Travelling to work from east coast

[SamuelLondon]

Hi All,

My wife and I are planning to move to Singapore this summer (fingers crossed)

Reading around and speaking with people it seems that the east coast (15) would be a good place to live. We like parks, the sea, water sports, roller blading, cycling.

Our offices would be near raffels place but it doesnt seem that the MRT access is very convenient from the east coast condos. Is this fair? How else do people travel to work from there? Is taxi a reasonable option? Are there busses?

Any info appreciated.

Thanks

Sam

[blue_thunder]

Hi All,

My wife and I are planning to move to Singapore this summer (fingers crossed)

Reading around and speaking with people it seems that the east coast (15) would be a good place to live. We like parks, the sea, water sports, roller blading, cycling.

Our offices would be near raffels place but it doesnt seem that the MRT access is very convenient from the east coast condos. Is this fair? How else do people travel to work from there? Is taxi a reasonable option? Are there busses?

Any info appreciated.

Thanks

Sam

Welcome to SG Sam.
I can guide u , if you can give the location which you have selected in East coast.
Cos I stay in the east coast , along the East coast beach/park.
I used to travel by bus/mrt , when i was workin near raffles place.
There are premium / normal buses to raffles & shenton way from east coast areas.
Forget travelling by taxi during peak hours 8-10 am/5-8pm.
You have to pay peak hour surcharge/city surcharge/ERP ..etc on top of the taxi fare.

Cheers.

[louy]

I live along Marine Parade Road, and work in Orchard.

I have the options of two direct buses each morning. The faster one, I have to stand all the way and takes about 37minutes.

The slower one I can always get a seat and takes about 48 minutes to get to work.
On the way home, I always have to stand.

At first, I didnt think it was that bad. Especially compared to London where I was commute an hour 20minutes each way and risked being stabbed on the bus.
But with everyone in Singapore telling me they only have a 20 minute commute door to door, it makes me wanna cry.

And then weekends are depressing without MTR. Altho I have the beach near by, I cant get anywhere else.

I must spend about 9 hours a week on the bus/

[inselaffen]

I live on Marine Parade Road (Near Parkway parade).
the 196 Bus takes you to Raffles place or you can get the private bus but thats $4 and is usually full by the time it gets to PP so doesn't stop. there is also an express 196E at peak times but usually difficult to get a seat on that one. I normally take the196A which would get you to Raffles place by 9am and is usually empty.

if you are travelling from Upper East Coast road then the number 10 and 10e isfrequent. I often take that one home and walk between Upper East Coast Road and Marine Parade.

havnt missed having the MRT close at all. the close proximity to Parkway Parade makes up for that

[ProvenPracticalFlexible]

As others talk about bus options, I'll add one more view about the taxi option.

Taxi from Siglap on East Coast to Raffles Place costs quite exactly S$22, including booking fee, ERP and peak hour surcharge. It would be 3.50 cheaper if you take the taxi on the street. Back from Raffles place it is about S$10, my receipts from December seems to vary between 8.20 and 14.60 depending on if it’s peak hour and traffic.

So it makes it S$32 per day both ways, so up to you to decide if that is feasible on daily basis. Would be a bit cheaper if you are closer to city, Siglap is about the furthest away from city within district 15.

[inselaffen]

good to know the taxi prices. will have to start taking a taxi once a week when I start hockey training. Don't think a hockey GK bag on the bus is workable

[smayrhofer]

I stay at Neptune Court, which is further east in District 15. If you stay in this area, you don't have any trouble getting a seat on any bus, including the $4 private bus option (www.busplus.com.sg?) which is faster than the 196.

I moved here from Chinatown, where I could walk to work, so the commute took some getting used to. But since I get a seat every time, I find the ride with a good book more than bearable in the mornings. The ride usually takes anywhere from 30 - 50 minutes, depending on the bus, the timing, etc.

[Melasony]

I used to stay in the bayshore area.
there is a bus outside condos that goes towards the interchange ( where the MRTs are too ) and takes about 45mins travelling time downtown to say city hall or raffles place.
usually most condos also have shuttle bus services to interchanges/MRTs so travelling from east downtown isn't bad.

like previous posters said.
forget about taking taxis during peak hours.
usually i end up paying about $20-$25 to get home
terribly expensive!

[ksl]

I don't know why you don't take the 155 bus to the MRT at Eunos, it's only about 10 minutes if that, to the Eunos MRT and another 25 to Raffles, If i'm not wrong it stops on Marina Parade Rd.

I catch it some times to go to east coast area. or the MRT at Eunos from Hougang 3, takes longer for me to Eunos, than it would for those living at east coast rd or marina parade rd

http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/transport/ ... table.aspx

[BodyBlitz]

If you're concern about the packed buses then go to work early, the mayhem usually starts at 7.30 am onwards but most work start at 8.30 - 9am.

You can have a cup of coffee at the near by hawker center - goldenshoe or eateries close to your office while reading your newspaper and have breakfast.

[SamuelLondon]

Thanks everyone. Thats loads of information.

I was hoping it would be quicker/easier to get into the CBD than that.

Really we are looking for an area which has a park nearby but yet is not too far from work. (For those of you who know London we live on the egde of Greenwich Park so it is relatively green but only 10 mins from the city)

Is this possible in Sing? Are we being unrealistic?

Thanks again

Sam

[BodyBlitz]

you can try somewhere near Tanjong Rhu

[AngryAngMo]

I live near Kembangan MRT, very convenient, there are quite some condos there in 5 min walking distance to the train station, reaching the city with MRT takes approx 20mins, you can jogg and bike to ECP and have all the conveniences around you...

[blue_thunder]

I don't know why you don't take the 155 bus to the MRT at Eunos, it's only about 10 minutes if that, to the Eunos MRT and another 25 to Raffles, If i'm not wrong it stops on Marina Parade Rd.

I catch it some times to go to east coast area. or the MRT at Eunos from Hougang 3, takes longer for me to Eunos, than it would for those living at east coast rd or marina parade rd

http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/transport/ ... table.aspx

small Correction ..its not 155 but 55 and as well you can take 13 to go to Eunos MRT from Neptune court.
Or you can as well take bus 48 to reach Bugis MRT in flat 20 mins ...raffles by mrt would be another 10 mins

Cheers

[snowqueen]

We live at the Costa Del Sol on Bayshore Road (on the East Coast) and my husband gets the Premium bus (can't remember the number) which picks up directly outside and drops off on Shenton Way - he works on Robinson Road. It costs $5 each way. Depending on what time he finishes work he will get the bus home again or get the MRT from Raffles or Tanjon Pagar to Bedok then at $5 taxi journey to home.

The bus takes 30 mins and if you get the MRT it will be slightly longer but it's no major hassle - not like London. The public transport system here is way more efficient, cheap and clean!

If it's a nice day and he wants to do something after work (like roller blade/cycle/walk) down the East Coast or go for a swim then he may get a taxi which costs about $16, but to be honest, he's only shaving about 10 minutes off the journey time.