Singapore train travel guide (2026)

Although Singapore’s long distance railway network has been largely consumed by urban expansion, extensive mass-transit rail options are still available and form a key part of the country’s expansion plans.

As Southeast Asia’s smallest country, there has never been a need (or space) for Singapore to build an extensive long-distance railway network. For many years, long distance trains did run on the island, linking the city centre to Malaysia and further onto Thailand, but the tracks were dismantled in 2011 and replaced with a shuttle service across the Causeway.

While the country is lacking long-distance trains, it does have an extensive mass-transit network, with most of the country’s trackwork used by the MRT system, which stretches across the entire island.

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Original long-distance trains in Singapore

Until 2011, long-distance trains to Malaysia and Thailand began their journey in downtown Singapore at the beautiful Tanjong Pagar station. From there, they travelled across the island to the Causeway before crossing unimpeded into Malaysia to continue on their journey. With all customs and immigration formalities completed before departure, it was an elegant and efficient departure from Singapore.

Although direct trains never ran all the way through to Thailand (aside from a private charter train, the Eastern & Oriental Express), the city centre departure point led to a significantly simpler way to travel from Singapore to Malaysia. Ideally placed and classically designed, Tanjong Pagar station gave a sense of romance and wonder to any journey. It certainly felt like a golden age of travel and formed a highlight of many trips to the region.

You can read more about the Bangkok to Singapore railway line here.

What it looks like today

While it appeared smooth on the surface, the 25km railway line that threaded through the island were an ongoing source of conflict between the Malaysian and Singaporean governments, dating back to an earlier agreement which specified the stations and tracks (and the land they were built on) were actually owned by the Malaysian state railway company (KTMB).

With neither country showing any signs of backing down, the disagreement rumbled on for decades. Attempts were made to break the deadlock and finally, after many years of negotiations, an agreement was reached. The land, tracks and stations would move into Singapore ownership, with the promise on ongoing financial benefits for Malaysia.

In such a land-scare country, railway tracks cutting directly through the heart of the city were always on borrowed time and the government soon decided to tear them up and re-zone the land for residential and commercial usage. Although the grand Tanjong Pagar station was saved from demolition, the direct route from the city centre to Malaysia via the iconic Causeway was lost forever.

Journeys from the city centre to Malaysia are now much more complicated, necessitating a separate journey to Woodlands CIQ either by car, bus or MRT. From there, a shuttle service crosses the Causeway to Johor Bahru’s Sentral Station, where services into the rest of Malaysia begin.

Although long-distance rail has disappeared from the island, the country’s MRT system has grown dramatically since the 1980s, meaning that rail is still the key component in Singapore’s long-term public transport plan.

Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

Covering almost the entire island, Singapore’s MRT system is impressive. Six lines, 140 stations and 240km of track, it’s expanding all of the time and alongside buses and Light Rail Transit, it’s the core component of Singapore’s public transport network.

In addition to the well-connected city centre stops, the main stations of interest for tourists and visitors are:

• Changi Airport, offering links from the airport to the city centre (via Tanah Merah station) in about 35-40 minutes.
• Woodlands CIQ, the most northerly stop on the network and where the shuttle service to Johor Bahru (Malaysia) departs from.
• Tuas Link, the most westerly stop on the network, this marks the other border point with Malaysia.

Future plans

Expansion of the MRT network shows no apparent sign of slowing down, with several new lines either planned or under construction, including in the northeast and southwest corridors.

Going some way to repairing the damage caused by the removal of the long-distance railway line to Malaysia, both governments have put their weight behind a new Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link that will connect Johor Bahru to Singapore via a Light Rail Transit system.

Capable of transporting 10,000 passengers per hour, it’s mainly aimed at commuters and local residents, but it’ll also be a huge plus point for long-distance travellers. Aside from the improved trains and connections, the main benefit will be the juxtaposed border, allowing customs and immigrations checks to be completed before boarding the train, hopefully leading to a smoother journey.

And then, at some point in the future, hopefully high-speed rail might arrive in the region, linking Woodlands in Singapore to Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Thailand and beyond.