Boon Keng MRT Station
Boon Keng MRT station is a station on the North East Line, carrying the station code NE9. It sits in a predominantly residential part of central Singapore, serving the Boon Keng and Whampoa neighbourhoods. The surrounding area is made up largely of public housing estates alongside local shops and food centres, making this station a practical everyday stop for people living in the area rather than a major commercial or business destination.
Boon Keng on the North East Line map
Boon Keng station at a glance
| Station codes | NE9 |
|---|---|
| Lines | North East Line |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 文庆 |
| Tamil name | பூன் கெங் |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | North East Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:42 AM, last train 11:55 PM Full first and last train guide |
See Boon Keng on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Boon Keng is not an interchange station, so all journeys here are made on the North East Line. Travelling one stop towards the city brings you to Farrer Park, which connects to the Little India area, while one stop in the other direction takes you to Potong Pasir. From Boon Keng you can reach the rest of the North East Line directly, including stations such as Dhoby Ghaut, which offers connections to the Circle Line and North South Line.
The station is surrounded by mature HDB blocks and a number of neighbourhood amenities typical of older residential estates in Singapore. Whampoa Food Centre is within walking distance and is well known locally for its hawker stalls. The broader neighbourhood has a traditional, community-oriented character with wet markets, coffee shops, and provision stores lining the streets, giving visitors a straightforward look at everyday residential life in this part of the city.
Around Boon Keng station
Boon Keng station sits within a largely residential neighbourhood of HDB flats and older shophouses, with a strong community character. The area is well served by local amenities, including the Bendemeer Food Centre and the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital nearby. Pockets of heritage interest, such as the Central Sikh Temple, reflect the district's long-established multicultural roots.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bendemeer Food Center | Food centre | About 150 m (~2 min walk) | Visit Bendemeer Food Centre for a wide variety of local hawker food and drinks. |
| Central Sikh Temple | Place of worship | About 160 m (~3 min walk) | Visit Central Sikh Temple to observe or participate in Sikh worship and community life. |
| Dignity Kitchen | Food centre | About 280 m (~5 min walk) | Visit Dignity Kitchen for affordable hawker meals in a social enterprise setting. |
| Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital | Hospital | About 380 m (~6 min walk) | Visit Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital for medical services in this community hospital. |
| Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital Heritage Gallery | Museum | About 400 m (~7 min walk) | Visit Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital Heritage Gallery to learn about the hospital's history and heritage. |
| Balestier Art Deco shophouses | Attraction | About 990 m (~16 min walk) | Visit Balestier Art Deco shophouses to admire well-preserved pre-war architectural streetscapes. |
| City Square Mall | Shopping mall | About 1070 m (~17 min walk) | Visit City Square Mall for shopping, dining, and everyday retail needs. |
| Sim Kwong Ho shophouses | Attraction | About 1100 m (~18 min walk) | Visit Sim Kwong Ho shophouses to see heritage shophouse architecture in the Balestier area. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Boon Keng by MRT
Worked out from the network map. Stop counts are station to station and do not include walking or waiting time.
| From Changi Airport | Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Paya Lebar (6 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Paya Lebar to Serangoon (4 stops), then change to the North East Line from Serangoon to Boon Keng (2 stops). About 12 stops with 2 changes. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Dhoby Ghaut (2 stops), then change to the North East Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Boon Keng (3 stops). About 5 stops with 1 change. |
| From City Hall | Take the North South Line from City Hall to Dhoby Ghaut (1 stop), then change to the North East Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Boon Keng (3 stops). About 4 stops with 1 change. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to Buona Vista (3 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Buona Vista to Serangoon (8 stops), then change to the North East Line from Serangoon to Boon Keng (2 stops). About 13 stops with 2 changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the North South Line from Woodlands to Bishan (8 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Bishan to Serangoon (2 stops), then change to the North East Line from Serangoon to Boon Keng (2 stops). About 12 stops with 2 changes. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Boon Keng (6 stops). About 6 stops, no changes. |
Tips for using Boon Keng station
- Bendemeer Food Centre, Central Sikh Temple, and Dignity Kitchen are all within a short walk of the station and are easy to reach on foot.
- Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital and its Heritage Gallery are a comfortable walk away, though allowing a few extra minutes is advisable if you are unfamiliar with the area.
- The Balestier Art Deco shophouses, City Square Mall, and Sim Kwong Ho shophouses are over a kilometre away by straight-line distance, so taking a bus or riding one stop further on the North East Line may save time.
- During morning and evening peak hours, trains on the North East Line can be busy, so allow extra time if you are travelling with luggage or in a group.
All stations on the North East Line
In order along the line, with Boon Keng marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| NE1 | HarbourFront | CC / NE |
| NE4 | Chinatown | DT / NE |
| NE5 | Clarke Quay | – |
| NE6 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE |
| NE7 | Little India | DT / NE |
| NE8 | Farrer Park | – |
| NE9 | Boon Keng (you are here) | – |
| NE10 | Potong Pasir | – |
| NE12 | Serangoon | CC / NE |
| NE13 | Woodleigh | – |
| NE14 | Hougang | – |
| NE15 | Buangkok | – |
| NE16 | Sengkang | NE / STC |
| NE17 | Punggol | NE / PTC |
Read the full North East Line guide.
Boon Keng station: common questions
Which line is Boon Keng MRT station on?
Boon Keng is on the North East Line. Its station code is NE9.
Is Boon Keng an interchange station?
No. Boon Keng is served by the North East Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Boon Keng?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Boon Keng a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. North East Line first train 5:42 AM, last train 11:55 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Boon Keng MRT station?
Nearby places include Bendemeer Food Centre and Central Sikh Temple within approximately 150 to 160 metres, as well as Dignity Kitchen, Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, and its Heritage Gallery all within roughly 400 metres. Further afield, at approximately one kilometre or more, you will find the Balestier Art Deco shophouses, City Square Mall, and Sim Kwong Ho shophouses.
Which food centre is closest to Boon Keng station?
Bendemeer Food Centre is the closest, at approximately 150 metres from the station, which is roughly a two-minute walk. Dignity Kitchen is the next nearest food centre, at approximately 280 metres away.
How far is City Square Mall from Boon Keng station?
City Square Mall is approximately 1,070 metres from Boon Keng station in a straight line, which works out to roughly a 17-minute walk. You may prefer to take a bus or the MRT to reach it more quickly.
How do I get to Boon Keng from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Paya Lebar (6 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Paya Lebar to Serangoon (4 stops), then change to the North East Line from Serangoon to Boon Keng (2 stops). About 12 stops with 2 changes.
Sources: station codes, line colours and interchanges from the LTA rail system map; operating hours from SMRT and SBS Transit. Last reviewed September 2026.
News and guides mentioning Boon Keng
- Playing Loud Music on the Bus? It’ll Cost You Hundreds 24 Sep 2026
- Jaywalkers Fined S$50 Near Boon Keng MRT: What You Need to Know 19 Jul 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the North East Line is listed on its line guide, with the full route and interchanges. For times, see the first and last train guide, and for the whole network in one view use the interactive Singapore MRT map or the PDF map.