Raffles Place to Punggol by MRT
Quick answer: Take the North South Line (towards Jurong East) to Dhoby Ghaut, change at Dhoby Ghaut to the North East Line (towards Punggol Coast) to Punggol. That is 13 stops with one change, about 40 minutes on the train, and the adult card fare is S$2.20.
Step by step from Raffles Place to Punggol
- At Raffles Place board the North South Line towards Jurong East and ride 2 stops to Dhoby Ghaut.
- At Dhoby Ghaut change to the North East Line towards Punggol Coast and ride 11 stops to Punggol.
Follow the overhead signs for the next line at each interchange; the platforms are linked by escalators and lifts and the change takes 2 to 5 minutes on foot. Station codes: Raffles Place is NS26/EW14 and Punggol is NE17/PTC. See the interactive MRT map to check the route on the network.
Fare from Raffles Place to Punggol
| Fare type | Adult card fare |
|---|---|
| Standard adult fare (card, contactless or phone wallet) | S$2.20 |
| Early bird, tapping in before 7.45am on a weekday | S$1.70 |
| From 26 December 2026, after the announced fare rise | S$2.33 |
The fare is based on the 17.5 km shortest rail distance between the two stations and is the same whichever route you take. Seniors, students and children pay concession fares that are much lower. Pay with a contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or an EZ-Link card; the gates do not take cash. More in the guide to paying for the MRT and the fare calculator.
How long does it take?
Allow about 40 minutes on the train from Raffles Place to Punggol. That assumes roughly 2 to 3 minutes per stop and about 5 minutes for each change, plus a few minutes waiting for the first train. Trains run every 2 to 3 minutes at peak times and every 5 to 7 minutes off-peak, so the wait is short. Add the walk at either end: most city-centre stations have several exits and the right one can save 5 minutes.
First and last trains
The North South Line runs from about 5:16 AM until about 11:48 PM at its first station, and the North East Line from about 5:39 AM until about 11:55 PM. Times at Raffles Place itself depend on how far it is from the end of the line, and the last connecting train at an interchange leaves earlier than the last train of the night, so for a trip after 11.30pm check the first and last train times before you set off. Services start about half an hour later on Sundays and public holidays.
Return journey: Punggol to Raffles Place
- At Punggol board the North East Line towards HarbourFront and ride 11 stops to Dhoby Ghaut.
- At Dhoby Ghaut change to the North South Line towards Marina South Pier and ride 2 stops to Raffles Place.
The return trip takes about 40 minutes and costs the same S$2.20.
Arriving at Punggol
Punggol station sits at the heart of a large planned residential new town in the north-east of Singapore, with a significant retail and transport hub immediately surrounding it. Waterway Point shopping mall and Punggol Bus Interchange are both within a couple of minutes of the station, making the area a busy local centre. Further afield, Punggol Waterway Park adds a natural, recreational dimension to the neighbourhood.
Close to the station:
- Waterway Point (shopping mall, about 2 min on foot)
- Punggol Bus Interchange (bus interchange, about 2 min on foot)
- Encik Tan (food centre, about 3 min on foot)
- NTWU Canteen (food centre, about 3 min on foot)
- Cookhouse (food centre, about 3 min on foot)
The Punggol station guide lists every exit, the lines it serves and first and last trains; the Raffles Place station guide does the same for the start of the trip.
Places to visit at either end
Frequently asked questions
How many MRT stops from Raffles Place to Punggol?
13 stops, with one change at Dhoby Ghaut.
How much is the MRT fare from Raffles Place to Punggol?
S$2.20 for an adult paying by card or phone, S$1.70 before 7.45am on weekdays, and S$2.33 from 26 December 2026.
How long is the train ride?
About 40 minutes, not counting the walk to and from the stations.
Do I need to change trains?
Yes, once, at Dhoby Ghaut. Keep your card or phone in your pocket at the interchange; you only tap at the start and end of the trip, and the fare counts as one journey.
Which platform do I need at Raffles Place?
Follow the signs for the North South Line platform towards Jurong East. The platform screens show the next train and its destination.
More routes from Raffles Place and Punggol
Bayfront to Punggol | Changi Airport to Punggol | Changi Airport to Raffles Place | City Hall to Punggol | City Hall to Raffles Place | HarbourFront to Punggol | Orchard to Punggol | Orchard to Raffles Place | Punggol to Paya Lebar | Raffles Place to Bayfront | Raffles Place to Bishan | Raffles Place to Boon Lay | Raffles Place to HarbourFront | Raffles Place to Jurong East
All station pairs are on the MRT routes hub, and the fare calculator covers any pair of stations.