Singapore to Kuala Lumpur: Train, Bus, Flight or Drive

Option 1: train (Shuttle Tebrau + ETS)

There is no through train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. You get to JB Sentral first, then change to an ETS train run by KTMB.

Step 1: Singapore to JB Sentral

• The KTM Shuttle Tebrau runs between Woodlands Train Checkpoint and JB Sentral. KTMB's timetable shows the first train from Woodlands at 08:30, arriving at JB Sentral at 08:35. [2]
• KTMB says your passport is your boarding pass. For JB Sentral → Woodlands, your passport needs at least 30 days' validity from the day of travel. [3]
• You can also cross to JB by public cross-border bus. See the bus list in our Johor Bahru day trip guide.

For the full Shuttle Tebrau timetable, fares and booking rules, see our KTM Shuttle Tebrau guide.

Going to JB by coach instead? Check Klook for Singapore–Johor Bahru bus tickets. (affiliate link)

Step 2: ETS from JB Sentral to KL Sentral

ETS timetable, effective 1 June 2026 (KTMB, updated 3 April 2026) [1]

Source: KTMB ETS timetable PDF [1]. Trains stop at stations along the way, including Kluang, Segamat, Gemas, Seremban and Bandar Tasik Selatan on most services.

• New timetable from 1 January 2027: KTMB has published an ETS timetable effective 1 January 2027 (updated 15 October 2026). It lists 9 northbound departures from JB Sentral, one of them on Fridays to Sundays only, and not every train runs to KL Sentral: some end at Kuala Lumpur station and one continues to Subang Jaya. Check it if you travel from January. [4]
• Book ETS tickets on KTMB's ticketing site, https://online.ktmb.com.my. ETS/Intercity and Shuttle Tebrau are separate tabs there, so you book the two legs separately. [5]
• Extra holiday trains are announced on KTMB's timetable page. [1]
• We don't list ETS fares. Check them on KTMB's site when you book.

Option 2: coach

• Aeroline publishes a timetable of daily coaches from Singapore to three Kuala Lumpur stops: City Centre, Bandar Utama and Bandar Sunway. On 1 November 2026 it listed these daily departures from Singapore: 08:00, 16:30 and 18:45 (City Centre), 17:00 (Bandar Utama) and 17:30 (Bandar Sunway), plus further departures marked with future start dates. [6]
• Check pick-up points, fares and current times on the operator's own site before you book.
• We only list operators whose Singapore–Kuala Lumpur timetable we could open on their official site.

Option 3: fly

Changi (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

• Singapore Airlines flies nonstop from Changi to Kuala Lumpur with multiple services a day. SIA gives the flight time as about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the service. [7]
• Scoot flies Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) from Changi Terminal 1. Scoot says the flight usually takes about 1 hour, and its check-in counters close 60 minutes before departure. [8]
• Malaysia Airlines flies Singapore to Kuala Lumpur direct (SIN–KUL). [9]
• AirAsia sells nonstop Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) flights on its official site, which gives a flight time of around 1 hour. [10]

Seletar (XSP) to Subang (SZB)

• Firefly flies between Seletar Airport in Singapore and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang. It doesn't use Changi. In October 2026 Firefly cut Seletar flights because of weather and haze, with full service planned to resume from 22 October 2026. Check Firefly's updates before you book. [11]

From KLIA into the city: Express Rail Link runs the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit airport trains, serving KLIA Terminals 1 and 2. KLIA Transit runs from KLIA T2 to KL Sentral. Check the current schedule and fares on its site. ERL has announced a fare adjustment from 1 January 2027. [12]

We don't quote airfares. They change daily.

Compare flights: Aviasales flight search. (affiliate link)

Booking a car from the airport? See Welcome Pickups airport transfers in Kuala Lumpur. (affiliate link)

Option 4: drive

Leaving and re-entering Singapore (LTA) [17]

• Pay tolls by inserting your stored-value card (NETS CashCard/Motoring Card or CEPAS card) at the immigration booth, even if the barrier is already up. There are no top-up machines at the checkpoints.
• Cars: Woodlands S$0.80 to leave and no toll to come back. Tuas S$2.10 each way (LTA, opened 1 Nov 2026).
• Before you leave you need at least a ¾ tank of fuel, printed copies of your insurance certificate and road-tax validity, and a valid driving licence.

Entering Malaysia (JPJ) [15][16]

• VEP registration at https://vep.jpj.gov.my is mandatory for all foreign vehicles entering Malaysia. Entering without a valid VEP is an offence, with a fine of up to RM2,000 or up to 6 months' jail on conviction. [15]
• Private cars pay a RM20 Road Charge per entry. Pay by Touch 'n Go card or the TnG eWallet. No cash. Touch 'n Go top-up counters accept only ringgit. [16]
• Only vehicles with valid road tax and insurance may enter Malaysia. A foreign vehicle can stay in Malaysia for no more than 90 days. [15]
• We don't list Malaysian highway tolls or driving times to Kuala Lumpur, because we couldn't confirm them on an operator page.

For the VEP RFID tag steps see our Malaysia VEP RFID guide. For checkpoint tolls and the 2027 Singapore VEP changes, see our Causeway & Second Link tolls guide.

