JB Sentral is Johor Bahru’s main railway station and bus interchange, opened in 2010 at the northern edge of the city centre. Inside you will find KTM trains (ETS to KL, the Shuttle Tebrau to Woodlands and the Shuttle Selatan commuter to Kulai), a ground-floor bus terminal, a taxi and e-hailing area, shops and money changers. Covered bridges link it to the CIQ checkpoint and City Square mall, and the RTS Link Bukit Chagar station is about 400 m away, with a 400 m covered walkway with travelators under construction.
You have just cleared immigration at the Causeway, or you are about to catch a train north, and the signs say “JB Sentral”. Where exactly are you, which hall do you need, and how do you get to City Square, a bus or the new RTS station without walking in circles? This JB Sentral station guide answers those questions floor by floor, with the latest information on the walkways being built for the RTS Link.
What is JB Sentral?
JB Sentral (Johor Bahru Sentral) is the city’s main transport station: a KTM railway station with a bus interchange on its ground floor. It opened on 21 October 2010, replacing the old Johor Bahru railway station about 200 m to the south, as part of the Southern Integrated Gateway, the project that put the Causeway checkpoint, the rail station and the bus terminal side by side.
It is easy to confuse with the CIQ, but they are different buildings. The CIQ (Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, opened 2008) is where you clear customs and immigration for road and bus crossings; JB Sentral is where you catch trains and local buses. A covered footbridge joins them. Our quick guide Is JB Sentral the same as CIQ? explains the difference in detail.
What’s inside JB Sentral? A quick map of services
Think of JB Sentral as three layers: trains upstairs, buses and taxis downstairs, and bridges out to the CIQ and the city. The table sums up the main services.
| Service | Where to go | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| ETS and intercity trains | First-floor waiting area, Gate B | Trains north to KL Sentral, about 4.5 hours, and onward |
| KTM Shuttle Tebrau | First-floor immigration area, Gate A | Five-minute train to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, Singapore |
| KTM Shuttle Selatan | First-floor waiting area, Gate B | Commuter train to Kempas Baru, Kulai and beyond (from June 2026) |
| Bus interchange | Ground level, Jalan Jim Quee side | BAS.MY Johor Bahru city buses and some cross-border routes |
| Taxis and e-hailing | Ground-floor pick-up area | Door-to-door trips around JB |
| Concourse | Main concourse | Ticket vending machines, tourist information, convenience stores, eateries, money changers |
The station has six platforms on three island platforms, and tickets are checked on the second floor. Gate labels can change with renovations, so always follow the overhead signs for “ETS”, “Shuttle Tebrau” or “Komuter”.
KTM trains at JB Sentral: ETS, Shuttle Tebrau and Shuttle Selatan
JB Sentral is now served by three kinds of KTM train, each with a different job. Knowing which one you need saves the most time.
ETS to KL and the north
Since 12 December 2025, ETS3 electric trains run directly between JB Sentral and KL Sentral on the new Gemas–JB electrified double track, in about 4.5 hours, with eight trips a day and extra weekend services. Read our full ETS train KL to Johor Bahru guide for times, tickets and fares.
KTM Shuttle Tebrau to Woodlands
The Shuttle Tebrau is a five-minute cross-border train to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, running since July 2015. It costs RM5 one way from JB and S$5 from Woodlands, with 31 trips each way and capacity for 8,635 passengers a day (The Edge, October 2026). You clear Malaysian immigration inside JB Sentral before boarding. Under the bilateral agreement it will be discontinued six months after the RTS Link starts.
KTM Shuttle Selatan (commuter) to Kulai
Launched on 16 June 2026, the Shuttle Selatan links JB Sentral with Kempas Baru and Kulai in about 30 minutes, with connections to Pasir Gudang and, since August 2026, extensions north to Paloh. The last train from JB Sentral leaves at about 8.30pm. Details are in our Kulai–JB commuter train guide.
Buses, taxis and e-hailing at JB Sentral
The ground-floor bus interchange is the busiest hub in the BAS.MY Johor Bahru city network. Taxis and e-hailing cars pick up from a separate ground-level area.
- City buses: BAS.MY Johor Bahru routes serving JB Sentral include J10, J11, J13, J15, J20, J21, J22, J30 to J34 and J100 (Land Transport Guru, October 2026). Malaysians can ride unlimited for 30 days with the RM30 BAS.MY pass.
- State buses: the Johor state government’s Bas Muafakat Johor routes, also run by Handal Indah (Causeway Link), use the terminal too.
- Cross-border buses: SMRT 950 runs between Woodlands and JB Sentral. Many other routes, such as Causeway Link CW2, stop at the JB CIQ bus hall next door, and since 15 December 2025 most SBS Transit 160 trips end at JB Checkpoint rather than JB Sentral.
- Taxis and e-hailing: follow signs to the ground-floor pick-up point. Booking through an app such as Grab gives you the fare upfront.
- New bus bays: in October 2026 the Transport Minister said 20 more organised bus bays would be added along Jalan Jim Quee, near JB Sentral, as part of the BAS.MY expansion for the RTS Link.
For routes, passes and apps, see our Johor Bahru public bus guide.
Walking from JB Sentral to City Square, the CIQ and Bukit Chagar RTS
All three are walkable from JB Sentral under cover or along short street routes. Here is how each walk works today, and what is being built.
To City Square and KOMTAR JBCC
A pedestrian bridge from the JB Sentral concourse leads straight into Johor Bahru City Square, and from there to KOMTAR JBCC. It is a five-minute walk in air-conditioning. City Square generally opens to shoppers around 10am, so very early arrivals may need the street-level route. Our City Square link bridge guide walks you through it.
