Getting to Johor Bahru by bus

See Also: Bus Transport in Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru (commonly abbreviated as JB) is the capital city of the Johor state of Malaysia. Located at the southern tip of Peninsula Malaysia, it is frequently visited by tourists from Singapore, who take advantage of the region’s cheaper goods and services.

Cross-border bus transport between Singapore and Johor Bahru is well-established, with a variety of bus operators providing services. Bus routes cross the Johor Strait either via Woodlands Crossing (Causeway), which leads straight into Johor Bahru city, or via the Tuas Second Link, which largely serves the western Johor region including the Gelang Patah, Nusajaya and Bukit Indah areas.

Bus Operators

Currently, both local public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT operate bus routes between Singapore and Johor Bahru via the Causeway. Handal Indah Sdn Bhd (branded as Causeway Link) also operates its own routes via both the Causeway and Tuas Second Link. Other scheduled services are operated by smaller operators, including Ridewell Travel, Singapore-Johore Express and Transtar Travel.

From Singapore:

1. Kranji MRT Station

Located close to Woodlands Checkpoint, Kranji MRT Station is a popular transfer point between Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network and cross-border bus services. SBS Transit services 160, 170, 170X and Causeway Link service CW1 connect to JB Sentral and Larkin Terminal across the border.

From Kranji MRT, exit and board either Service 170X or CW1 heading towards Woodlands Checkpoint from the bus stop directly outside the station (45139 Kranji Stn). Both 170X and CW1 will depart at frequent intervals throughout the day. Alternatively, cross the overhead bridge and board Service 160 or 170 towards the Checkpoint, but these two services operate at lower intervals.

2. Queen Street Bus Terminal

Located in the Rochor Canal area, Queen Street Bus Terminal has long been a centralized location for bus (and taxi) services between Singapore and Johor Bahru. Nearby MRT stations are Bugis and Jalan Besar. SBS Transit service 170, Causeway Link CW2 and Singapore-Johore Express (SJE) operate daily bus services at regular intervals to JB Sentral and Larkin Terminal.

While CW2 and SJE buses proceed from Queen Street straight to Woodlands Checkpoint via the expressways (~20mins), Service 170 will take over an hour as it operates as a local bus service. The fares for CW2 and SJE are comparable.

3. Jurong East Bus Interchange / Venture Avenue Private Bus Pick Up Point

Jurong East is the major hub for cross-border services heading via Tuas Second Link. The interchange is located near Jurong East MRT station and makes it a convenient transfer point. Excluding Service 160 from Jurong East Bus Interchange, Causeway Link operates services CW3, CW4 and CW4S from the Jurong East Private Bus Pick Up Point, which head to Gelang Patah, Pontian and Sutera Mall respectively, via the Tuas Second Link.

From the Johor Checkpoint of the Second Link (officially called Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex, but usually denoted CIQ Second Link in bus documents), many connecting bus services are offered to a variety of destinations, such as Legoland, Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park (PHFTP), Perling Mall, Bukit Indah, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Johor Premium Outlets, Senai Airport and Pontian.

4. Changi Airport & Resorts World Sentosa

Transtar operates TS1 between Changi Airport and JB Sentral daily. Boarding points at Changi Airport is at the arrival hall coach bays of Terminals 2. For detailed route information and timetables, visit the Transtar website here and the Changi Airport website here.

TS8 operates between Resorts World Sentosa and JB Sentral daily, via Outram Park, Great World and Scotts Road.

5. Tuas Link MRT Station

Causeway Link operates CW7 from Opp Tuas Link Stn (Bus Stop 25421), while Transtar’s TS6 serves Tuas Link Stn (Bus Stop 25429) as an intermediate stop from Buona Vista towards CIQ Second Link.

5. Other Locations in Singapore

Bus services are also provided from these locations. This list is not exhaustive:

• Boon Lay MRT: CW6
• Newton Circus: CW5
• Woodlands Int, Marsiling MRT:  950
• Yishun Int: AC7
• Buona Vista, one-North, Kent Ridge, Gul Circle, Tuas West Road & Tuas Link MRT Stations: TS6

For Woodlands Crossing (Causeway), the checkpoints on both sides are referred to as Woodlands CIQ (Singapore) and JB CIQ (Malaysia). For Tuas Second Link, the checkpoints on both sides are Tuas CIQ (Singapore) and CIQ Second Link (Malaysia).

Usually, the bus journey between checkpoints (i.e. Woodlands CIQ – JB CIQ; Tuas CIQ – CIQ 2nd Link) can be made on any service operated by the bus operator which you have a valid ticket on. For example, if one arrives at Woodlands CIQ on Service 170, one can board any of SBS Transit’s service 160, 170 or 170X bus across the Causeway without counting as a transfer. This also applies to Causeway Link services across the Causeway and Tuas Second Link.

Woodlands Crossing:

A. Woodlands Crossing – Arriving Malaysia

At the Malaysian side of the border (Sultan Iskandar CIQ Complex), commuters can transfer to Service 160 / 170X / 950 to JB Sentral or Service 170 / CW1 / CW2 to Larkin Terminal, the main bus terminal up north. Alternatively, they can walk to JB Sentral instead where plenty of local bus routes connect to many destinations in JB. Commuters can board their buses from either the JB Sentral terminal (ground floor of the train station) or along Jalan Wong Ah Fook by walking through the City Square mall. For details about the numerous JB local bus routes, visit the Bus Transport in Johor Bahru article.

B. Woodlands Crossing – Arriving Singapore

At the Singapore side of the border (Woodlands CIQ Complex), commuters can transfer to Service 160 / 170 / 170X / CW1 to Kranji MRT Station, Service 950 to Woodlands Interchange & MRT, or Service CW2 / 950 to Queen Street Bus Terminal. Alternatively, commuters can walk along the pedestrian corridor out to Woodlands Centre Road where more buses are available at bus stop 46069 Woodlands Train Checkpt to Woodlands Interchange & MRT.

Tuas Second Link

C. Tuas Second Link Crossing – Arriving Malaysia

At the Malaysian side of the border (Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex), commuters can transfer to various Causeway Link bus services to various destinations in JB, including Gelang Patah, Bukit Indah, Pontian and Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA). Bus services to places of interest such as Legoland, Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park (PHFTP), Perling Mall, Sutera Mall and Johor Premium Outlets are also available.

Transtar Travel TS6 continues on to Gelang Patah Sentral from here.

For a detailed list of bus routes, check out the Bus Transport in Johor Bahru article.

D. Tuas Second Link Crossing – Arriving Singapore

At the Singapore side of the border (Tuas CIQ Complex), commuters can transfer to Service CW3 / CW4 / CW4S to Jurong East Bus Interchange & MRT, Service CW6 to Boon Lay MRT Station, Service CW7 to Tuas Link MRT Station or Service TS6 to Tuas Link MRT Station, Kent Ridge MRT Station, one-North MRT Station and Buona Vista MRT Station.

Commuters should note that Tuas Checkpoint cannot be accessed on foot.

External Links:

• Causeway Link
• SBS Transit
• SMRT Buses
• Transtar

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