Rather rent a car in Malaysia? See Localrent car rental in Malaysia or GetRentacar car rental in Malaysia. (affiliate links)

Arrival cards

Entering Malaysia: MDAC

• Since 1 January 2024 the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) has been mandatory. Submit it within 3 days before you arrive in Malaysia, unless you are exempt. [13]
• Exempt: all citizens of Singapore; holders of diplomatic and official passports; Malaysian Permanent Residents and Malaysian Long Term Pass holders; and some Brunei, Thai and Indonesian border-pass holders. [13]
• Submit it only on the official portal: https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main [13]

Returning to Singapore: SG Arrival Card (SGAC)

• All travellers must submit the SGAC with its electronic health declaration before arriving in Singapore. The exceptions are travellers in transit who don't clear immigration, and residents (Singapore citizens, PRs and Long-Term Pass holders) travelling through Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints. [14]
• So if you fly back to Singapore, residents need to submit it too. ICA says the health declaration is needed from all travellers, including residents, arriving by air and sea. [14]
• Submit it free, within 3 days before you arrive (counting the day of arrival), on ICA's SGAC e-Service or the MyICA Mobile app. One submission can cover up to 3 trips. [14]

Mobile data

You may want data in Malaysia for maps, ride bookings or the Touch 'n Go eWallet. Check your Singapore plan's roaming terms, or use a Malaysia eSIM.

Malaysia eSIM options: Check Klook for Malaysia eSIM data plans, Airalo Malaysia eSIM, Saily Malaysia eSIM or Yesim Malaysia eSIM. (affiliate links)

Checklist

• Passport with enough validity for your transport (30 days for the Shuttle Tebrau leg back to Woodlands [3]; check your airline's or coach operator's rules).
• MDAC submitted within 3 days before arrival, unless you are exempt (all Singapore citizens are). [13]
• SG Arrival Card for the trip home if you are a foreign visitor, or if you fly back (residents too). [14]
• Train: Shuttle Tebrau and ETS tickets booked separately on https://online.ktmb.com.my. [5]
• Car: VEP RFID tag activated, a Touch 'n Go card or eWallet with ringgit for the RM20 Road Charge, a topped-up Singapore stored-value card, a ¾ tank of fuel, and printed insurance and road-tax copies. [15][16][17]

FAQ

How long is the ETS from JB Sentral to KL Sentral? On KTMB's 1 June 2026 timetable, about 4 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes, depending on the train. [1] Is there a direct train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur? No. Cross to JB Sentral first (for example on the Shuttle Tebrau), then change to the ETS. [1][2] Do Singaporeans need the MDAC? No. All citizens of Singapore are exempt. [13] I'm a Singapore PR flying back to Changi. Do I need the SG Arrival Card? Yes. The resident exemption only covers Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints. [14] Which airport does Firefly use in Singapore? Seletar (XSP), not Changi. Its Kuala Lumpur end is Subang (SZB). [11]

Sources (opened 1 Nov 2026)

1. KTMB — ETS timetable PDF, "Effective 1 Jun 2026", updated 3 Apr 2026 (linked from https://www.ktmb.com.my/traintime.html): https://www.ktmb.com.my/assets/pdf/2026/Jadual%20Tren%20ETS%201%20Jun%202026.pdf
2. KTMB — Shuttle Tebrau timetable PDF (linked from https://www.ktmb.com.my/traintime.html, "Effective 19 Jun 2022"): https://www.ktmb.com.my/assets/pdf/2026/Jadual%20Tren%20Int%201%20Jan%202027%20(Tebrau).pdf
3. KTMB — Shuttle Tebrau FAQ: https://online.ktmb.com.my/Home/ShuttleFAQ
4. KTMB — ETS timetable PDF, "Effective 01 Jan 2027", updated 15 Oct 2026: https://www.ktmb.com.my/assets/pdf/2026/Jadual%20Tren%20ETS%201%20Jan%202027%20-%20Rev%203.pdf
5. KTMB — Integrated Ticketing System (ETS/Intercity and Shuttle Tebrau tabs): https://online.ktmb.com.my/
6. Aeroline — Time Schedule: https://www.aeroline.com.my/index.php/time_summary
7. Singapore Airlines — Flights from Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL): https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/plan-travel/destinations/flights-from-singapore-to-kuala-lumpur/
8. Scoot — Flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur: https://www.flyscoot.com/flights/en/flights-from-singapore-to-kuala-lumpur
9. Malaysia Airlines — Flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur: https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/sg/en/plan-trip/destinations/flights-to-malaysia/flights-from-singapore-to-kuala-lumpur.html
10. AirAsia — Flights from Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL): https://www.airasia.com/flights/from-singapore-sin-to-kuala-lumpur-kul/
11. Firefly — Seletar (XSP) flight update, October 2026: https://www.fireflyz.com.my/my/en/media-centre/important-for-you/xsp-flight-update.html
12. KLIA Ekspres (Express Rail Link) — official site: https://www.kliaekspres.com/
13. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore — Requirements for foreigners, MDAC (updated 30 Apr 2026): https://www.kln.gov.my/web/sgp_singapore/requirement_foreigner ; official MDAC portal (Immigration Department of Malaysia): https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main
14. ICA — SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
15. JPJ — RC & VEP FAQ: https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/rc-vep-faq/
16. JPJ — FAQ RC (Road Charge): https://www.jpj.gov.my/accordions/soalan-lazim-lesen-memandu-2-2-2-2-2/
17. LTA OneMotoring — Vehicles Registered in Singapore: https://onemotoring.lta.gov.sg/content/onemotoring/home/driving/entering_and_exiting_singapore/vehicles-registered-in-singapore.html

General information only, not legal advice. We are not affiliated with KTMB, LTA, ICA, JPJ, the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Express Rail Link, any airline or any coach operator.