Causeway Link CW5

Causeway Link CW5 is a cross-border bus service operated by Malaysian bus operator Handal Indah (Causeway Link), connecting Newton Circus and Johor Bahru CIQ Complex via the Causeway. It is one of three Causeway Link routes across the Causeway, alongside CW1 and CW2.

Commuters can start and end their journeys at Larkin Bus Terminal for the same fare by transferring to Causeway Link CWL at JB CIQ. However, passengers boarding at Larkin must pay a facilities charge on top of the bus fare.

Service CW5 is a cross-border route connecting Newton Circus to Johor Bahru City Centre, via the Woodlands Causeway. The route complements the Checkpoint to City crowd alongside multiple services between Woodlands Checkpoint and Queen Street Bus Terminal at Bugis, such as Service 170, CW2 and the Singapore-Johore Express.

Causeway-plying CW services, inclusive of CW5, do not stop at any bus stops in Singapore except the designated boarding point at Newton Circus. Due to varying traffic conditions at the Causeway, travel times and waiting times may increase significantly when traffic congestion occurs.

Due to varying traffic conditions at the Causeway, travel times and waiting times may increase significantly when jams occur. The route does not call at en-route bus stops in Singapore or Johor Bahru, providing fast connections daily between Singapore and Malaysia. As a relatively new service (introduced 27th March 2011), demand is limited during off-peak hours in favor of other bus services to Queen Street, but heavy during the peak hours.

Listed Departure Timings

• Daily from Woodlands Checkpoint → Newton Circus
  05:10, 05:30, 05:50, 06:10, 06:30, 06:50, 07:10, 07:30, 07:50, 08:10, 08:30, 08:50, 09:10, 09:30, 09:50, 10:10, 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 16:45, 17:00, 17:15, 17:30, 17:45, 18:00, 18:15, 18:30, 18:45, 19:00, 19:15, 19:30, 19:45, 20:00, 20:15, 20:30, 20:45, 21:00, 21:15, 21:30, 21:45, 22:00, 22:20, 22:40 & 23:00

Between Larkin Terminal and JB CIQ

Causeway Link operates the CWL bus service between JB CIQ and Larkin Sentral. Free transfer is provided for commuters from Singapore transferring from Causeway Link bus services (CW1, CW2 & CW5). Passengers at JB CIQ heading towards Larkin Sentral can board Service CWL after clearing Malaysia immigration.

Passengers boarding CWL from Larkin must pay a facilities charge on top of the bus fare.

Causeway Link Cross Border Services (Woodlands Crossing)

Checkpoint Transfer:

Between Woodlands Checkpoint and JB CIQ, commuters may board any Causeway Link bus service across the border (CW1, CW2 or CW5). Some buses may display service LOOP1 which only plies the stretch between checkpoints to boost frequency. Card / QR Code validation is required during boarding only (tap in).

Fare

Sector-based fares

Fares are charged separately for each sector of the journey. Each sector is recorded through a tap-in, with the applicable fare deducted based on the sector travelled.

A cross-border journey may comprise up to three sectors:

• Singapore sector
• Cross-border sector
• Malaysia sector

This fare structure applies in both directions — Singapore to Malaysia and Malaysia to Singapore.

Payment Methods

Cashless payment is accepted via:

• ManjaLink Card
• Mastercard
• Visa
• LUGO App QR Code (Single Journey Ticket)
  Single-journey tickets can be purchased through the LUGO App. A QR code is generated upon purchase and must be scanned at the bus validator when boarding.
• EZ-Link Card (only at Kranji MRT (CW1), Queen Street (CW2) & Newton Circus (CW5)).
  Passengers should retain their ticket and present it for validation when reboarding at Woodlands Checkpoint or JB CIQ for CW services to Larkin

The currency charged depends on the journey’s origin:

• Singapore-originating journeys: fares are charged in Singapore dollars (SGD).
• Malaysia-originating journeys: fares are charged in Malaysian ringgit (MYR).

ManjaLink fares / top-ups in Singapore Currency will be converted to Malaysia Currency (RM) based on the prevailing exchange rate published on the ManjaLink website.

Note: Cashless payment requirements are being implemented in phases, with cashless-only payment at Queen Street (CW2) and Newton Circus (CW5) from 20 August 2026, followed by the wider implementation (all services) from 1 October 2026.

• * = Promotional fare for Manjalink card only
• Passengers boarding at Larkin must pay an extra RM2 facilities charge on top of the bus fare.
• Terms & Conditions, inclusive of concession eligibility, are available on Causeway Link website

Gallery:

Causeway Link CW5 - Yutong ZK6126HG (JTF6012)

Causeway Link SKSbus SA12-300 (JNS8559) - Route CW5

Causeway Link SKSbus SA12-300 (JNC9652) - Route CW5

CW5 at Newton Circus

CW5 at Newton Circus

Newton Circus CW5 stop

Service CW5 - Causeway Link Yutong ZK6126HG (JSK 7322)

History:

• 2011 (27 Mar): Introduced between JB CIQ and Newton Circus. Fare of RM2.50 from JB / S$2.00 from Singapore.
  Daily operating hours: 0500hrs-2245hrs from JB; 0600-2330hrs from Newton Circus
• 2012-2014: Departure timings revised: 0500hrs-2230hrs from JB
• 2013 (18 Nov): Fares increased: RM2.60 from JB / S$2.50 from Singapore
• 2014 (6 Oct): Fares increased to S$3.30 from Singapore / RM3.40 from JB after increase in Causeway toll charges
• 2020 (18 Mar): Suspended amid COVID-19 pandemic cross-border travel restrictions
• 2022 (1 May): Services resumed after the lifting of cross-border travel restrictions. Fares increased to $4.60 from Singapore and RM4.60 from Malaysia.
• 2023 (May): Improvement of peak-hour frequencies to ~5 mins per bus during peak hours [Link]
• 2026 (Jul): Operating hours updated

Route Map towards JB Customs

Route Map towards Newton Circus

External Links & References:

• Service CW5 – Causeway Link

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