Toa Payoh MRT Station
Toa Payoh MRT station sits beneath the meeting point of Lorong 1, Lorong 2 and Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, right in the town centre of Toa Payoh. It is an underground stop on the North South Line, with the station code NS19, and it connects directly with the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange and the HDB Hub, the headquarters of the Housing and Development Board.
Toa Payoh on the North South Line map
Toa Payoh MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | NS19 |
|---|---|
| Lines | North South Line |
| Line colour | Red line (North South Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 大巴窑 |
| Tamil name | தோ பாயோ |
| Opened | 7 November 1987 (39 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) |
| Address | 510 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319398 |
| Daily ridership | About 32,943 passengers a day (2024) |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | North South Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:16 AM, last train 11:48 PM Full first and last train guide |
Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.
See Toa Payoh on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Most passengers are people who live in the surrounding housing estate, along with commuters who switch between trains and buses at the interchange next door. Others come for HDB Hub, where residents handle housing matters, or for the shops and food outlets around the town centre. The station has four entrances leading out into the Toa Payoh area. The name Toa Payoh comes from Hokkien and means “big swamp”, recalling the marshland that covered the area before market gardens and, later, the housing estate replaced it.
History of Toa Payoh MRT station
The station was part of the first group of MRT stations planned in 1982, and in August 1985 it became the first in Singapore to have its concrete structure finished. Before opening, it hosted a public preview over two days in October 1987 that attracted about 44,000 visitors, even though no trains were running yet. When the network began passenger service on 7 November 1987, Toa Payoh was the busiest station on the new line, with long queues forming outside by late morning.
Inside Toa Payoh MRT station
Passengers enter at the concourse level and go down to a single island platform below, which serves trains in both directions. The platforms and entrances are wide, and the station is one of the few early stops with a double-height ceiling, so it handles large crowds comfortably. Bright yellow pillars and canopies make it easy to recognise. Along the concourse, a rainbow mural of 15,000 coloured tiles represents people of different races moving together in harmony, and a heritage mural called The Toa Payoh Story, by James Suresh, Sayed Ismail and Suki Chong, shows local landmarks such as the dragon playground and Shuang Lin Monastery.
For residents, Toa Payoh MRT station is a practical base for everyday errands and meals. Several food centres are a minute or two away on foot, including Koufu, Gourmet Paradise and Food Alley, and the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange is immediately next to the station for onward bus journeys. Toa Payoh Public Library is about a six-minute walk away. Visitors with an interest in history can reach the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum in roughly eight minutes on foot, or walk a little further to the Former Malay Film Productions site.
Around Toa Payoh MRT station
Toa Payoh is a long-established residential town in central Singapore, with a dense concentration of HDB flats and neighbourhood amenities surrounding the station. The area serves as a local commercial hub, with HDB Hub acting as the main shopping mall and several food centres such as Koufu and Gourmet Paradise catering to the resident population. Cultural and civic institutions, including Toa Payoh Public Library and the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum, add further depth to the neighbourhood.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koufu 口福 | Food centre | About 30 m (~1 min walk) | Visit for a wide selection of affordable hawker and food court meals. |
| Toa Payoh Bus Interchange | Bus interchange | About 70 m (~1 min walk) | Use as a base for connecting to buses across the Toa Payoh area. |
| Gourmet Paradise 新食尚 | Food centre | About 110 m (~2 min walk) | Head here for another variety of local food court dining options. |
| Food Alley 小食巷 | Food centre | About 140 m (~2 min walk) | A good spot to explore additional local hawker-style food stalls. |
| HDB Hub | Shopping mall | About 170 m (~3 min walk) | Visit for shopping, retail stores and various lifestyle amenities. |
| Toa Payoh Public Library | Library | About 380 m (~6 min walk) | Borrow books, use study spaces or attend community programmes. |
| Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum | Museum | About 510 m (~8 min walk) | Explore displays related to Dr Sun Yat Sen and regional history. |
| Former Malay Film Productions | Attraction | About 840 m (~14 min walk) | See a conserved site associated with the early Malay film industry. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Toa Payoh 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 City Hall (11 stops), then change to the North South Line from City Hall to Toa Payoh (6 stops). About 17 stops with 1 change. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Toa Payoh (3 stops). About 3 stops, no changes. |
| From City Hall | Take the North South Line from City Hall to Toa Payoh (6 stops). About 6 stops, no changes. |
| From Jurong East | Take the North South Line from Jurong East to Toa Payoh (17 stops). About 17 stops, no changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the North South Line from Woodlands to Toa Payoh (10 stops). About 10 stops, no changes. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Dhoby Ghaut (4 stops), then change to the North South Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Toa Payoh (5 stops). About 9 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Toa Payoh MRT station
A trip from Toa Payoh to Changi Airport (about 26 km) costs S$2.43 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Toa Payoh 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 26 km, 17 stops | S$2.43 | S$1.93 | S$2.56 |
| Orchard | about 4 km, 3 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| City Hall | about 7 km, 6 stops | S$1.68 | S$1.18 | S$1.81 |
| Raffles Place | about 8 km, 7 stops | S$1.82 | S$1.32 | S$1.95 |
| Jurong East | about 35 km, 17 stops | S$2.52 | S$2.02 | S$2.65 |
| Woodlands | about 20 km, 10 stops | S$2.27 | S$1.77 | S$2.40 |
| HarbourFront | about 12 km, 9 stops | S$1.94 | S$1.44 | S$2.07 |
| Marina Bay | about 9 km, 8 stops | S$1.86 | S$1.36 | S$1.99 |
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 Toa Payoh MRT station
- Koufu, Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, Gourmet Paradise, Food Alley and HDB Hub are all within a short walk of the station, making them easy to reach on foot.
