My favourite way to get around Singapore is using the MRT. Around the city centre most of it is underground. You are away from the haze which you would have to endure whilst waiting up to 15 minutes at a bus stop. Therefore, first thing to do in Singapore is buy yourself a laminated MRT card at one of the central or larger stations and get an MRT map.
MRT Card
You have to invest about S$5 for the card itself, plus the amount you put on the card. Having the card means you can race through the barrier, just as you do in London and many other major cities.
In theory you can pay for a single trip paper ticket if you are short of cash. You can buy these from machines at railway stations.
Bus Fares
You can also tell a bus driver your destination and ask the fare. Then feed cash into the cash ticket machine on the bus. On a bus you tap the card against the reader as you get on, again tap it as you get off.
Card Top-up
When you tap your card onto the reader the machine tells you how much money is left on the card.
I try to top up the card when I'm not in a hurry, especially on my outward journey. Some of the ticket offices close early evening. I don't want to run short late at night. Also if I leave a meeting with friends who race for a train I don't have to delay myself or them.
Route Planning
I often compare the bus only route, the bus and train route, and the MRT only route. The websites give you lots of options. I photograph the bus timetable at the bus stop. Some buses have bus maps just for that route at the Interchange or in a box inside the bus.
If you need to arrive somewhere at a specific time, you can use a website. When I am travelling to a meeting at Toastmasters where meetings start on time and time is critical, I check the destination with the organisers as well as the building. The larger stations have several exits.
Seats
Off-peak you have more chance of getting a seat. End seats near the door have signs saying that you should give up the seat for passengers who are pregnant, have walking sticks etc.
Stopping
If you are unsure where to alight, use the website before leaving home to check the number of stops. The MRT train map shows you where lines connect. The map has all sorts of useful information, such as walking times between the city centre stops.
A sign overhead on both buses and trains tells you the next station. On buses you will see the sign Bus Stopping if somebody has pressed the stop buzzer. The stop buzzer is on one of the vertical poles.
On the train you can watch the lights on the map showing how far you are along the line. A pleasant lady's voice announces the next stop.
Sometimes you will be told which side of the train to exit. There's even a station (Jurong) with a platform with exits on both sides; so you need to work out what the name of the end of the line is.
You can see the name and number of the station on the sign top left. In the middle is the train with exit doors both sides. To the right are the lines showing you how to stand both sides of the doors so people can exit unimpeded from the middle to speed up your travel.
If you are wondering how to pronounce the station names, listen to the recorded announcement and repeat the station name to yourself.
Clark Quay station
Clarke Quay station is by Speakers' Corner
If you have lots of time, or little time, you can plan a route around the city taking in famous or everyday sites which are near each other or on the same line. Central points could include Orchard, for Orchard Road shopping and the bustling centre. If it's raining, walk underground from Orchard station along Orchard towards Ngee Ann City towers housing Takashima department store and other shops and cafes.
For more ethnic shopping, you can take the MRT to Chinatown and/or Little India.
If it's sunny, or at least not raining, Clarke Quay station exits onto a green square with Speakers' Corner, a heritage history plaque and a building alongside covered in greenery.
I make notes on my map. I outline a regular journey. I write home or hotel next to my starting point. Then I outline the route in pencil. I circle the end of line station name so when I'm travelling up or down an escalator and hear that a train is about to arrive in two minutes I know what to do. I know whether to start running, or keep to the left (as instructed, stand on the left) as others race past.
Take the train and bus to Gardens By The Bay. You can walk around the outside looking at the trees which have labels and the plaques. (See next post on free things to do.)
Travel Websites
gothere.sg - fill in your nearest road and your destination and choose train or bus or car/taxi. You will get directions of times and train stations or bus stop numbers or roads.
transitlink.com.sg - this site tells you the cost of your journey and time taken. Just fill in the starting stations and destination station.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author speaker.
(Photos will be added shortly. Come back.)
