JB to one-north, Kent Ridge or NUS by RTS should take roughly 65–100 minutes door to door once the RTS Link opens (targeted February 2027). The simplest route: RTS to Woodlands North, TEL about 8 stops to Caldecott, then the Circle Line about 5 stops to one-north or 6 to Kent Ridge, roughly 30–40 minutes of MRT time including one change (estimate).
Singapore’s west-central knowledge belt, from one-north and Fusionopolis to Kent Ridge, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Science Park, employs many researchers, tech staff and students who could live in JB once the RTS Link opens. This page answers the JB to one-north and NUS by RTS question leg by leg, compares the two sensible MRT routes, and marks clearly which times are estimates. Related guides: JB to Jurong by RTS and JB to Orchard by RTS.
JB to one-north and NUS by RTS: the route, leg by leg
Take the RTS to Woodlands North, the TEL south to Caldecott, and change to the Circle Line (CCL) heading west through Botanic Gardens and Buona Vista.
| Leg | Approx. time | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Walk from Causewayz Square to Bukit Chagar (about 800 m) | 10–15 min | Estimate from published distance |
| Co-located clearance at Bukit Chagar | 10–20 min | Estimate; no official figure |
| Wait + RTS ride to Woodlands North | 5–9 min | About 5 min ride (LTA) |
| Transfer to TEL at Woodlands North | 3–5 min | Estimate; link at basement 1 |
| TEL to Caldecott (TE9), about 8 stops | 16–20 min | Estimate, 2–2.5 min per stop |
| Change to the Circle Line at Caldecott (CC17) | 3–6 min | Estimate |
| CCL to one-north (CC23), about 5 stops; Kent Ridge (CC24), about 6 | 10–15 min | Estimate |
| Walk to your building or campus | 5–10 min | Estimate |
| Total, door to door | about 65–100 min | Sum of the legs |
How we estimate: LTA does not publish station-to-station running times for these trips. Where no official figure exists, we assume about 2–2.5 minutes per stop (including dwell time) and 3–6 minutes per line change. These are our estimates, not official times.
Caldecott is the TEL’s interchange with the Circle Line, confirmed by LTA when TEL Stage 2 opened in 2021.
How the RTS part of the trip works
Every journey in this series starts the same way: you clear both countries’ checks once at Bukit Chagar, ride about five minutes across the strait, and step out at Woodlands North with no second immigration queue. Only what happens after Woodlands North changes from page to page.
- Walk to Bukit Chagar: about 10–15 minutes from Causewayz Square (roughly 800 m) and about 5–12 minutes from JB Sentral or City Square. Our Bukit Chagar station walking guide maps the routes.
- Co-located clearance: Malaysian and Singapore immigration are both handled at the departure station, so you clear once before boarding. No official processing time has been published; we use 10–20 minutes as a planning estimate, and more in the first weeks after opening.
- The ride: about 5 minutes over roughly 4 km (LTA), with trains reported at about every 3.6 minutes at peak. We allow 5–9 minutes including the wait.
- Transfer to the MRT: the RTS station connects to the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Woodlands North station at basement 1. We allow 3–5 minutes (estimate).
Passenger service is targeted for February 2027 (LTA–MOT joint statement, October 2026). Dates can move, so check our RTS Link latest news page before relying on any timing here.
Which station for one-north, NUS and Science Park?
The knowledge belt spans several Circle Line stations, so the right exit can save you a bus ride on campus.
- one-north, Fusionopolis and Biopolis: one-north (CC23), or Buona Vista (CC22/EW21) for the Biopolis end.
- NUS (Kent Ridge campus) and the National University Hospital area: Kent Ridge (CC24). Allow extra time for internal campus shuttles or walking to your faculty.
- Singapore Science Park: Kent Ridge or Haw Par Villa (CC25), then a walk or bus depending on the building.
- Holland Village: CC21, one stop before Buona Vista, if you live or work there.
Two MRT routes compared
The TEL-to-Circle Line route has one change after Woodlands North; the alternative via the North-South and East-West lines has two. Our estimates put them within a few minutes of each other.
- TEL + Circle Line (recommended): about 13 stops and one change to one-north; roughly 29–41 minutes on the MRT including the change (estimate).
- TEL + North-South Line + East-West Line: TEL one stop to Woodlands, NSL 7 stops to Jurong East, EWL 3 stops to Buona Vista. About 11 stops but two changes; roughly 28–41 minutes to Buona Vista (estimate). Useful if the Circle Line is disrupted.
Peak vs off-peak: what changes
Research and campus schedules are often more flexible than office hours, which can work in your favour.
- Morning peak: RTS clearance and the southbound TEL are busiest; plan for the top of the range, about 95–100 minutes.
- Off-peak starts: arriving for a 10am lecture or a late lab shift should bring the trip closer to 65–75 minutes.
- Late finishes: RTS hours are widely reported as about 6am to midnight but are not yet official, so check the last train if you work late in the lab.
Compared with today’s options
Today the west-central belt is a long trip from JB: Causeway bus or KTM Shuttle Tebrau to Woodlands, then a long MRT ride. The RTS mostly replaces the unpredictable border crossing.
- Bus over the Causeway: highly variable with checkpoint queues; during tighter checks in 2026, delays of about 105–160 minutes were reported at Woodlands (Motorist).
- KTM Shuttle Tebrau: a 5-minute train (RM5 from JB) due to end six months after the RTS opens unless extended (Paul Tan, April 2026).
- Second Link by road: residents of western Johor may find the Tuas crossing more direct for the west of Singapore; see our JB to Jurong guide.
How much will the commute cost?
The RTS fare has not been announced, so nobody can give you an exact daily cost yet. Malaysia’s Transport Minister said in October 2026 that the fare is expected to be announced by the end of 2026, jointly with the operator; any figure you see before then is unofficial.
- RTS Link: fare not announced. Our JB RTS fare guide tracks it.
- MRT legs: Singapore MRT fares are distance-based and charged by card. We do not quote a figure here; use the official TransitLink / SimplyGo fare information for your exact stations. Students should check whether concession fares apply to their MRT leg.
- For comparison today: the KTM Shuttle Tebrau costs RM5 one way from JB (Paul Tan, April 2026).
Who this commute suits
This route suits people with fixed campus or lab locations who want rail time instead of a road gamble.
- Researchers and tech staff at one-north, Fusionopolis and Biopolis.
- NUS staff and postgraduate students with flexible schedules.
- Science Park employees who can start outside the main peak.
Living near the RTS for this commute
The walk to Bukit Chagar is the one leg you fully control, and it can be the difference between a 10-minute and a 30-minute start. For a one-north or NUS job, a short walk to Bukit Chagar keeps the total near the lower end of the range. Our JB RTS Link condo guide compares homes by walking distance, and Causewayz Square sits about 800 m from the station (a link bridge is proposed by the developer; target completion around 2030). For the bigger picture, read JB to Singapore commute options and living in JB while working in Singapore. WhatsApp us for floor plans and the latest SPA price list.
Sources
- Johor Baru-Singapore RTS Link: a sneak peek at completed Woodlands North station (The Star, Sep 2026)
- Woodlands North RTS Link station completed (Mothership, Sep 2026)
- Factsheet: TEL Stage 2 opens 28 August 2021 (LTA)
- Thomson-East Coast Line (LTA)
- KTM Shuttle Tebrau after the RTS Link starts (Paul Tan, Apr 2026)
- Woodlands Checkpoint delays of 105–160 min during tighter checks (Motorist, 2026)
This guide is general information, not financial advice.