Main bus station - Larkin. and other Johor Bahru, Malaysia Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: The main bus stations is in Larkin, beside the main JB wet market. You can buy coach tickets from here to KL, Penang, etc. You will have to board the bus to Singapore from here. Many buses go to the city center and other destinations in Johor from here. I do not know the exact buses to get around since I always drive. But I do know, most bus services around JB will end in Larkin station.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: There are many coach services to other parts of Malaysia. There will be buses to KL from Larkin almost every half an hour everyday. You can get tickets on the spot during off peak. During the holiday season, so get your tickets in advance as they will be sold out.

You can get tickets to other places like Penang, Alor Setar, or even up to Hatyai from Larkin. Buses to Penang or Alor Setar usually leave at night. These are usually the overnight coaches, arriving early in the morning. There will be a couple of stops along the way for toilet breaks and some snacks. For the comfort, I would suggest the Super VIP coaches that are 21-26 seater coach with wide and comfy seats that can be put down quite low for a good sleep. Do remember to bring a jacket as the air condition can be quite chilly.

There are several express coaches that depart from Larkin Bus Terminal, for example Transnational Express and Adik-Beradik Express depart twice daily to Kuala Terengganu (morning and night coach). Not many coach companies are online at the moment. It might change in future.

You can even make a day trip to Melaka. The coach leave from Larkin. There are travellers who have done day trips to Melaka. There are buses leaving Larkin to Melaka hourly by several operators. Check it here: http://www.cuti.com.my/Sub/Melaka/m_bus.htm

So far, some websites that I have found for tickets: http://www.theticketing.com/

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Commuting between JB and Singapore daily is common. I do that when I am back home :-). Sometimes I feel like staying in the comfort with my parents, so I will take the bus to go home and commute to work in Singapore in the morning.

To get from JB to Singapore by road, you can either go via the causeway or the second link. Commuting via the causeway by public transport is more convenient and faster. There are a number of bus services to choose from - 160, 170, 950, CW1. Another mode is the train which will stop at Tanjong Pagar train station via the causeway.

How to get to Singapore from JB depends on which area are you staying in JB. Whether it is near the checkpoint or near Larkin? If you are staying near the checkpoint, go to the checkpoint to get the bus as it is faster. Pay in Ringgit at JB checkpoint. If you are staying near or beyond Larkin, go to Larkin to get your tickets as you pay in Ringgit (cheaper). The public buses to Singapore start running at 5.30am and end at midnight.

If you stay near Larkin, I would suggest you to go to Larkin, get a ticket and go on the Singapore-JB express coach. The coach go to Bugis on the Expressway with stops only at the checkpoints. When you arrive at the immigration, do remember to hurry through, cos if you miss the coach, you will have to wait quite long for it. The frequency is low at the very early hours of the morning or off-peak, perhaps half an hour one bus. During the peak hours, about 10 minutes for one bus, depending on the traffic condition too. When you reach Queen Street (the final destination in Singapore).

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: SBS 170: You will be able to board the bus from the either the checkpoint or Larkin by paying cash or card. It is cheaper but slower than the express coach. Do get a Eazylink card for the public transport in Singapore. You can use that card on 170 and MRT, but not the express coach. Remember to swipe the card when you alight the bus otherwise you will be charged the maximum fare for the journey.

There is another bus (CW1) operated by a Malaysian company. The bus start from Larkin and goes to Kranji MRT (Singapore).

These bus services from Larkin are very convenient to get to Singapore if you arrive from other parts of Malaysia by coach.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: There are several ways to get to JB from Singapore.
---(a)---
Take a SBS bus 170 from Queen Street, or along Bukit Timah Road. Alternatively, take the MRT to Kranji station and change to the 170 bus. Beware that the queue for the bus can be very very long during peak hours such as in the evening, and weekends, especially Friday evening and Saturday whole day. But most of the times, the bus service is very frequent, at least 1 bus every 5 minutes. The bus 170 will bring you to the Singapore immigration and you will have to get down through the immigration. Do remember to keep your ticket. You can board the bus again at the immigration then to the immigration and custom at Malaysia side. Still keep your ticket if you are going to Larkin, as you can board the bus after the custom check.
If you want to get to the main tourists sites or shopping sites, get a taxi. Beware of being charged more than usual. JB city center is just near the customs.

---(b)---
Get a Singapore-JB express from Queen Street. This bus will take the expressway non-stop to arrive at the Singapore immigration. Then you will have to get down to walk through the immigration. After that, go down the escalators and board the bus again to get to immigration and custom at the Malaysia side. Do remember to keep your ticket throughout the journey. You can board the bus again to get to Larkin. Take a taxi to wherever you wanna go if you are not going to Larkin.

---(c)---
Catch the MRT to Kranji station, then cross the overhead bridge to the bus stop opposite. From here you can catch a bus operated by Causeway Link, CW1 to Larkin bus station in JB.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: In 2004, there are new bus services that bring passengers from different parts of Singapore to JB city center.

Bus 160:
This bus brings passengers to JB city center (Kotaraya II terminal) via the causeway from Jurong East operated by SBSTransit. The nearest MRT station to catch the bus is Jurong East MRT station. This bus will also pass by Kranji station. Therefore, you can connect to this bus service from the MRT at Jurong East MRT station or Kranji MRT station.

Bus 950:
This bus operates between Woodlands Regional center by SMRT (nearest MRT station is Woodlands) to the city center of JB (Kotaraya II Terminal).

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: You can get to JB from Singapore on the train. The train station that you can board is at Tanjung Pagar. To get to the train station, take an MRT to Tanjung Pagar, then walk from there.
You can also catch the train to Kuala Lumpur or other places in Malaysia from Tanjung Pagar.
At the train station, you will have to go through the Malaysian immigration and custom at Tanjung Pagar. Then, the train will proceed to the immigration at Woodlands (Singapore side). Then to JB train station. You might find it confusing or weird, but that's the system.
I will not suggest taking the train to JB cos it is faster by the public bus. I tried once, but never again.
To check out the prices and schedule, go to KTMB's website below.

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Website: www.ktmb.com.my

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: There are many coaches that depart from Puduraya coach station in central of KL. It is a crowded place but there are numerous coach service daily to JB, about one every half hour throughout the day. You can go to the station and get your tickets on the spot, but not during the school holidays. All these coaches will take the North South Highway to zoom you to JB in 4 hours. There are super VIP, VIP, normal coach to choose from. Usually for the comfort, I will choose the super VIP coaches. The coaches will end at Larkin - JB main bus station. And also JB's central market.

Another option is to take PLUSLiner from the central train station in KL. For this, you should make prior reservation. This coach company also has coaches direct from KL to Singapore via the second link.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: You can get a train to JB from KL central train station. The train will go through numerous villages and rural part of Malaysia. It is slower than the coaches.
For more information, check out www.ktmb.com.my.

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Website: www.ktmb.com.my

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: JB is the starting point of the North-South Highway at the South. This is a toll way and runs through Malaysia right to the border of Thailand. It is easy to get from place to place along the highway and there are many interesting small towns and cities to visit along the way if you have the time.
For more interesting journey and see more of rural Malaysia, take the normal roads from the South to North, though it will be much slower. Journey on the North South Highway is quite expensive.
Note the speed limit is 110km/h. Beware that there are many speed checks along the highway. The fine is hefty RM300 per offence of speeding.

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