Last Bus & Last Train Times in Singapore

On most nights, the last MRT train departs from terminal stations between 11:30 pm and midnight. Services wrap up slightly earlier on Sundays and public holidays (approximately 10–15 minutes earlier on some lines). The exact departure time varies by line, direction, and your specific station — a train that leaves Jurong East at 11:48 pm won't arrive at Pasir Ris at the same time it would leave from there.

Here's the crucial thing most people miss: the last train from a terminal station is not the same as the last train you can catch from your station. If you're boarding midway along a line, the final service passes through earlier in one direction and later in the other. Always check the last-train time for your station, not the terminal.

On weekday nights (Monday through Saturday), services generally run about 10–15 minutes later than on Sundays and public holidays. During major events or planned maintenance, SMRT and SBS Transit sometimes announce early closures or extended services — follow their social media or check the LTA website for advisories.

This is probably the single most common mistake that leaves commuters stranded: catching the last train on one line does not guarantee you can transfer to another line. If your journey requires a transfer — say, from the Downtown Line at Botanic Gardens to the Circle Line — the connecting train on the other line may have already made its final pass through that interchange station.

Transfer connections start drying up around 11:15–11:30 pm at most interchange stations. If you know you need to switch lines, aim to be at the interchange well before 11:30 pm to be safe. The last connecting service is often 15–20 minutes before the last train on the line you're transferring from.

For example, the last NSL train may leave Marina South Pier just before midnight, but if you need to transfer to the EWL at City Hall, the last EWL train heading to Pasir Ris might pass through City Hall at around 11:50 pm — and if you're boarding the NSL from Woodlands at 11:35 pm, you simply won't arrive at City Hall in time.

The safest approach: add 20–30 minutes of buffer before the published last-train time if your journey involves any transfer. Better yet, check the "last train" time specifically for your origin station and direction, which accounts for the train's travel time from the terminal.

Every MRT station displays the first and last train times on platform signage — look for the poster near the platform screen doors or at the station's passenger service centre. These show the exact last departure time for each direction from that specific station.

If you're not at the station yet, here are your options:

Unlike the MRT, which runs on fixed timetables, bus services have varying last-bus times depending on the route. However, there are some consistent patterns across the network:

Trunk services (routes below 300) — most last departures from terminals fall between 11:00 pm and 11:45 pm. Popular routes like services 7, 14, 36, and 65 tend to have later last buses. Shorter or less-frequented routes may wrap up as early as 10:45 pm.

Feeder services (routes 300+) — these connect MRT stations to residential areas and generally end between 11:15 pm and 11:45 pm, timed loosely to the last train arrivals at their linked MRT stations. Some feeders have their last trip slightly after the last train arrives, giving passengers time to walk to the bus stop.

Express services (routes starting with "e") — peak-hour-only services with no evening or late-night runs at all.

Weekend and public holiday differences — some services run later on Friday and Saturday nights (by about 15–30 minutes), while Sunday last buses are often 10–15 minutes earlier than weekday schedules.

The key thing to remember: the "last bus" time published by operators is the departure from the terminal (first stop). If you're boarding at, say, the 20th stop along the route, that last bus arrives at your stop much later — often 20–40 minutes after the published terminal departure, depending on the route length and traffic.

It happens to everyone eventually. You check the time, think you're fine, sprint to the station — and the gantry won't let you in because service has ended. Or you arrive at the bus stop and the display says "No More Buses." Here's what to know:

MRT stations close physically — once the last train has passed, station staff close the entrance gates. You won't be able to tap in. This typically happens 5–10 minutes after the last train departs from that station.

Bus stops have no gates, so you'll simply be waiting at the stop with no bus coming. The electronic display (if available) will stop showing arrivals, or SGHere will show no upcoming buses for that service. If you're using SGHere, look for the last-bus indicator — when a service is on its final or second-to-last trip, the app flags it so you know time is running out.

No public transit until morning — regular MRT service resumes around 5:20–5:30 am (first trains), and most bus services start between 5:00 am and 5:30 am. That's a long gap of 5–6 hours with no regular public transport.

You're not completely stuck. Here are your options when regular services have ended:

A few habits that'll keep you from getting caught out:

If you've missed the last service and don't want to take a taxi, you're looking at waiting until early morning:

First MRT trains depart from terminal stations between 5:20 am and 5:35 am on most days (slightly later on Sundays/PH — around 5:50–6:05 am depending on the line). The first train typically arrives at central interchange stations by about 5:45–6:00 am on weekdays.

First bus services generally begin between 5:00 am and 5:30 am from their terminals. Some routes that serve industrial areas or airports start even earlier (4:30–5:00 am) to cater to shift workers. Feeder services time their first trips to align with first train arrivals at their linked MRT stations.

If you're stuck in the city overnight, 24-hour eateries, some McDonald's outlets, and airport-area facilities are common waiting spots. Changi Airport terminals are accessible 24/7 and have rest areas, though it's quite far from central Singapore.