Kovan MRT Station
Kovan MRT station (NE13) is a station on the North East Line, sitting in the middle of a quiet, low-rise residential neighbourhood in the north-east of Singapore. The surrounding area is made up largely of private housing estates and local amenities, giving the station a neighbourhood feel rather than the busier character of a commercial or business district stop.
Kovan on the North East Line map
Kovan MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | NE13 |
|---|---|
| Lines | North East Line |
| Line colour | Purple line (North East Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 高文 |
| Tamil name | உட்லீ |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | North East Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:39 AM, last train 11:55 PM Full first and last train guide |
See Kovan on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Kovan is not an interchange station, so passengers who need to change lines will have to travel to a neighbouring stop. Heading south towards the city, the next station is Serangoon (NE12), which offers connections to the Circle Line. Heading north in the direction of Punggol, Hougang (NE14) is the next stop along the line. Both connections are straightforward and require only a short ride.
The immediate area around Kovan station is known for its low-rise shophouses and a stretch of eateries and small shops along Upper Serangoon Road. Kovan Market and Food Centre, a popular local hawker centre, is within easy walking distance of the station and draws residents from across the neighbourhood. The general surroundings are typical of an established Singapore residential town, with provision shops, coffee shops, and everyday amenities close at hand.
Around Kovan MRT station
Kovan station sits in a mature residential neighbourhood in the north-east of Singapore, well served by local amenities. Heartland Mall and Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre provide retail options for residents, while several food centres nearby make it a convenient spot for everyday dining. The area is largely made up of HDB flats and private housing, giving it a quiet, community-focused character.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartland Mall | Shopping mall | About 70 m (~1 min walk) | Visit Heartland Mall for everyday shopping, supermarket runs and food options. |
| Paya Lebar-Kovan Community Club | Community club | About 110 m (~2 min walk) | Visit Paya Lebar-Kovan Community Club for community activities and fitness programmes. |
| Meetup @ 203 | Food centre | About 170 m (~3 min walk) | Visit Meetup @ 203 for a selection of local hawker food stalls. |
| 7 Stars | Food centre | About 310 m (~5 min walk) | Visit 7 Stars for a variety of affordable cooked food and local dishes. |
| Kovan 212 | Food centre | About 380 m (~6 min walk) | Visit Kovan 212 for hawker fare in a neighbourhood food centre setting. |
| Anderson Serangoon Junior College | College | About 600 m (~10 min walk) | Visit Anderson Serangoon Junior College for education, events or campus visits. |
| Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre | Shopping mall | About 970 m (~16 min walk) | Visit Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre for a mix of retail shops and services. |
| Hougang Stadium | Stadium | About 1030 m (~17 min walk) | Visit Hougang Stadium for sports events, recreational activities and jogging. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Kovan 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 Kovan (1 stop). About 11 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 Kovan (7 stops). About 9 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 Kovan (7 stops). About 8 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 Kovan (1 stop). About 12 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 Kovan (1 stop). About 11 stops with 2 changes. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Kovan (11 stops). About 11 stops, no changes. |
Fares from Kovan MRT station
A trip from Kovan to Changi Airport (about 20 km) costs S$2.27 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Kovan 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.
| To | Distance | Adult card | Before 7.45am | From 26 Dec 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changi Airport | about 20 km, 11 stops | S$2.27 | S$1.77 | S$2.40 |
| Orchard | about 11 km, 9 stops | S$1.90 | S$1.40 | S$2.03 |
| City Hall | about 10 km, 8 stops | S$1.90 | S$1.40 | S$2.03 |
| Raffles Place | about 11 km, 9 stops | S$1.94 | S$1.44 | S$2.07 |
| Jurong East | about 21 km, 12 stops | S$2.33 | S$1.83 | S$2.46 |
| Woodlands | about 22 km, 11 stops | S$2.36 | S$1.86 | S$2.49 |
| HarbourFront | about 15 km, 11 stops | S$2.07 | S$1.57 | S$2.20 |
| Marina Bay | about 14 km, 13 stops | S$2.02 | S$1.52 | S$2.15 |
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 Kovan MRT station
- Heartland Mall and Paya Lebar-Kovan Community Club are both within a very short walk of the station, making them easy first stops.
- The three food centres, Meetup @ 203, 7 Stars and Kovan 212, are all reachable on foot, though allow a few extra minutes for the further two.
- Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre and Hougang Stadium are both roughly a kilometre away, so you may prefer to take a bus rather than walk, especially in hot or wet weather.
- During morning and evening peak hours, trains on the North East Line can be busy, so plan your journey with a little extra time if you are travelling at those times.
All stations on the North East Line
In order along the line, with Kovan marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| NE1 | HarbourFront | CC / NE |
| NE3 | Outram Park | TE / EW / NE |
| NE4 | Chinatown | DT / NE |
| NE5 | Clarke Quay | None |
| NE6 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE / CC |
| NE7 | Little India | DT / NE |
| NE8 | Farrer Park | None |
| NE9 | Boon Keng | None |
| NE10 | Potong Pasir | None |
| NE11 | Woodleigh | None |
| NE12 | Serangoon | CC / NE |
| NE13 | Kovan (you are here) | None |
| NE14 | Hougang | None |
| NE15 | Buangkok | None |
| NE16 | Sengkang | NE / STC |
| NE17 | Punggol | NE / PTC |
| NE18 | Punggol Coast | None |
Read the full North East Line guide.
Kovan MRT station: common questions
Which line is Kovan MRT station on?
Kovan is on the North East Line. Its station code is NE13.
Is Kovan an interchange station?
No. Kovan 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 Kovan?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Kovan a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. North East Line first train 5:39 AM, last train 11:55 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Kovan MRT station?
Kovan station is surrounded by several amenities including Heartland Mall, Paya Lebar-Kovan Community Club, and multiple food centres such as Meetup @ 203, 7 Stars and Kovan 212, all within approximately 400 metres. Further out, you will find Anderson Serangoon Junior College, Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre and Hougang Stadium.
Which mall or food centre is closest to Kovan MRT station?
Heartland Mall is the closest shopping mall, at approximately 70 metres from the station, making it roughly a one-minute walk. Among the food centres, Meetup @ 203 is the nearest at approximately 170 metres away.
How far is Hougang Stadium from Kovan MRT station?
Hougang Stadium is approximately 1,030 metres from Kovan station in a straight line, which is roughly a 17-minute walk. You may wish to consider taking a bus to cover that distance more comfortably.
How do I get to Kovan 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 Kovan (1 stop). About 11 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 Kovan
- Bus & Train Fares Rise Up to 13 Cents from Dec 26 30 Sep 2026
- Singapore MRT Network: Lines, Fares & How It All Works 29 Sep 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.