Orchard MRT Station

Orchard MRT station is an underground interchange on Orchard Boulevard, directly beneath the ION Orchard mall in the Orchard Road shopping district. It serves two lines: the North South Line, where its code is NS22, and the Thomson-East Coast Line, where it is TE14. SMRT Trains operates both lines, so passengers can change between them without leaving the station.

Orchard on the Thomson East Coast Line map

Orchard MRT station at a glance

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

The station has thirteen entrances, and many lead into the lower levels of surrounding buildings. This means you can reach several shopping centres, including Ngee Ann City, Lucky Plaza, Tang Plaza and Far East Plaza, without walking far along the street. Most users are shoppers, tourists, people working in the commercial buildings around Orchard Road, and patients and visitors going to Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Because two lines meet here, it is also a common place to transfer.

History of Orchard MRT station

Planners first called the station Scotts and then Orchard Boulevard, and settled on the name Orchard in 1984. The name comes from Orchard Road, which recalls the fruit orchards and plantations that once covered the area. The station opened on 12 December 1987, when the line was extended to Outram Park. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stopped here on 31 July 1988 during her official visit to Singapore, and the Thomson-East Coast Line platforms opened on 13 November 2022, a year later than planned because the COVID-19 pandemic slowed construction.

Inside Orchard MRT station

The older North South Line section was designed as a showpiece of the first MRT network. It is built around a circular concourse with granite flooring laid in a radial pattern. On the Thomson-East Coast Line platforms, a ceiling of stainless steel panels reflects the movement of passengers below. The station also displays the artwork Scotts Road / Orchard Road from ION Sky by Mintio as part of the MRT’s public art programme.

For most visitors, Orchard MRT station is the starting point for a day of shopping. ION Orchard sits directly above the platforms, and Wisma Atria and Wheelock Place are about a three minute walk away. Food Opera, a food centre about two minutes from the station, is a convenient place for a meal. If you want a break from the malls, Opera Gallery and Kwok Gallery are both within a short walk. Residents often use the station to reach Mount Elizabeth Hospital, about eight minutes away on foot. If you have more time, Emerald Hill is roughly a fourteen minute walk and is a quieter contrast to the shopping streets.

Around Orchard MRT station

Orchard station sits at the heart of Singapore's main retail and leisure strip, surrounded almost entirely by shopping malls, galleries and hospitality venues. ION Orchard and Wisma Atria are among the major malls in the immediate vicinity, drawing steady crowds throughout the day. The area also has a quieter residential and heritage edge further along, with Emerald Hill offering a contrast to the commercial surroundings.

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

How to get to Orchard by MRT

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

Fares from Orchard MRT station

A trip from Orchard to Changi Airport (about 22 km) costs S$2.33 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Orchard 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 Orchard MRT station

• ION Orchard, Food Opera and Opera Gallery are all within roughly a 2-minute walk, making them easy first stops after alighting.
• Orchard station is an interchange between the Thomson East Coast Line and the North South Line, so plan your onward journey according to which line serves your destination.
• Mount Elizabeth Hospital is approximately 8 minutes away on foot, so allow extra time rather than assuming a quick walk, especially in warm weather.
• The area gets very busy on weekends and public holidays, so factor in additional time when travelling to or from the station during peak periods.

All stations on the Thomson East Coast Line

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

Read the full Thomson East Coast Line guide.

All stations on the North South Line

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

Read the full North South Line guide.

Orchard MRT station: common questions

Which line is Orchard MRT station on?

Orchard is on the Thomson East Coast Line and the North South Line. Its station codes are TE14 and NS22.

Is Orchard an interchange station?

Yes. You can change between the Thomson East Coast Line and the North South Line inside the station without leaving the paid area.

What time is the first and last train at Orchard?

Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Orchard 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. North South Line first train 5:16 AM, last train 11:48 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.

What is near Orchard MRT station?

The immediate area around Orchard station includes shopping malls such as ION Orchard, Wheelock Place and Wisma Atria, as well as Food Opera for local dining and galleries including Opera Gallery and Kwok Gallery. Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Emerald Hill are also reachable on foot, though they are further away.

Which shopping mall or food centre is closest to Orchard MRT station?

ION Orchard is the closest shopping mall, at approximately 110 metres from the station, and Food Opera is roughly 120 metres away, making both around a 2-minute walk.

How far is Emerald Hill from Orchard MRT station?

Emerald Hill is approximately 880 metres from the station, which works out to roughly a 14-minute walk.

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

Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to City Hall (11 stops), then change to the North South Line from City Hall to Orchard (3 stops). About 14 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 Orchard

• Getting to Sentosa by public transport: MRT, cable car and monorail 6 Nov 2026
• MRT shopping malls: Direct station connections in Singapore 6 Nov 2026
• Johor-Singapore RTS Link gets 5G: What it means for cross-border riders 6 Nov 2026
• Deepavali Eve Train Extensions: Which Lines Run Later on 8 November 6 Nov 2026

Plan the rest of the trip

Every station on the Thomson-East Coast Line and the North South 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.

Hungry? See food near Orchard MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.