Singapore MRT, Singapore

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Part Two of My Singapore MRT Tips with more pictures!

Like in Progressive Areas, Singapore has an efficient Mass Transport System which is a necessity since Singapore has a small area so that Singapore has prohibitive taxes on cars to discourage ownership. The Singpore MRT is the heart of the Mass Transport System. The MRT has 64 operating stations with 109.4 kilometres of lines and operates on standard gauge. Every station has at least four General Ticketing Machines (GTMs), a Passenger Service Centre, LED and plasma displays that show train service information and announcements. All stations are equipped with restrooms and payphones. If Hongkong MTR has an Octupus Magnetic Card Sytem, the Singapore MRT has the EZ Link card, it is a smart card that stores money values and can be used not only in the MRT but also the LRT & Bus system without the need for multiple cards, saving them both time & effort as they no longer need to figure out which card to use for which system. Fares range between SGD 0.90 (one station to the next) upwards - i.e. from Orchard Road to Changi Airport is SGD 1.70. You can buy an EZ Link Card at any MRT station for S$15. This includes a S$3 deposit which is refunded when you return the card. There is a non-refundable amount of S$5 for the card cost and a travel value of S$7 to start with. The minimum top-up is S$10. Any unused value is refundable as well.

Tap the EZ Link card in the designated area on the top of the turnstile to enter the train area and likewise tap the card on the turnstile at your destination to exit. Same for buses - when entering the bus tap the card on the specially designed card reader near the driver and at the rear door when exiting.

only few selected Metro stations can buy the tourist pass & the operation time of selling counters is limite. some even close on sunday. It seems they don't want the tourist to buy their tourist pass.

Singapore is quite huge when you start looking around, so I'm glad their metro system is well built up. It's called MRT-trains, and it goes around on three different lines (a central line under construction too) all over the central parts of the country.

There is red (North south line), blue (North east line), and green (East West line). Green goes in the south parts, red is more up north, while blue goes from west to east. The brown line (Central line) will go more around the city center once it's done in 2010-2011.

You'll need a MRT card that you top up with some money, and then you just put it towards the machine when you enter the station. Then you tap it on the machine again when you get out from your final station and the machine will deduct the amount of money you have travelled for.

Easy also to find your way in the stations, also when you switch trains. There are many signs and even if you would take the wront train you can just take the next one back again.

Piece of cake really.

And just because I wrote that I'll probably get lost the next time I'm going with MRT...

Prices are cheap I would like to say. 1,40 SGD (0,7 euro) for a one way trip, if I'm not mistaken.

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One of the things you must try when you're in Singapore is the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). Conceptualised by our visionary icon, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in the 1960s, the first line was completed in the 1987 and from there, the number of MRT stations around Singapore has grown leaps and bounds.

There are alot of pluses about taking the MRT and they are definitely good reasons why you should try out our trains.

1. No messy train cabins
The one thing the government meted out was a No drinking, no eating and no smoking rule. We did not have any problem with that as the people in Singapore has been primed not to do all these even in our public buses. The great thing about the trains are that they are pretty new and that the older trains (Most of them are at most 15 years) have been phased out. So the air-con filters in the trains are well maintained.

2. It's Safe
I have never heard of train robberies in the MRT. It's pretty safe and the train stations are very well managed. Also, there's no need to worry about which cabin is safer. I still remembered taking a train in Europe where there're safe train cabins where there are guards to protect you. If you ride in other cabins, you're left to your own perogative.

3. Not Crowded if Travels Are Done Off-Peak
Don't rush with the working crowd during the 7-9am and 6-8pm timebelts. Other than that, travelling in the train is a breeze. Still, there's enough standing space even during peak hours and yes, there are no official "pushers" to help you into the train such as in Japan.

4. It's Efficient
There are no confusing signs nor major train delays. You'll know that you'll get to your station safe and sound.

Do note that you can even take a train from the airport to city. Totally cost effective!

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The MRT is a convenient (and cooler!!!) way of getting around Singapore.
When you purchase a single ticket, you will be issued with an electronic card. After completing your journey, you can get a $1 refund (within 30 days of travel) from any ticket machine - just slot the card into the machine (you can ignore pressing the "refund deposit" button on the machine), and a $1 coin will be automatically dispensed. (December 2006 price).

Remebmber not eat or drink on the MRT as you could get fined for doing so.

If there's a way to get to your destination via MRT, you should take it. It's cheap, fast and efficient. You can get tickets at self-service kiosks at the station, which includes a 1 SGD deposit. You can claim your deposit once you return the card.

Fare range: SGD 0.80 to SGD 1.80.
Operating houres: 5:30AM to 12 midnight everyday.

Take the MRT to move around in Singapore. It's the fastest, most convenient, safest and cheapest way to travel. It brings you to almost all the tourist attractions around the island. If you are planning to be here for some time, get an EZ link card from the counter. There are some discounts when using the card to travel on MRT and you don't have to bother about the $1 deposit if you purchase the normal ticket.

More to come. Just holding the place while its still 430am.

The MRT is quite the nice subway system. And my favorite thing about public transportation they are expanding it.

Fares are based on distance with your ezlink being scanned upon entrance and exit and the value deducted. I do not believe I saw any fares over about SG$2.

Almost all stations are about 3 to 4 blocks away from each other at least inside the city.