Maxwell MRT Station
Maxwell MRT station is an underground stop on the Thomson-East Coast Line, carrying the station code TE18. It lies beneath Neil Road, on the stretch between Maxwell Road and Kreta Ayer Road, where the Downtown Core meets Outram on the southern side of Chinatown. Trains here are run by SMRT Trains.
Maxwell on the Thomson East Coast Line map
Maxwell MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | TE18 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Thomson East Coast Line |
| Line colour | Brown line (Thomson East Coast Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 麦士威 |
| Tamil name | மெச்ஸ்வெல் |
| Opened | 13 November 2022 (3 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (2 stacked platforms) |
| Address | 321 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058841 |
| Daily ridership | About 8,406 passengers a day (2024) |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | Thomson East Coast Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:36 AM, last train 11:42 PM Full first and last train guide |
Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.
See Maxwell on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
The station serves a broad mix of passengers. Office workers use it to reach nearby government buildings, including the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre, the Ministry of National Development Building and the Central Provident Fund Maxwell Service Centre. Visitors come for the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, Sri Mariamman Temple and the hawker stalls of Maxwell Food Centre. Residents and worshippers use it for Kreta Ayer Community Centre, Fairfield Methodist Church, Masjid Jamae (Chulia) and Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple.
History of Maxwell MRT station
Plans for the station were made public in August 2012, when it was intended for the Thomson Line. Two years later that project was combined with the Eastern Region Line to form the Thomson-East Coast Line, and Maxwell became one of 13 stations in the stage from Mount Pleasant to Gardens by the Bay. Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic pushed completion back by a year, and work on site was halted in April 2020 after three cases were detected there. Maxwell MRT station finally opened to passengers on 13 November 2022.
Inside Maxwell MRT station
The two platforms are stacked one above the other rather than placed side by side, so check the signs for your direction of travel before heading down. While you wait, look for Old Chinatown In New Maxwell Life by Justin Lee, an Art-in-Transit work showing local buildings and people, including Samsui women and a child eating at a hawker street. Its mix of styles contrasts Singapore’s poorer past with its present and raises questions about inequality and the value of food.
For most visitors, Maxwell MRT station is the quickest way into the heart of Chinatown, which begins about a minute’s walk from the station. Within a few minutes on foot you can visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum, walk along Smith Street, photograph the Samsui Lady with Cigarette mural and explore the Singapore City Gallery. A slightly longer walk brings you to the Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre or the shops at Guoco Tower. Because Tanjong Pagar and Telok Ayer stations are also within walking distance, the area is easy to combine with other parts of the city centre on the same outing.
Around Maxwell MRT station
Maxwell MRT station sits within the heart of Chinatown, one of Singapore's most historically rich districts, blending cultural heritage with everyday local life. The area around the station is dominated by temples, museums, and heritage shophouses, with places such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum and Singapore City Gallery close by. Further out, commercial developments like Guoco Tower mark the transition towards the Tanjong Pagar business district.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinatown | Attraction | About 80 m (~1 min walk) | Explore the historic Chinatown district, full of heritage shophouses and cultural landmarks. |
| Buddha Tooth Relic Museum | Museum | About 100 m (~2 min walk) | Visit to see sacred Buddhist relics and learn about Buddhist art and culture. |
| Mural: Samsui Lady with Cigarette | Attraction | About 150 m (~2 min walk) | Look out for this striking street mural depicting a Samsui woman, a figure from Singapore's history. |
| Smith Street | Attraction | About 180 m (~3 min walk) | Walk along this street known for its association with Chinatown's food and shophouse culture. |
| Singapore City Gallery | Museum | About 190 m (~3 min walk) | Discover how Singapore has been planned and developed through engaging city exhibitions. |
| Guoco Tower | Shopping mall | About 440 m (~7 min walk) | Head here for a large mixed-use commercial development with shopping and dining options. |
| Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre | Museum | About 450 m (~7 min walk) | Learn about the history and heritage of Singapore's Indian Muslim community at this centre. |
| Icon Village | Shopping mall | About 610 m (~10 min walk) | A shopping and lifestyle destination worth the walk for those wanting more retail options. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Maxwell 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 Outram Park (14 stops), then change to the Thomson East Coast Line from Outram Park to Maxwell (1 stop). About 15 stops with 1 change. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Orchard to Maxwell (4 stops). About 4 stops, no changes. |
| From City Hall | Take the East West Line from City Hall to Outram Park (3 stops), then change to the Thomson East Coast Line from Outram Park to Maxwell (1 stop). About 4 stops with 1 change. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to Outram Park (8 stops), then change to the Thomson East Coast Line from Outram Park to Maxwell (1 stop). About 9 stops with 1 change. |
| From Woodlands | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Woodlands to Maxwell (15 stops). About 15 stops, no changes. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Outram Park (1 stop), then change to the Thomson East Coast Line from Outram Park to Maxwell (1 stop). About 2 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Maxwell MRT station
A trip from Maxwell to Changi Airport (about 23 km) costs S$2.36 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Maxwell 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 23 km, 15 stops | S$2.36 | S$1.86 | S$2.49 |
| Orchard | about 4 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| City Hall | about 4 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| Raffles Place | about 3 km, 3 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| Jurong East | about 14 km, 9 stops | S$2.07 | S$1.57 | S$2.20 |
| Woodlands | about 25 km, 15 stops | S$2.40 | S$1.90 | S$2.53 |
| HarbourFront | about 3 km, 2 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| Marina Bay | about 2 km, 2 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
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 Maxwell MRT station
- Chinatown, the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum, and Smith Street are all within a short walk of the station, making them easy to visit on foot.
