Transport Arrangements for the Movement Control Order (Singapore–Malaysia land border crossings)

In the wake of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, the Malaysian government implemented a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), intended to restrict the movement of people and control the spread of the virus outbreak. The MCO takes place from 18th March 2020.

As part of these measures, all Malaysians will be barred from travelling abroad, and foreign tourist and visitor entries will be banned. For those who are returning from overseas, they must undergo a health inspection and self-quarantine for 14 days. These measures are expected to severely affect the flow of commuters across Singapore’s two land crossings with Malaysia, as well as cross-border public transport services.


Cross Border Public Bus Services resumes from 1 May 2022.


Timeline of Movement Control Order announcements:

  • 2020 (16 Mar): Nationwide two-week Movement Control Order (MCO) announced for 18 March 2020 to 31 March 2020
  • 2020 (25 Mar): Two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 14 April 2020
  • 2020 (10 Apr): Further two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 28 April 2020
  • 2020 (23 Apr): Further two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 12 May 2020
  • 2020 (10 May): Further four-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 9 June 2020
  • 2020 (07 Jun): Recovery MCO announced to start on 10 June 2020; ending on 31 August 2020
  • 2020 (28 Aug): Recovery MCO announced to be extended for 4 months; ending on 31 December 2020
  • 2021 (01 Jan): Recovery MCO announced to be extended for 3 months; ending on 31 March 2021
  • 2021 (30 Mar): Recovery MCO announced to be extended for 2 weeks in selected states; ending on 14 April 2021
  • 2021 (12 Apr): Conditional MCO announced in Johor for another 2 weeks; ending on 28 April 2021
  • 2021 (27 Apr): Conditional MCO announced in Johor for another 2 weeks; ending on 17 May 2021
  • 2021 (10 May): Nationwide four-week MCO announced for 12 May 2020 to 7 June 2020, overriding previous Conditional MCO

Updates on Cross-Border Bus Services

With the above measures, all Cross-Border Bus Services would be temporarily suspended from 18 March 2020.

Service Route Status
160 Jurong East Int ↺ JB Sentral Ter Loop at Bus Stop 46509 – Marsiling Pk, Woodlands Ctr Rd
170 Queen St Ter – Larkin Ter Loop at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd
170X Kranji MRT – JB Sentral Ter Suspended
950 Woodlands Int ↺ JB Sentral Ter Suspended
AC7 Yishun Int – JB CIQ Suspended
CW1 Kranji MRT – Larkin Ter Suspended
CW2 Queen St Ter – Larkin Ter Suspended
CW3 Jurong East – Perling Mall / Gelang Patah Suspended
CW4 Jurong East – Pontian Suspended
CW4S Jurong East – Sutera Mall Suspended
CW5 Newton Circus – JB CIQ Suspended
CW6 Boon Lay – Bukit Indah Suspended
CW7 Tuas Link MRT – Iskandar Puteri Suspended
SJE Queen St Ter – Larkin Ter Suspended
TS1 Changi Airport – JB CIQ Suspended
TS3 Marina Sq – JB CIQ Suspended
TS6 Buona Vista MRT – Gelang Patah Sentral Suspended
TS8 Resorts World Sentosa – JB CIQ Suspended
SBS Transit – Bus Services 160, 170 & 170X

All SBS Transit Cross-Border Bus Services will no longer serve JB effective 1845hrs, 17 March 2020 until the Movement Control Order is lifted.

Service 160 loops at Bus Stop 46509 – Marsiling Pk, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Jurong East.

Service 170 loops at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Queen Street.

Service 170X is suspended for the duration of the MCO. On the evening of 17 March 2020 (eve of MCO), it was diverted to loop at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Kranji MRT

SMRT Buses – Bus Service 950

Service 950 is suspended for the duration of the MCO. On the evening of 17 March 2020 (eve of MCO) from 7pm till end of operations, it was to loop at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Woodlands Temporary Interchange.

Deleted information (Click to expand)

An earlier poster was uploaded online and was removed shortly. Additionally, signs spotted at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange next to the Service 950 berth reflected the information that the last bus for 17 Mar 2020 would be at 7pm before being removed.

Causeway Link Cross-Border Bus Services

Additionally, all Causeway Link Cross-Border bus services are suspended for the duration of the MCO, while local and express bus services in Malaysia continue to operate at reduced operating hours and frequency.

On the evening of 17 March 2020 (eve of MCO), last buses departed Singapore at 10.30pm towards Malaysia.

Other Cross Border Bus Services

Cross-Border Bus Services from other operators such as Transtar (TS1, TS3, TS6 & TS8), Advance Coach (AC7) and Singapore-Johore Express are suspended for the duration of the MCO.


Shuttle Tebrau KTM Services

In a media release on 17 March 2020 by KTM Berhad – “KTMB enforces Movement Control Order for train passengers”, only non-Malaysians would be allowed to board the Shuttle Tebrau train from JB Sentral to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, while only Malaysians are allowed to board from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to Woodlands effective 0830hrs on 18 March 2020.

Several days later (as of 26 March 2020), posters indicate that KTMB Shuttle Tebrau services were suspended.


Accommodation for Malaysian Bus Captains

Transport Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan provided an update via a Facebook post on the situation, reassuring that sufficient hotel accommodation have been secured for all Malaysian Bus Captains from the various public transport operators (PTOs) who wish to continue to stay and work in Singapore.

In addition, all PTOs have come up with Facebook posts regarding accommodations for their affected Bus Captains & Staff.


References

5 thoughts on “Transport Arrangements for the Movement Control Order (Singapore–Malaysia land border crossings)

  • 1 April 2020 at 1:39 PM
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    LTA should just scrap AC from operating AC7,Just renumbered as 870 and extend to Larkin and let the SBW-YIS winner operate

    Reply
  • 19 March 2020 at 7:43 PM
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    Is Changi Cove the former Changi Hospital, rumoured to be haunted?

    Reply
  • 19 March 2020 at 4:17 PM
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    No need to suspend bus 950. Just let it loop around Woodlands North MRT a and Woodlands train checkpoint, just like buses160 and 170. But I’m ok with the suspension of bus 170X.👍🏻

    Reply
    • 20 March 2020 at 9:23 AM
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      there is alot of bus which duplicate 950 leh.. What is the point to ask bus 950 to continue? there is 856 which also duplicate 950 all way to train checkpoint but also continue to woodlands north mrt. 950 only ply from Woodlands to JB leh.. but 160 ply from Jurong East while 170 ply from Queen Street.. If 160 kena suspended then all need to take MRT only no other duplicate bus to ply 160 route. If 170 kena suspended , there is alot of bus duplicate 170 up to only Upper Bukit Timah but need to change other bus to continue journey to Woodlands.

      Where is your common sense?

      Reply
    • 21 December 2020 at 12:12 PM
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      Or maybe keep it like that forever. That means we have to depend on the CW’s and the TS’s. 170X withdraw and AC7 renumber as 867 looping at the same place as 160, 170 and 950. Operated by SMRT under Sembawang-Yishun bus package. Now the for services can use non-SPAD registered buses.

      Reply

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