The easiest public-transport trip is usually a chain of short legs: get to a suitable Singapore bus or MRT connection, cross Woodlands Checkpoint by an authorised cross-border bus, clear immigration on both sides, then continue from JB CIQ.
Plan the journey as separate stages rather than one magic bus: Singapore local transport → Woodlands Checkpoint → Singapore immigration → cross-border bus → Malaysia immigration at JB CIQ → Johor onward transport.
RunSGD’s Journey Planner is built around that same idea, so mixed trips such as walk → MRT → border bus → car can be kept in the correct order.
LTA lists scheduled cross-border services including SBS Transit 160, 170 and 170X, plus SMRT 950. Their Singapore origins differ, so the useful service depends on where you start.
For many MRT users, 170X from Kranji MRT is a straightforward option. Service 950 starts from Woodlands, while 160 and 170 cover different parts of Singapore before crossing the Causeway.
You normally leave the bus to clear immigration, then continue using an eligible cross-border service after clearance. Follow the signs and the operator’s boarding rules instead of assuming you must re-board the exact same physical bus.
Checkpoint queues are variable. Do not treat a normal bus or MRT ETA as the full door-to-door time for a border journey.
Keep your passport with you even if you use QR clearance on the Singapore side. Check current immigration requirements for Malaysia, and give yourself extra buffer on weekends, school holidays and public-holiday periods.
Use RunSGD shortly before departure to compare live conditions and build the transport sequence from your actual starting point.
Transport and immigration rules can change. RunSGD links to official sources so you can verify requirements before travel.