Singapore offers one of the best public transportation systems in the world. It is often rated as efficient, comfortable, safe, reliable and affordable. Singapore is well connected due to its transport network of trains, buses and taxis.
Buses
Buses are often viewed as a cheaper alternative to taxis and provide greater reach when compared to trains. SBS Transit and SMRT are the two public bus operators in Singapore.
Types of Bus Services
Apart from the basic bus services, there are certain special services like:
* Feeder bus services - Provide loop services from bus terminals to housing estates. The services are regular and cheap with a flat fare.
* Express Services - These services have fewer stops and save on travel time.
* Night Service - Operates on Fridays, Saturdays & eve of Public Holidays, from 11: 30 pm to 4:30 am (SMRT's Night Rider Service) or 12 midnight to 2:00 am (SBS Nite Owl Service) from the city to certain residential neighbourhoods, for a flat fare.
* Stadium direct - These services will be available after selected concerts and events, plying from the Singapore Indoor Stadium to certain residential neighbourhoods, for a flat fare.
* SMRT Link - Free shuttle service from the city centre (Dhoby Ghaut) to Little India and Chinatown on weekends and public holidays.
Operating Hours and Frequency
* The bus service begins everyday from 06:00 hrs and the last service is at 00:00 hrs.
* The frequency of buses during peak periods is 5 - 8 minutes and off-peak periods is 15-18 minutes.
Trains
There is Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) passenger train service with stations all over the island. Complementing the MRT is the LRT or Light Rapid Transit which is a feeder service between the MRT and the surrounding areas in a large neighbourhood. Trains are operated by two service providers - SMRT and SBS Transit. Trains are the fastest and most cost-effective way of getting around Singapore. You will usually find trains overcrowded during the peak hours.
MRT Lines
There are currently three main lines in operation:
* North-South line (red line) from Marina Bay to Jurong East
* East-West line (green line) from Changi Airport/Pasir Ris to Joo Koon
* North-East line (purple line) from Harbour Front to Punggol
A fourth Circle Line or orange line (an orbital line linking all radial lines running into the city) and an upcoming fifth Downtown line (connecting the northwestern and eastern regions of Singapore to the new downtown at Marina Bay in the south and the Central Business District) are in the process of construction and are set to open in phases, in 2009 and 2013 respectively.
LRT Lines
There are currently three LRT lines in operation in three large neighbourhoods of Singapore:
* Bukit Panjang LRT (towards the North) that links Bukit Panjang Town to the Choa Chu Kang MRT Station.
* Sengkang LRT (North East) that connects residents of Sengkang estate to the Sengkang MRT Station.
* Pungoll LRT (North East) that connects residents of Punggol estate to the Punggol MRT Station.
Operating Hours and Frequency
The trains operate from as early as 05:30 hrs and the last train service is at 00:30 hrs. The frequency of train arrivals range from 3 minutes - 8 minutes, depending on whether it is peak hours or off-peak periods. Every MRT station will display the precise train arrival timings.
Taxis
Taxis are evidently the most comfortable mode of public transport as they offer high end door to door service in the air-conditioned comfort of spacious cars. You can get a taxi by:
* Flagging one along a road (except roads in the Central Business District with public buses plying)
* Queuing for one at a taxi stop or stand
* Through telephone booking (6-3425-222 or type the alphabetical prompter 6-DIAL-CAB, and you will be channelled to all the taxi firms’ call centres, one at a time)
