Apart from the occasional delays, you’ve got to admit – Singapore’s public transport system is pretty neat. With clean, well-maintained cabins, a whole intertwining map of train lines that just keeps on growing, and multiple routes that take you from one end of the island to the other, there’s much that we shouldn’t take for granted. You’d be especially thankful when comparing the reliability of our MRT trains and buses with that of other countries around the world. After all, things like train strikes and buses that only come in hour-long intervals are unheard of here.
And our people have spoken: Based on a survey by Time Out with a sample size of 18,500 people from over 50 countries, Singapore ranks 12th in a list of cities with the world’s best public transport. The results are derived based on the number of residents that would describe their respective city’s public transport network as ‘good’ or ‘amazing’.
Taking the top three spots both globally as well as in Asia are Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. Singapore comes in eighth on Asia’s list, ranking below other neighbouring cities like Taipei (#5 globally) and Mumbai (#9). Interestingly, Tokyo did not make the ranks at all.
As for cities outside of Asia, Abu Dhabi (#4), London (#6) and Vienna (#7) take some of the top few spots.
The survey’s findings reveal that Singapore’s public transport system gets an 82 percent rate of approval from us locals. We have a total of six and counting MRT lines, LRT lines for specific areas, a ton of bus routes, and even free shuttle buses and a monorail leading to Sentosa. In fact, there’s a new free shuttle service between Sentosa and Harbourfront, so trips back from the popular weekend hangout are now easier than ever.
In latest train news, the potential Tengah and Seletar MRT lines may start operations in the 2040s, while the new Hume MRT Station in the Bukit Timah area just opened in February this year – joining the recent slew of Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) station openings. By the year 2035, we can also expect three new MRT stations in the west of Singapore that will connect the Downtown Line to the North-South Line.
19 cities with best public transport in the world, according to locals:
- Hong Kong
- Shanghai, China
- Beijing, China
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Taipei, Taiwan
- London, UK
- Vienna, Austria
- Seoul, South Korea
- Mumbai, India
- Doha, Qatar
- Delhi, India
- Singapore
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Brighton, UK
- Edinburgh, UK
- Oslo, Norway
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Warsaw, Poland
- Tallinn, Estonia
Cities with best public transport in Asia, according to locals:
- Hong Kong
- Shanghai, China
- Beijing, China
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Seoul, South Korea
- Mumbai, India
- Delhi, India
- Singapore
- Jakarta, Indonesia
Check out the full ranked list of cities with the best public transport in the world.
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