The Shuttle Tebrau running between Malaysia and Singapore is a shuttle service operated by diesel-hauled trains. It connects Johor Bahru at the southern end of the West Coast of Malaysia and Woodlands in the north region of Singapore.
Now you can easily book your train tickets between Malaysia and Singapore with Baolau.
KTM Shuttle Tebrau train service
KTM Berhad, or KTMB for short, is the main railway operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The operator provides inter-city and commuter services across the national rail network as well as the international rail service between Malaysia and Singapore.
KTM operates the Shuttle Tebrau, a cross-border shuttle service connecting Johor Bahru to Singapore and Singapore to Johor Bahru. The train runs on the historical Johor–Singapore Causeway that connects Malaysia and Singapore by land.
While long-distance trains used to cross the border all the way to Singapore, all Malaysia lines have now been truncated to Johor Bahru. It force passengers to take the Shuttle Tebrau specifically to cross from Johor Bahru to Woodlands in Singapore. As such, if you are coming in from Padang Besar, Butterworth, Kuala Lumpur, Gemas by the Ekspres Selatan and heading to Singapore. You will need to stop at JB Sentral and interchange to the Shuttle Tebrau service to continue your journey.
Johor Bahru to Singapore by Train
Departure from JB Sentral Railway Station
If you are coming on the Ekspres Selatan, fret not as the Shuttle Tebrau departs from the same station. So after disembarking, exit the platform and head to the station main hall. If you are already in Johor Bahru. JB Sentral is just in front of Johor Bahru City Square and KOMTAR JBCC.
The boarding for the Shuttle Tebrau will open 30 minute before departure at Gate A. The staff will call for all passengers to proceed down to the platform.
Ticket checking will be done before entering the platform area. If you book your train tickets online with Baolau, show a printed copy or a digital copy of the e-ticket in your mobile phone or tablet.
The first check will be done by the station staff. You will need to present your passport and tally your identity with your purchased ticket. Tickets on the Shuttle Tebrau are strictly non-transferable.
Once checked, proceed to the turnstiles and scan the QR code included on your train ticket.
Once the light on top flashes green, push the turnstiles and enter the international passengers area.
Immigration and customs will be cleared in the hall down the escalator. Present your passport to the immigration counter for Malaysian departure. After that scan your bags at the x-ray machines at Malaysian Customs.
The path from immigration and customs leads to the waiting area for the Shuttle Tebrau. Seats and washrooms are available at this waiting area.
Depending on the time of your journey, the train may or may not be ready at the platform. When the train is ready, proceed straight down to the platform. Follow the signs and open doors to the platform.
Passenger Experience
The Shuttle Tebrau operates with a set of 4 passenger coaches, usually with Superior Class seats with a 2+2 configuration. The actual coach used may differ on a day-to-day basis.
Despite the coach and seat number are designated on your ticket, the Shuttle Tebrau is free seating. You may sit or stand at any place you like.
Seats can be reclined and are sufficiently comfortable for the 5-minute ride.
The journey
The train mainly travels on the Johor–Singapore Causeway, alongside the vehicles commuting between Singapore and Malaysia by road. However, with the Shuttle Tebrau, you get an exclusive right-of-way on the bridge that escapes any traffic jams especially on weekends.
The train leaves the mainland of Malaysia barely a minute after departure from JB Sentral.
The journey is a comfortable ride across the Johor Straits.
You can also see the exact international border between Malaysia and Singapore on the road. As demarcated by the meeting of the two yellow boxes.
The Shuttle Tebrau is the fastest way to travel from Johor Bahru to Singapore and definitely beats standing in the crowded bus.
Arrival into Woodlands CIQ
The train arrives at Woodlands CIQ or Woodlands Train Checkpoint 5 minutes after departure from JB Sentral. Singapore arrival immigration is located inside an air-conditioned hall just beside the platform. Once cleared immigration, proceed for Singapore customs examination. There is a water cooler and washroom just after customs clearance.
Once you clear immigration and customs, proceed out of the station where there is a taxi stand and bus stop to continue your journey. Many public buses connect to the nearest MRT stations. Most of them will head to Woodlands MRT Station on the North South Line where you can easily continue by train to the city. Key stations on the same line include Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall. Getting to major attractions such as Resorts World Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands is also easy with just 1 change of a train in the city.
Singapore to Johor Bahru by Train
Departure from Woodlands Train Checkpoint
The inverse journey departing from Singapore differs in the boarding and immigration procedures. If you book your train tickets online with Baolau, show a printed copy or a digital copy of the e-ticket in your mobile phone or tablet to the staff at the ticket counter to collect your boarding pass. An exchange of electronic ticket for the actual ticket is compulsory to board the Shuttle Tebrau from Singapore to Malaysia.
Once the ticket has been exchanged, head upstairs to board the Shuttle Tebrau. Tickets are checked before entering the immigration area. Both Singapore and Malaysia immigration are cleared at Woodlands CIQ. First, proceed for Singapore departure immigration. Second, follow the path towards Malaysia immigration and customs screening. After completing both Singapore and Malaysia immigration and customs, proceed out to the platform to the waiting Shuttle Tebrau train.
Arrival into JB Sentral
The train arrives at JB Sentral Railway Station 5 minutes after departure from Woodlands Train Checkpoint. The Shuttle Tebrau is the fastest way to travel from Singapore to Johor Bahru.
As Malaysia’s immigration and customs clearance has already been completed at Woodlands CIQ. The disembarkation procedure at JB Sentral is very straightforward – simply exit the platform and you find yourself in Malaysia.
Head up the escalator from the platform to the concourse.
Another escalator at the concourse takes you up to the main hall of JB Sentral.
From here, simply proceed onwards out to the city of Johor Bahru.
If you are connecting to the Ekspres Selatan or the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran. Wait for your connecting train at Gate B, which is the same place as you have just exited from.
How to book your train tickets between Johor Bahru, Malaysia and Woodlands, Singapore
Tickets on the Shuttle Tebrau train run out quickly. So we recommend that you book your tickets 30 days in advance to secure your seat before your journey.
Baolau lists the Shuttle Tebrau services available, so you can compare and select the most convenient schedule. As we get closer to the departure date, there will be less services with seats available.
Fill in the passenger form and select your seat. Proceed to complete the payment before submitting your booking request. Once your reservation is confirmed, you will receive an email with the electronic tickets attached.
The electronic tickets are valid boarding passes, which can be used to board the KTM train at the departure station, and are strictly non-transferable. Passengers can print the e-ticket in advance or carry a digital copy in the mobile phone or tablet and present it before boarding.