- Toa Payoh Public Library is approximately 6 minutes away on foot, which is manageable, though taking a bus from the interchange nearby may be more comfortable in hot weather.
- The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum and Former Malay Film Productions are further away and visitors may prefer to take a bus from Toa Payoh Bus Interchange rather than walking, especially in the midday heat.
- The station can be busy during morning and evening peak hours, so allow extra time if you are transferring to buses at the interchange or plan to visit nearby food centres at lunch or dinner time.
All stations on the North South Line
In order along the line, with Toa Payoh marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| NS1 | Jurong East | EW / NS |
| NS2 | Bukit Batok | None |
| NS3 | Bukit Gombak | None |
| NS4 | Choa Chu Kang | NS / BP |
| NS5 | Yew Tee | None |
| NS7 | Kranji | None |
| NS8 | Marsiling | None |
| NS9 | Woodlands | NS / TE |
| NS10 | Admiralty | None |
| NS11 | Sembawang | None |
| NS12 | Canberra | None |
| NS13 | Yishun | None |
| NS14 | Khatib | None |
| NS15 | Yio Chu Kang | None |
| NS16 | Ang Mo Kio | None |
| NS17 | Bishan | NS / CC |
| NS18 | Braddell | None |
| NS19 | Toa Payoh (you are here) | None |
| NS20 | Novena | None |
| NS21 | Newton | NS / DT |
| NS22 | Orchard | TE / NS |
| NS23 | Somerset | None |
| NS24 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE / CC |
| NS25 | City Hall | EW / NS |
| NS26 | Raffles Place | NS / EW |
| NS27 | Marina Bay | CE / TE / NS |
| NS28 | Marina South Pier | None |
Read the full North South Line guide.
Toa Payoh MRT station: common questions
Which line is Toa Payoh MRT station on?
Toa Payoh is on the North South Line. Its station code is NS19.
Is Toa Payoh an interchange station?
No. Toa Payoh is served by the North South Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Toa Payoh?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Toa Payoh a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. North South Line first train 5:16 AM, last train 11:48 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Toa Payoh MRT station?
There are several places close by, including Koufu food centre, Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, Gourmet Paradise, Food Alley, HDB Hub shopping mall, Toa Payoh Public Library, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum and Former Malay Film Productions. Distances are approximate and range from around 30 metres to roughly 840 metres.
Which food centre or mall is closest to Toa Payoh MRT station?
Koufu is the closest food centre, at approximately 30 metres from the station and roughly a 1-minute walk. HDB Hub is the nearest shopping mall, at approximately 170 metres away.
How far is the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum from Toa Payoh MRT station?
The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum is approximately 510 metres from the station, which is roughly an 8-minute walk. Visitors who prefer not to walk may wish to board a bus from the nearby Toa Payoh Bus Interchange.
How do I get to Toa Payoh 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 Toa Payoh (6 stops). About 17 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 Toa Payoh
- シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
- Vegetation Fire Near Gali Batu Depot: What Happened 8 Sep 2026
- MRT No-Drinking Rule: Why Reporting It Is So Hard 26 Aug 2026
- Singapore DJ Plays MRT Jingles at Tomorrowland Belgium 14 Aug 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on 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.
Exits and buses at Toa Payoh station
Toa Payoh has 4 mapped exits (A to D). The letters 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 A: closest to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (about 33 m from the entrance)
- Exit B: closest to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (about 45 m from the entrance)
- Exit C: closest to Koufu 口福 (about 24 m from the entrance)
- Exit D: closest to Koufu 口福 (about 76 m from the entrance)
Bus stops within 250 m of Toa Payoh station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toa Payoh Interchange | 52009 | 8, 26, 28, 31, 73, 73T, 88, 90, 90A, 139, 139M, 141, 142, 142A, 143, 145, 155, 157, 159, 163, 230M, 231, 232, 235, 238 | 69 m |
| Toa Payoh Station | 52189 | 56, 105, 129, 153, 232 | 70 m |
| Opposite Toa Payoh Station | 52181 | 56, 105, 129, 153, NR1 | 79 m |
| Blk 79C | 52231 | 56, 105, 153, NR1 | 249 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 Toa Payoh 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.
MRT routes from Toa Payoh
Routes to Toa Payoh: City Hall to Toa Payoh | Orchard to Toa Payoh.
More on the MRT routes hub.
Hungry? See food near Toa Payoh MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.