The Malaysia–Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane–Land (or VTL-Land) Bus Services are cross-border bus routes commencing on 29 November 2021, as part of the Malaysia – Singapore Land Vaccinated Travel Lane. On 1 April 2022, the bus service was renamed to Vaccinated Travel Bus Services (VTBS) with the discontinuation of the Vaccinated Travel Lane.
Vaccinated Travel Bus Services will be withdrawn with the resumption of Cross-Border Public Bus Services from 1 May 2022. The last day of service is on 30 April 2022.
These services ply via the Causeway, connecting Larkin Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru with Queen Street Bus Terminal and Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange in Singapore. Tickets must be purchased online at least three days prior to the date of departure. More information is enclosed in the following sections.
This article is updated as at: 22 Apr 2022.
Prerequisites
Travellers intending to use the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) must fulfill these basic prerequisites:
- Be a permanent resident or long-term pass holders of the country they are entering, or a Malaysia / Singapore Citizen
- Fully vaccinated with WHO Emergency Use Authorization vaccines. Unvaccinated children below 12 years old MUST be accompanied by vaccinated adults.
- Hold an Accepted Proof of Vaccination
- Remain either in Malaysia or Singapore for the last 14 days prior to travel
- Have bus tickets for the journey
VTL-Land from Singapore to Malaysia
From 29 November 2021, land VTL travel from Singapore to Malaysia is open to fully-vaccinated Malaysian citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders. Singapore citizens are also allowed from 20 December 2021.
Before their journey, travellers must:
- Purchase a
VTL-LandVTBS bus ticket from either Handal Indah (Causeway Link) or Transtar Travel online at least 3 days before date of travelling - Register their information at www.mysafetravel.gov.my at least 3 days before their arrival
- Prepare digital Singapore Vaccination HealthCerts issued via the Notarise portal with a QR code, or Proof of vaccination on the TraceTogether or HealthHub app, or Malaysian Vaccination Certificate with QR Code (via MySejahtera)
- Download and install the MySejahtera mobile app with their latest information
Have a valid negative pre-departure COVID-19 ART or PCR test result certificate
Pre-departure test must be within two calendar days before departure for Malaysia
On arrival at Larkin Bus Terminal, passengers will take an on-arrival test.
Travellers can also visit the ICA website for how to obtain pre-departure tests in Singapore.
More details are included in the Full Guide by Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia:
VTL-Land from Malaysia to Singapore
From 29 November 2021, land VTL travel from Malaysia to Singapore is open to fully-vaccinated Singapore citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders. Malaysia citizens are also allowed from 20 December 2021.
Before their journey, travellers must:
- Purchase a VTL-Land bus ticket from either Handal Indah (Causeway Link) or Transtar Travel online at least 3 days before date of travelling
- Work permit holders and short-term visitors must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass at https://go.gov.sg/vtl-portal at least 3 days before arrival.
- Submit the SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration via the ICA website or through the SG Arrival Card mobile application (Google Play Store / Apple App Store).
- Prepare a valid digitally verifiable vaccination certificate issued by Malaysia, or any other digitally verifiable vaccination certificate accepted by Singapore under the VTL-Land in English
- Be fully vaccinated, and unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult
Have a valid negative pre-departure COVID-19 ART or PCR test result certificate (electronic or physical copy) in English. Pre-departure test must be within 2 days before departure for Singapore. Children aged two years and below in the calendar year are not required to undergo these tests.
More details can be found on the ICA website, including a long list of frequently asked questions.
On arrival at Queen Street Bus Terminal / Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange, an on-arrival test is taken for travellers entering Singapore before 21 Feb 2022, 2359hrs. This additional requirement was announced on 28 Nov 2021 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
From 21 Feb 2022, 2359hrs, a testing notice will be issued to travellers upon arrival in Singapore. It is required that travellers must take a supervised self-swab ART within 24 hours of arrival at a Quick Test Centre or Combined Test Centre. A weblink to book the test will be provided in the testing notice issued on arrival.
VTBS (formerly VTL-Land): Causeway Link Bus Route
Causeway Link deploys low-entry Yutong city buses on its VTL route between Larkin and Queen Street.
For VTL1, Causeway Link deploys two buses per departure timing. Each bus carries either 22 or 23 passengers, as indicated by a piece of paper on the front windscreen, for a total of 45 passengers per indicated departure time.
The lower seating capacity allows for more space for luggage and safe distancing onboard these buses.
| VTL1 – Route Overview | ||||||||||||
| Route | Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal ↔ Queen Street Bus Terminal | |||||||||||
| Operator | Handal Indah Sdn Bhd (Causeway Link) | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Larkin Sentral |
Daily | |||||||||||
| See below for full departure timings | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Queen Street |
Daily |
|||||||||||
| See below for full departure timings | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Larkin Sentral | See below for full departure timings | |||||||||||
| From Queen Street | See below for full departure timings | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
||||||||||||
| Fare | Tickets must be purchased online at least three days prior to the date of departure. From Malaysia (Larkin Sentral): Adult – RM20 / Child – RM10 From Singapore (Queen Street): Adult – $15 / Child – $8 |
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Departure Timings
Passengers are to check in at:
- Queen Street Bus Terminal at least 30 minutes to 45 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time /
- Larkin Sentral at least 1 hour earlier than the scheduled departure time
All passengers boarding from Larkin Sentral are to exchange their online ticket for a boarding pass at Counter 1 – 4 before heading to the check in gate.
