranji.

Generally, if you’re heading to Larkin Bus Terminal, do NOT take CW1/CW2. Just take 170. I realise that their buses just disappear at JB customs and they will arrange for a shuttle bus to fetch you to Larkin. My previous wait was almost an hour.

Peak hours to JB – It is actually okay to take any bus.

Non-peak hours to JB – Do NOT take Causeway Link’s CW1. You won’t want to be stuck at Singapore Customs with no bus and having to switch to 170/160/950 – you’ll end up wasting your fare.

Non/Peak hours to SG – From JB Customs, all buses are okay, but note that 950 has less buses. If you’re heading to Kranji, do NOT take CW1 if you’re in a rush. CW1 buses disappear at Singapore Customs, I notice. So, take 170.

I have no intention to flame Causeway Link, but I’m hate the way CW1 and CW2 buses make us wait. I’m not the only one complaining. Their buses take damn long to arrive if you’re not travelling during the peak hours. Refer to the above peak times. So I’d recommend that you take SBS/SMRT buses.

If you’re representing Causeway Link/Handal Indah and you have comments, feel free to contact me.

So do you have any travelling tips you’d like to share with us?

9 Responses to “Travelling from Singapore to Johor Bahru by Bus?”

  1. Umar says:
    September 23, 2011 at 2:21 am

    I am about to travel to singapore and I want to go for one day to Johor Bahru and then back to Singapore, how much is the visa fee and Johor Bahru and which is the cheapest way to travel both sides

    Reply
  2. Shirani Graham says:
    August 19, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Thanks Felix Ker for your reply. Well if the Immigration at Johor bahru rejects a visa on arrival, will they fine or penalty? In that case the traveler has to return back to Singapore again or what will be the situation I read many news in many web sites, but things are not very clear, and most of the information are so old. What I need is hot hot news that is covered in the year 2011 and not in the past 1990′s. Please reply me again dear to my email address: [email protected] 20.8.2011

    Reply
  3. Felix Ker says:
    August 14, 2011 at 9:41 am

    1. From Queen’s St to Singapore Checkpoint it’s approx 35mins if there’s no traffic congestion anywhere. After clearing the immigrations in Singapore, use the ticket to re-board the bus. Again assuming there’s no congestion, 5 mins is all you need!
    2. In Singapore, you can use SGD coins. At JB, you can use RM Coins. If boarding the bus at Queens Street (Bugis), you can use ezlink too.
    3. Clearance in Singapore usually doesn’t take longer than 15mins (including the queue). As for the arrival visa at JB, learn more about the visa here -> http://passport.my/Malaysian%20Visa.htm

    Reply
  4. shirani says:
    August 12, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    I need few questions from your end:-

    1. How long does the bus 170 takes from Queens stree to JB Singapore and JB check points?
    2. Can I use Singapore coins as the bus fare or I have to use the EZ link card?
    3. How long will it take it take to clear the Immigration at Singapore check point and to get the on arrival visa at JB immigration.
    Please send me your reply to my email: ****[email protected] (Email edited to prevent spam) thanks.
    Sjirani
    12.8.2011

    Reply
  5. Bernard says:
    December 22, 2010 at 1:00 am

    Thanks Felix, useful information after searching so many useless sites on how to get to and from SG-JB.

    Reply
  6. Ms Sree says:
    October 12, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    CW3, how much is the fare?
    frm Bkt Indah JB bus strait to S’pore or stop anywhere in JB. pls advise

    Reply
  7. Fen says:
    October 4, 2010 at 2:29 am

    Hello! I’m a newbie. I want to go to Johor. But still, I was thinking, take the yellow bus from kranji all the way to Johor? How much would it be?

    And also, how do I come back from Johor? Where do you recommend to go to when go to Johor?

    I am going for one day trip only:) Just trying to experience.

    Reply
  8. Ruth Lee says:
    June 17, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Hi.. Can you please advise me how long will it takes for me to travel from JB Custom to Woodland MRT during the weekdays?

    Reply

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