MacPherson MRT Station

MacPherson MRT station is an underground interchange beneath Paya Lebar Road, at its junction with Circuit Link and Ubi Avenue 2, in the Geylang planning area of eastern Singapore. Two lines stop here: the Circle Line, where the station carries the code CC10, and the Downtown Line, where it is numbered DT26. Both sets of platforms are below ground, so passengers transferring between the lines stay out of the weather.

MacPherson on the Circle Line map

MacPherson MRT station at a glance

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

The name comes from the surrounding MacPherson estate, which honours Colonel Ronald MacPherson, appointed the first Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements in 1867. Most people using the station live in the MacPherson estate or work in the Ubi industrial estate close by. A good share of passengers also pass through only to change between the Circle Line and the Downtown Line.

History of MacPherson MRT station

The Circle Line platforms opened to the public on 17 April 2010, together with the first two stages of that line. While the station was being built, room was set aside for a future connection to the planned Eastern Region Line, a scheme that was later folded into the third stage of the Downtown Line. That link came into use on 21 October 2017, when the Downtown Line platforms opened and MacPherson became an interchange. Building the original station also meant shifting parts of Paya Lebar Road, Circuit Link and Ubi Avenue 2 onto new alignments, which is why the road layout around the entrances differs from older maps.

Inside MacPherson MRT station

This is one of eleven Circle Line stations designated as a Civil Defence shelter for use during a national emergency. Its reinforced structure is backed by blast doors, decontamination facilities, ventilation, its own power and water supply systems and a dry toilet system. On the Circle Line level, look out for the artwork Virtuous Cycle by Kay Kok Chung Oi, in which coloured arrows stand for people converging on MacPherson and red rectangles represent the station that connects them.

For everyday trips, the station is handiest for food and local errands. Circuit Road Market and Food Center is about 330 m away, roughly a five minute walk, and Circuit Road Hawker Centre is around 500 m from the station, giving plenty of choice for an inexpensive meal. Swimmers can reach Geylang East Swimming Complex in about nine minutes on foot, while Paya Lebar Square, a shopping mall roughly 890 m away, is a walkable option for shops and offices. Whether you live in the estate, work in Ubi or are simply changing trains, MacPherson MRT station puts these places within easy reach.

Around MacPherson MRT station

MacPherson station sits within a largely residential neighbourhood made up of HDB estates, with Circuit Road Market and Food Centre and Circuit Road Hawker Centre serving the everyday needs of locals nearby. The area also offers recreational options, with Geylang East Swimming Complex within walking distance. Further out, Paya Lebar Square and SingPost Centre mark the edge of a commercial cluster accessible from the station.

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

How to get to MacPherson by MRT

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

Fares from MacPherson MRT station

A trip from MacPherson to Changi Airport (about 14 km) costs S$2.02 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from MacPherson 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 MacPherson MRT station

• Circuit Road Market and Food Centre is the closest food option, at roughly five minutes on foot, making it a convenient first stop after alighting.
• Paya Lebar Square and SingPost Centre are both under a kilometre away but the walk takes around 14 to 16 minutes, so factor in extra time if the weather is poor.
• MacPherson is an interchange between the Circle Line and the Downtown Line, so plan your onward journey using whichever line best suits your destination.
• During morning and evening peak hours the station can be busy, particularly for commuters changing between the two lines, so allow a little extra time when transferring.

All stations on the Circle Line

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

Read the full Circle Line guide.

All stations on the Downtown Line

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

Read the full Downtown Line guide.

MacPherson MRT station: common questions

Which line is MacPherson MRT station on?

MacPherson is on the Circle Line and the Downtown Line. Its station codes are CC10 and DT26.

Is MacPherson an interchange station?

Yes. You can change between the Circle Line and the Downtown Line inside the station without leaving the paid area.

What time is the first and last train at MacPherson?

Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach MacPherson a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Circle Line first train 5:37 AM, last train 11:56 PM. Downtown Line first train 5:30 AM, last train 11:40 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.

What is near MacPherson MRT station?

The area around MacPherson station has several hawker centres and food options, including Circuit Road Market and Food Centre at approximately 330 metres and Circuit Road Hawker Centre at approximately 500 metres. There is also Geylang East Swimming Complex, Sri Sivan Temple, and the shopping malls Paya Lebar Square and SingPost Centre within roughly a kilometre.

Which food centre is closest to MacPherson MRT station?

Circuit Road Market and Food Centre is the closest, at approximately 330 metres straight-line distance, which is roughly a five-minute walk from the station.

How far is Paya Lebar Square from MacPherson MRT station?

Paya Lebar Square is approximately 890 metres away in a straight line from MacPherson station, which works out to roughly a 14-minute walk.

How do I get to MacPherson 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 MacPherson (1 stop). About 7 stops with 1 change.

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 MacPherson

• Bus driver loses consciousness on Airport Road: what commuters should know 6 Nov 2026
• シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
• Most Instagram-Worthy MRT Stations in Singapore 28 Sep 2026
• MRT Station Codes and Interchange Stations Explained 31 Aug 2026

Plan the rest of the trip

Every station on the Circle Line and the Downtown 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.