| From Larkin Sentral | |
| 10 Jan 2022 – 31 Jan 2022 | 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:20, 09:40, 10:00, 10:20, 10:40, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40, 12:00, 12:20, 12:40, 13:00, 13:20, 13:40, 14:00, 14:20, 14:40, 15:00, 15:20, 15:40, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00 & 18:30 |
| Departures from 1 Feb 2022 – 30 Apr 2022 | No longer listed on Causeway Link’s Facebook Page. Refer to the booking portal for departure timings. |
| From Queen Street | |
| 10 Jan 2022 – 31 Jan 2022 | 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, 11:50, 12:10, 12:30, 12:50, 13:10, 13:30, 13:50, 14:10, 14:30, 14:50, 15:10, 15:30, 15:50, 16:10, 16:30, 16:50, 17:10, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30 & 20:00 |
| Departures from 1 Feb 2022 – 30 Apr 2022 | No longer listed on Causeway Link’s Facebook Page. Refer to the booking portal for departure timings. |
VTL-Land: Transtar Travel Bus Route
Transtar deploys high-floor coaches on the route between Larkin and Woodlands, which allows up to 45 passengers per trip.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
| Route | Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal ↔ Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange | |||||||||||
| Operator | Transtar Travel & Tours Pte Ltd (Transtar) | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Larkin Sentral |
Daily |
|||||||||||
| 09:30 – 19:30 | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Woodlands Temporary Bus Int |
Daily |
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| 08:00 – 18:00 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Larkin Sentral | See below for full departure timings | |||||||||||
| From Woodlands Temp Int | See below for full departure timings | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
||||||||||||
| Fare | Tickets must be purchased online at least three days prior to the date of departure. From Singapore: Adult – $15 / Child – $8 From Malaysia: Adult – RM20 / Child – RM10 |
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Departure Timings
Schedule effective from 20 Dec 2021:
- From Larkin Sentral:
09:30, 09:50, 10:10, 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, 11:50, 12:10, 12:30, 12:50, 13:10, 13:30, 14:10, 14:50, 15:10, 15:30, 15:50, 16:10, 16:50, 17:30, 18:10, 18:50 & 19:30 - From Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange:
08:00, 08:20, 08:40, 09:00, 09:20, 09:40, 10:00, 10:20, 10:40, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40, 12:00, 12:40, 13:20, 13:40, 14:00, 14:20, 14:40, 15:20, 16:00, 16:40, 17:20 & 18:00
Passengers are to check in at least 1 hour earlier than the scheduled departure time at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange / Larkin Sentral. All passengers boarding from Larkin Sentral are to exchange their online ticket for a boarding pass at Counter 1 – 4 before heading to the check in gate.
Tickets
Ticket sales for the VTBS (formerly VTL-Land Bus Services) will be conducted online. Tickets must be purchaed at least three days prior to the date of departure.
VTBS Bus Ticket Booking Sites:
- Transtar Travel (Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal ↔ Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange)
Sales commenced at 0800hrs on 25 November 2021, with tickets released for sale 30 days ahead. - Causeway Link (Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal ↔ Queen Street Bus Terminal)
Sales commenced at 0800hrs on 25 November 2021
Information history
A dry run was conducted on 23 November 2021, which featured buses deployed from Causeway Link as well as Transtar Travel, displaying the VTL signage at Queen Street Bus Terminal & Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange respectively.
Additional photo gallery on Page 2.
References:
- Air and land VTL to open on Nov 29 – The Star
- 新马陆路VTL今早试跑 巴士演练载客往返长堤 – Zaobao
- Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers(MSBC) 马新过境者 Facebook Group Post by Anberasan Thangarajoo
- Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to be launched on Nov 29, travellers must travel on designated bus services – cna
- Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to open on Nov 29, up to 2,880 travellers each day – The Straits Times
- Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving – Facebook Post
- VACCINATED TRAVEL LANE (VTL) – LAND FOR MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE – Guide for Malaysians and Singaporeans for cross-border movement via land route; Edition 1 – Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia
- Causeway Link Facebook Post (VTL1 Bus Schedule)
- Transtar Travel Facebook Post (VTL Bus Schedule)
- Compulsory on-arrival ART for travellers entering Singapore from Malaysia via land VTL after reports about new COVID-19 strain – cna
- Singapore citizens can enter Malaysia via land VTL, and vice versa, from Dec 20 – cna
Thanks for the comprehensive information on VTL bus services. Since information can change based on the latest announcements, rules, suggest the website should Flag up prominently Date of the latest update.
I dont think SBST & SMRT will ever enter JB again. Given covid is still far from gone. May be 160 can be amended to loop at woodlands train checkpoint and 170 can merge wit 950. And it can operate as between Queen st to woodlands bus int. From woodlands train checkpoint omwards 170 can do 950 route to woodlands int. Its sad to see SBST N SMRT buses nt entering again but looks of things this seem to be the future from how things are going.
Very difficult to get a bus ticket. All the time it sold out.
I need to return to Singapore on 3rd Jan 2022 any time.
Please help.
When will LTA resume services 950, 160 and 170? Or LTA will just use VTL to enter JB?
doubt they continue. how they want to control? logistic issue ( need to check stuffs b4 take bus, limit ppl in a bus etc). if there are stops in between, how to know which pax go JB or not
if continue, might need something like 160V (for VTL) or express version of 160 (straight to JB from JE)
and JE int no space to have ART test (for pax coming to SG) if 160 resumes to JB
950 can (provided express all the way from woodlands). 170 can also but make like express kind as well (like SJE service)