- Guoco Tower and the Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre are roughly a seven-minute walk, so allow a little extra time, particularly in hot weather.
- Icon Village is approximately ten minutes on foot, so visitors who are short on time or arriving during peak hours may prefer to use the MRT to a closer station.
- The Thomson East Coast Line runs through Maxwell, so passengers travelling from the city centre or the east side of Singapore can reach this station without needing to interchange at a busy hub.
All stations on the Thomson East Coast Line
In order along the line, with Maxwell marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| TE1 | Woodlands North | None |
| TE2 | Woodlands | NS / TE |
| TE3 | Woodlands South | None |
| TE4 | Springleaf | None |
| TE5 | Lentor | None |
| TE6 | Mayflower | None |
| TE7 | Bright Hill | None |
| TE8 | Upper Thomson | None |
| TE9 | Caldecott | CC / TE |
| TE11 | Stevens | DT / TE |
| TE12 | Napier | None |
| TE13 | Orchard Boulevard | None |
| TE14 | Orchard | TE / NS |
| TE15 | Great World | None |
| TE16 | Havelock | None |
| TE17 | Outram Park | TE / EW / NE |
| TE18 | Maxwell (you are here) | None |
| TE19 | Shenton Way | None |
| TE20 | Marina Bay | CE / TE / NS |
| TE22 | Gardens by the Bay | None |
| TE23 | Tanjong Rhu | None |
| TE24 | Katong Park | None |
| TE25 | Tanjong Katong | None |
| TE26 | Marine Parade | None |
| TE27 | Marine Terrace | None |
| TE28 | Siglap | None |
| TE29 | Bayshore | None |
Read the full Thomson East Coast Line guide.
Maxwell MRT station: common questions
Which line is Maxwell MRT station on?
Maxwell is on the Thomson East Coast Line. Its station code is TE18.
Is Maxwell an interchange station?
No. Maxwell is served by the Thomson East Coast Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Maxwell?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Maxwell a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Thomson East Coast Line first train 5:36 AM, last train 11:42 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Maxwell MRT station?
Maxwell MRT station is surrounded by Chinatown and several cultural attractions, including the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum and the Singapore City Gallery, all within approximately 200 metres. Further out, Guoco Tower and the Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre are around 440 to 450 metres away.
Which shopping mall is closest to Maxwell MRT station?
Guoco Tower is the closest shopping mall, approximately 440 metres from the station, which is roughly a seven-minute walk. Icon Village is the next nearest, at approximately 610 metres.
How far is the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum from Maxwell MRT station?
The Buddha Tooth Relic Museum is approximately 100 metres from Maxwell MRT station, making it around a two-minute walk. Note that distances are approximate.
How do I get to Maxwell from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Outram Park (14 stops), then change to the Thomson East Coast Line from Outram Park to Maxwell (1 stop). About 15 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 Maxwell
- Outram Park MRT Faeces Incident: What Riders Should Do 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
- Greater Southern Waterfront: MRT Access & Freehold Top Buyer Priorities 27 Jul 2026
- Tanjong Pagar Distripark & SAM: Singapore Arts Guide 24 Jul 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the Thomson-East Coast 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.
Exits and buses at Maxwell station
Maxwell has 3 mapped exits (1 to 3). The numbers match the signs inside the station; the landmark beside each one is the closest mapped place to that entrance, so pick the exit that comes up nearest to where you are going.
- Exit 1: closest to Buddha Tooth Relic Museum (about 43 m from the entrance)
- Exit 2: closest to Mural: Samsui Lady with Cigarette (about 44 m from the entrance)
- Exit 3: closest to Chinatown (about 68 m from the entrance)
Bus stops within 250 m of Maxwell station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxwell Station Exit 2 | 05269 | 80, 145 | 95 m |
| Opposite Fairfield Methodist Church | 05271 | 80, 145 | 102 m |
| After Kreta Ayer Road | 05259 | 61, 166, 197 | 165 m |
| Opposite Blk 333 | 05241 | 80, 145 | 176 m |
| Opposite Sri Mariamman Temple | 05189 | 61, 166, 197 | 227 m |
Exits and bus services come from OpenStreetMap and can change when roads or routes are revised; check the board at the stop or the operator app before relying on a service late at night. For the nearest station to where you are now, use the MRT near me finder.
Places to visit from Maxwell station
See every guide on how to get to Singapore's attractions, hospitals and malls by MRT, with routes and fares from Changi Airport, Orchard and the city.
Hungry? See food near Maxwell MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.