To R&F Mall
A separate link bridge runs from the station’s drop-off point to R&F Mall, on the Causeway side of the city, handy if you are meeting someone there or heading to the waterfront.
To the CIQ (Bangunan Sultan Iskandar)
A covered footbridge over Jalan Jim Quee joins JB Sentral to the CIQ complex. Coming from Singapore by bus, you clear immigration in the CIQ, follow signs for “JB Sentral”, and arrive at the station concourse without going outside.
To the RTS Link Bukit Chagar station
The RTS Bukit Chagar station sits beside the CIQ on Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, about 400 m from JB Sentral. Three pedestrian links are planned or under way:
- A 400 m covered overhead walkway with travelators along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, under construction, linking the RTS station and the CIQ with JB Sentral and City Square.
- A direct RTS–Komuter bridge: in August 2026 the government approved a RM60 million bridge so KTM Komuter passengers can walk straight to the RTS station without detouring through JB Sentral. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said it should take about 12 months to complete.
- Further bridges: MRT Corp’s plans, reported by The Star in March 2026, include direct pedestrian bridges from the RTS station to nearby developments and to the JB Sentral KTM station, as part of an integrated Bukit Chagar hub.
RTS passenger service is targeted for February 2027, and the fare has not been announced. The JB Sentral to RTS guide and Bukit Chagar station walking guide have the step-by-step routes.
Step by step: arriving from Singapore and heading into JB
The most common first visit is a bus ride across the Causeway that ends at JB Sentral. Here is the sequence, so nothing surprises you.
- Clear Malaysian immigration and customs in the CIQ bus hall after your bus stops there.
- Follow signs for “JB Sentral” along the covered footbridge over Jalan Jim Quee.
- Arrive at the concourse. This is the place to buy a SIM card, change money, grab a drink or buy train tickets.
- Choose your exit: the bridge to City Square for shopping and the city centre; the stairs to the ground-floor bus terminal for BAS.MY buses; or the pick-up point for taxis and e-hailing.
Going the other way, from JB to Singapore by bus, you reverse the route: walk from JB Sentral to the CIQ, clear Malaysian departure, then board a cross-border bus in the CIQ bus hall. For a full cost and time comparison of bus, train and car, see RTS vs bus vs car from JB to Singapore.
Practical tips for using JB Sentral
A few habits make JB Sentral far easier, especially on a first visit or at peak hours.
- Follow the right word. The station is signed “JB Sentral” or “KTM”; the checkpoint is “Bangunan Sultan Iskandar”, “CIQ” or “Imigresen”. Following the wrong sign is the most common way to get lost.
- Arrive early for trains. Allow 20–30 minutes before an ETS departure, and more for the Shuttle Tebrau, because you clear immigration first.
- Book ahead. Shuttle Tebrau and weekend ETS seats sell out; buy on the KITS Style app or online.ktmb.com.my.
- Go cashless. KTMB accepts e-wallets and cards; many buses accept cards, ManjaLink or QR payment. Some Causeway Link cross-border services stopped accepting cash on board in August 2026.
- Avoid Causeway peaks. Weekday mornings, Friday evenings and the eve of public holidays are the busiest. ICA has said peak travel time at Woodlands can reach about 60 minutes.
- Foreign visitors: most need to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before arrival; check the Immigration Department website for exemptions.
- Meet at the station, not the checkpoint. The JB Sentral concourse has seating and shops; the CIQ halls are designed to keep people moving.
But what if… three common worries
What if I arrive late at night? Trains stop running at night, but the CIQ operates around the clock and Causeway Link CW2 runs 24 hours from the CIQ bus hall. Taxis and e-hailing remain the simplest option late at night.
What if I have heavy luggage? Use lifts in the concourse rather than escalators, and allow extra time. The covered walkway to the RTS station is being built with travelators specifically to help people with luggage and mobility concerns.
What if construction changes the routes? Around the RTS opening, expect temporary diversions near Bukit Chagar and Jalan Jim Quee. Follow on-site signs and check the operators’ official pages before travelling.
Why living near JB Sentral is so convenient
Few places in Malaysia combine a national rail station, a commuter line, a city bus hub, a border checkpoint and a cross-border metro within a few hundred metres. That concentration is what makes the JB Sentral–Bukit Chagar area so popular with tenants who work in Singapore and with Malaysians who travel to KL.
Historically, homes within walking reach of major transport hubs tend to enjoy steady rental demand, because tenants pay for time saved. Causewayz Square, EXSIM’s freehold project on Jalan Lumba Kuda, sits about 600 m from the CIQ and about 1.3 km from JB Sentral, and the developer has proposed a pedestrian link bridge towards the CIQ and RTS. Target completion is around 2030. Compare walking distances on our JB amenities map, or read the Causewayz Square to CIQ and RTS walk.
Want floor plans or the latest SPA price list for a home near JB Sentral? WhatsApp us.
Sources
- Johor Bahru Sentral station (Wikipedia)
- The Edge Malaysia: Loke on Southern Shuttle and Shuttle Tebrau (Oct 2026)
- Malay Mail: RM60m bridge from Komuter to RTS station (Aug 2026)
- The Star: RTS Link to drive mobility network (Mar 2026)
- The Independent SG: 400 m sheltered walkway linking RTS, CIQ, JB Sentral and City Square
- Bernama: BAS.MY Johor Bahru extended, new bus bays at Jalan Jim Quee (Oct 2026)
- Land Transport Guru: BAS.MY Johor Bahru routes (Oct 2026)
- The MileLion: ETS from Johor to KL review (Dec 2025)
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Station layouts, routes and schedules change; follow on-site signs and check KTMB and bus operators before you travel.