North East Line (NEL)
HarbourFront ↔ Punggol Coast · 17 stations · 21.6 km · about 35 minutes end to end
The NEL at a glance
The North East Line (NEL) is one of the six MRT lines in Singapore. It is run by SBS Transit, it has 17 stations over 21.6 km, and it opened on 20 June 2003.
The North East Line was a world first: when it opened on 20 June 2003 it became the first fully automated, driverless heavy-rail underground line anywhere. It runs for 21.6 km entirely below ground, from HarbourFront in the south — the gateway to Sentosa and VivoCity — diagonally across the island through Chinatown, Little India and Serangoon to Hougang, Sengkang and Punggol. Punggol Coast, the newest station, opened in December 2024.
All 17 stations on the NEL
Gold rings mark the interchanges. Tap any station for its exits, what is nearby, connections and travel times.
The North East Line is the odd one out electrically: it is the only MRT line that draws power from an overhead catenary at 1,500 V instead of a third rail. Since the trains have no drivers, you can stand at the very front window and watch the tunnel come at you — one of the best free rides in Singapore, and a favourite with children.
Travel times and fares from HarbourFront
| Station | Code | Time from HarbourFront | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outram Park | NE3 | 4 min | S$1.38 |
| Chinatown | NE4 | 5 min | S$1.38 |
| Clarke Quay | NE5 | 7 min | S$1.49 |
| Dhoby Ghaut | NE6 | 9 min | S$1.59 |
| Little India | NE7 | 10 min | S$1.68 |
| Farrer Park | NE8 | 12 min | S$1.75 |
| Boon Keng | NE9 | 14 min | S$1.86 |
| Potong Pasir | NE10 | 17 min | S$1.94 |
| Woodleigh | NE11 | 18 min | S$1.98 |
| Serangoon | NE12 | 20 min | S$2.02 |
| Kovan | NE13 | 23 min | S$2.11 |
| Hougang | NE14 | 26 min | S$2.20 |
| Buangkok | NE15 | 28 min | S$2.24 |
| Sengkang | NE16 | 30 min | S$2.30 |
| Punggol | NE17 | 33 min | S$2.36 |
| Punggol Coast | NE18 | 35 min | S$2.38 |
Times are typical running times including stops; fares are the distance-based adult card fare and are indicative. Check the exact fare in the route planner.
Where you can change from the NEL
Changing lines is free: the fare is worked out from the distance of your whole journey, not from how many trains you take.
NEL times and fares
First and last train times are set per station and per direction, not for the whole network: first trains leave the termini between about 05:00 and 05:30, and the last trains leave between about 23:15 and 00:15. There are no single-trip tickets: tap in and out with a card. See the operating hours and fares.
NEL — frequently asked questions
The North East Line has 17 stations: HarbourFront, Outram Park, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut, Little India, Farrer Park, Boon Keng, Potong Pasir, Woodleigh, Serangoon, Kovan, Hougang, Buangkok, Sengkang, Punggol, Punggol Coast.
About 35 minutes between HarbourFront and Punggol Coast. Trains run every 2–3 min at peak times and every 5–7 min off-peak.
Trains run from about 05:30 until around midnight. First and last train times are set per station and per direction, not for the whole network: first trains leave the termini between about 05:00 and 05:30, and the last trains leave between about 23:15 and 00:15. There is no night service — see the operating hours page.
The same as anywhere on the network: a distance-based fare from S$1.28 to S$2.57 for an adult with a card, with 50 cents off if you tap in before 07:45 on a weekday. There are no single-trip tickets on the MRT any more: the standard ticket was withdrawn in March 2022. You need a card — an EZ-Link or SimplyGo card, or simply a contactless bank card or a phone wallet. All the details are on the fares page.
You can change at HarbourFront, Outram Park, Chinatown, Dhoby Ghaut, Little India, Serangoon, Sengkang, Punggol. Changing costs nothing extra — the system charges one fare for the whole journey, however many trains you take.
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