Singapore MRT, Singapore

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The EZ-Link card card can be used for both the SMRT & SBS Transit. 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.

"Last train to Boon Lay,
If you wanna go home.
Don't hop off at Lakeside,
It's a long walk alone."
~robertgaz~

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a convenient way of getting aound Singapore. The ez-link card which has a stored value can be purchased at the stations. You may buy a single trip ticket using the machines located at the stations. You may get a refund of your $1 deposit from any of the machines at the stations.

Do take note of the interchange where you hope on to another line. You may find this map useful.

I have marked out the nearest MRT to some attractions. email me if the picture is not too clear.

www.smrt.com.sg/trains/routemap/routemap.pdf

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.

MRT is a good way to get to different places in Singapore. It's clean and safe, no worries. But it's very very crowded during the rush hours, so you would have a chance to transform into a sardine. Or if you have been learning Yoga, taking MRT in the morning can surely give you the chance to stretch your limbs to the person next to you as near as possible. =)

Here are some info for you

To Orchard Road
- it's under the north-south 'red' line.
- You can get off at Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset or Orchard Stations to shop around and explore

To Chinatown
- You can get off either at Outram Park or Chinatown Station.

To Raffles City or Peninsular Plaza
- City Hall Station, it's also an interchange station to take to another train route.

To Sentosa
- Alight at Harbour Front Station (North-East Line)

To the workhub of Singapore and Lau Pat Sat Food Centre
- Raffles Place Station

For a heartlander taste, you can alight at some stations to explore around. Once you come out, you would see shopping malls for locals.
North-South Line
- Bishan, Toa Payoh, Woodland and Choa Chu kang Station

East-West Line
- Tampines , Pasir Ris Station or Boon Lay Station (Boon Lay is the end of West line)

North-East Line
- Sengkang

Staying at the Carlton Hotel, we were just across the road from the Raffles City and the City Hall MRT train station. So we used the MRT quite a lot. The lines are colour marked and you purchase your tickets from a machine and get a $1SGD back when you alight.

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.

Bus fares start from 80 cents. Be sure you have exact fare, as bus drivers do not give change. For convenience, buy a $15 EZ-Link car with an encoded $10 value, wich allows chashless payment on all public buses and trains (MRT). The remining value is REFUNDABLE. REMEMBER TO PUT THE CARD IN THE MACHINE FOR REFUN THE MONEY.

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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.

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I think this is one of the best ways to travel while in Singapore. Its easy ,fast and cheap. All you have to do is just get a free map at any MRT station and then just see what station you want to go to which is closest to the places you want to visit. There is various lines , so changing from one line to the next is a breeze once you worked out where you want to go. You can even take the MRT to Changi Airport instead of paying the high taxi prices. Its well worth it and its not a problem travelling with your luggage on the MRT.

The theme park island of Sentosa lies off the southern coast of Singapore island.

It is possible to reach Sentosa by public transport. Using the ultra-efficient MRT network, you need to take a train to Harbour Front MRT station. This will involve a change of trains at Outram Park MRT station.

I started my journey from Bugis MRT station and the journey to Harbour Front took about 20 minutes (including a few minutes waiting for a connecting train at Outram Park). The cost of the journey was just S$1.50.

Upon arrival at Harbour Front, the various methods of crossing over to Sentosa are clearly signposted. Follow the signs through the adjoining shopping mall to the buses, ferries and cable cars that make the short journey across to Sentosa. It is also possible to walk across the bridge to Sentosa from here.

I purchased a ticket for Sentosa which included amongst the various attractions cable car transfers to and from the island. This is a great way to arrive at the island - the views are spectacular (but it's not for the faint-hearted!).