Commonwealth MRT Station

Commonwealth MRT station sits on Commonwealth Avenue in Queenstown, one of Singapore’s older residential districts in the west of the city. It is served by the East West Line and carries the station code EW20. The station is elevated, with trains running on a viaduct above the road and a single island platform shared by both directions of travel.

Commonwealth on the East West Line map

Commonwealth MRT station at a glance

Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.

Most passengers are people who live in the surrounding housing estates, along with students heading to Queensway Secondary School and New Town Primary School. The station also serves worshippers at Faith Methodist Church, visitors to the MOE Heritage Centre and people working at Haw Par Technocentre. With four exits spread around the station, it is a practical stop for daily commuting as well as short trips into the neighbourhood.

History of Commonwealth MRT station

The station opened on 12 March 1988, when Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched the stretch of line running west from Tiong Bahru to Clementi. It was originally planned under the name Queenstown, but in 1987 it swapped names with the neighbouring station, because each was closer to the places that carried the other’s name. Its first station number was W6, which became EW20 in 2001 when the network’s numbering was revised. A new overhead bridge and two extra exits opened in August 2015.

Inside Commonwealth MRT station

The station is wheelchair accessible, with lifts and barrier-free features added in 2008, and there are bicycle facilities for those who ride to the train. Half-height platform screen doors line the platform edge, and large high-volume low-speed fans help keep the platform cooler. The design draws on Singapore’s shophouses: brightly coloured grilles wrap around the building like rows of French windows, the walls are a soft cream shade, and a cantilevered roof with horizontal slats keeps rain and strong sun off the platform.

For a quick meal, the Koufu food centre is about a minute’s walk from Commonwealth MRT station, while Tanglin Halt Market and FoodMore are both around four minutes away on foot. Residents and visitors heading further afield can walk to Queenstown Public Library in roughly 15 minutes, and Holland Road Shopping Centre is a similar distance away. Patients attending the Singapore Institute of Advanced Medicine Proton Therapy Centre will find it about a 10 minute walk from the station, making this a convenient stop for both everyday errands and appointments in the area.

Around Commonwealth MRT station

Commonwealth MRT station sits within a long-established residential neighbourhood in Queenstown, one of Singapore's older housing estates. The area is well served by everyday amenities, with food centres such as Koufu and Tanglin Halt Market within easy walking distance. Holland Road Shopping Centre and Queenstown Public Library are also reachable on foot for those who do not mind a longer stroll.

Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.

How to get to Commonwealth by MRT

Worked out from the network map. Stop counts are station to station and do not include walking or waiting time.

Fares from Commonwealth MRT station

A trip from Commonwealth to Changi Airport (about 28 km) costs S$2.44 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Commonwealth to the main hubs, the early bird fare for journeys that start before 7.45am on weekdays, and the fare that applies from 26 December 2026.

Estimated from the route distance between stations and the Public Transport Council fare table in force from 27 December 2025. The exact fare can differ by one band. Cash fares are higher. Use the fare calculator for any other journey, or check your fare on the SimplyGo app.

Tips for using Commonwealth MRT station

• Koufu is the closest food option and is only about a minute's walk from the station, making it convenient for a quick meal before or after your journey.
• Tanglin Halt Market and FoodMore are both around a four-minute walk, so they are easily reachable on foot without needing to take any other transport.
• For destinations such as Queenstown Public Library and Holland Road Shopping Centre, which are approximately 15 minutes away on foot, you may prefer to take a bus from stops near the station to save time.
• The station is on the East West Line only, so plan any onward connections in advance, particularly during peak hours when trains and buses in this area can be busier.

All stations on the East West Line

In order along the line, with Commonwealth marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.

Read the full East West Line guide.

Commonwealth MRT station: common questions

Which line is Commonwealth MRT station on?

Commonwealth is on the East West Line. Its station code is EW20.

Is Commonwealth an interchange station?

No. Commonwealth is served by the East West Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.

What time is the first and last train at Commonwealth?

Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Commonwealth a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. East West Line first train 5:19 AM, last train 11:23 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.

What is near Commonwealth MRT station?

The area around Commonwealth station has several food centres including Koufu, Tanglin Halt Market and FoodMore, all within roughly four minutes on foot. Further afield you will find Sri Muneeswaran Temple, Blessed Sacrament Church, Queenstown Public Library and Holland Road Shopping Centre, all approximately 12 to 15 minutes away by foot.

Which food centre is closest to Commonwealth MRT station?

Koufu is the closest food centre, at approximately 70 metres from the station, which is roughly a one-minute walk. Tanglin Halt Market and FoodMore are the next nearest, both around 220 to 240 metres away.

How far is Holland Road Shopping Centre from Commonwealth MRT station?

Holland Road Shopping Centre is approximately 930 metres from Commonwealth station in a straight line, which works out to roughly a 15-minute walk. You may wish to consider taking a bus if you prefer a shorter journey on foot.

How do I get to Commonwealth from Changi Airport by MRT?

Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Commonwealth (18 stops). About 18 stops, no changes.

Sources: station codes, line colours and interchanges from the LTA rail system map; operating hours from SMRT and SBS Transit. Last reviewed October 2026.

News and guides mentioning Commonwealth

• シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
• East-West Line Map 11 Aug 2023
• Tamil 11 Aug 2023
• MRT Map Chinese 11 Aug 2023

Plan the rest of the trip

Every station on the East West 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.