Taking the bus is still the cheapest and most flexible way to get from Singapore to Johor Bahru. There is no advance booking, no minimum group size, and fares start at S$2.50. The catch is knowing which route to take — the wrong choice can cost you an hour at the checkpoint.

This guide covers every cross-border service, where to board, and how to choose between the two checkpoints.

The two checkpoints

Every bus crosses at one of two places, and this is the single most important decision you make:

• Woodlands Checkpoint (the Causeway) — the northern crossing, dropping you at JB Sentral/City Square. Shortest route to central JB, but the busiest by far.
• Tuas Checkpoint (the Second Link) — the western crossing, serving Bukit Indah and the Iskandar Puteri area. Queues are frequently shorter, especially at weekends.

Rule of thumb: if your destination is central JB on a weekday, use the Causeway. If you are travelling on a Saturday morning or a public holiday, the Second Link is often faster even though the distance is greater.

Causeway Link routes (Woodlands)

Causeway Link runs the bright yellow smiley-face buses at a flat S$5 fare. No booking — walk up, tap, board.

• CW1 — boards at Kranji MRT (Exit C). The most convenient option if you are already on the North–South Line.
• CW2 — boards at Queen Street Bus Terminal, near Bugis. Best for anyone staying in town.
• CW5 — boards at Newton Circus. Useful from the Orchard and Novena side.

Second Link routes (Tuas)

• CW3 — from Jurong Town Hall to AEON Bukit Indah. The direct option for the Bukit Indah shopping strip.
• CW7 — from Tuas Link MRT, a Tuas-checkpoint loop service.

The budget option

AC7, operated by Ridewell Travel, runs from Yishun Bus Interchange to JB CIQ for S$2.50 — half the Causeway Link fare. It stops at Sembawang, Marsiling and Woodlands Ave 9 along the way, so it is slower, but it is the cheapest cross-border ride available and ideal if you live in the north.

Important: services are going cashless

Causeway Link is phasing out cash. CW2 and CW5 went cashless on 20 August 2026, and CW1 follows on 1 October 2026.

Turning up at Kranji with only notes in your wallet after that date means you are not boarding. Carry a stored-value card or contactless payment card before you travel.

How the crossing works

Cross-border buses do not carry you straight through. The sequence is:

1. Board in Singapore and ride to the checkpoint.
2. Disembark and clear Singapore immigration on foot, taking your belongings with you.
3. Board any bus of the same operator on the far side — your ticket is not tied to the specific vehicle you started on.
4. Repeat at Malaysian immigration, then continue to your destination.

That third point catches out first-timers: do not wait for “your” bus. Take the next one that arrives.

Timing your trip

• Avoid Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, Sunday evenings, and the day before any Singapore or Malaysian public holiday.
• Best windows are weekday mid-mornings (10am–noon) and early afternoons.
• School holidays in either country lengthen queues considerably.

Budget 45 minutes for a smooth crossing and up to three hours at the worst peaks.

What changes when the RTS Link opens

The JB–Singapore RTS Link is targeted to begin service from December 2026 and will shift a large share of central-JB traffic onto rail. Buses will remain essential for the Second Link, Bukit Indah, Senai Airport and everywhere beyond the two RTS stations.

Fares and schedules last checked September 2026. Operators adjust routes frequently — confirm with the operator before travelling.