If using the shuttle train, in my opinion there's quite a few good value hotels in JB for SGD30-40 within easy walking distance to JB CIQ/Sentral.
You can find cluster of new budget hotels near Larkin bus station;single may be - 30-40RM(fan,shared);there is there hostel:"Double K" - 20RM for aircon dorm.1SG=3.0 RM
@kucinta, it's the traffic between Larkin & JB CIQ/Sentral during peak times that's the problem (same as between JB & Woodlands). Could take about 1-2hr or longer & it's too far to walk really. While if it's around Meldrum Walk or Suria City, it's an easy 5-10min walk & taking the shuttle cuts away all the bad congestion.
Lately, SG CIQ Woodlands have been very thorough but using the shuttle train is a breeze
The train service between JB Sentral and Woodlands is great. I wish it is more frequent. It seems to be always full. After catching it a few times this year, I would not think of using the bus anymore whenever possible.
It's always full too whenever I've been in it (but not as packed as the MRT during peak times). You'll need to book about a week in advance during the super peak period. It's still a great transport option anytime for cross-border purposes considering the alternatives.
What I dont get is the JB Sentral train station officer informing me they are not able to issue anymore tickets when the seats are sold out. I dont mind standing as long as I can buy a ticket since it is only a 5-minute journey. Yet I can see a few other passengers standing and the seats are all occupied in my carriage & the next carriages.
You're right. In theory every passenger should get a seat & there shouldn't be more passengers than seats. I've been guilty myself.
PM me if you want to know more.
What I dont get is the JB Sentral train station officer informing me they are not able to issue anymore tickets when the seats are sold out. I dont mind standing as long as I can buy a ticket since it is only a 5-minute journey. Yet I can see a few other passengers standing and the seats are all occupied in my carriage & the next carriages.
The limitation on the no. of tickets has less to do with the physical seats available, it has more to do with the capacity of Woodlands Train Checkpoint. If unlimited tickets were sold, it could bring things to a standstill and derail the train schedule (no pun intended). Being a cross-border service, the no. of tickets, the frequency of the train etc. are coordinated, negotiated and agreed upon between the Malaysian and Singapore authorities, it's not up to KTM to implement more trains, seat etc.
Btw, bad news for shuttle train lovers, online booking and booking more than 1 day in advance is no longer possible from 1 December:
https://railtravelstation.com/ktm-berhad/ktm-intercity/shuttle-tebrau/
Getting a ticket for the shuttle train seems to be quite impossible, at least if you do not plan a couple of days in advance... Unfortunately! But there are buses running almost every minute. It is a bit less comfortable than by train, but easily feasible without prior arrangements.
Here's some recent information on the shuttle buses/trains and the border crossing from Johor Bahru to Singapore:https://passportparty.ch/2017/09/25/border-34/
Avoid the bus whenever possible during peak times, 2-3hr is common & plan on 4hr if getting from JB Larkin bus station to Kranji MRT terminal.
Yes, we all know about the buses, it was and still is the most common way of crossing the border since before the shuttle train came along.
The shuttle train is very popular, so it's almost impossible to get tickets on the spot for peak hour departures. It's better to book ahead online if you know when you are going to travel. Tickets are available for sale 30 days before departure; the decision to limit ticket sales to one day before departure was reversed within a few days of implementation.
Btw, this thread is a year old.