Train Singapore->Malaysia: ways to buy ticket cheap(-er)?

Hi,
We're planning to catch a train from Singapore (Woodlands station) up to the north to go to Perhentian. Since the price is double if you buy your ticket with departure from Singapore I'm trying to find out an easy way to get it cheaper. We're travelling with 3 kids so no way we're gonna go by bus to JB first. The cheapest option should be to buy 2 seperate tickets, problem is that on the site of ktmb.com.my the price for a ticket from Woodlands to JB is still very expensive, maybe it's their way to prevent everybody travelling to Malaysia to buy 2 seperate tickets? Anybody know how to get this ticket for a normal price? The second cheapest option is to buy a return ticket with departure from Malaysia. Anybody done this? Do you then get 2 seperate tickets or is your travel printed out on one ticket? Asking this because if I arrive the 14/04 in Singapore and I get a return ticket with departure 15/04 from fe Tana Merah in the Noth I wonder what customs will say...????Thanks

Edited by: stefjesplivskyeask

How are u gonna get to Woodlands with the kids?
Woodlands station is right at the causeway border post, you may as well get the bus to JB Sentral, its only 2KM further, and book your train tickets from there.
Booking from JB Sentral is the only way to beat this rort.

Hi, we were thinking about taxi to Woodlands, otherwise we have to take metro and then bus. If going by bus to JB, if I've been reading right, that would mean we have to take 3 busses at least: bus to Singapore immigration, then bus to Malaysian Immigration and then bus to JB station ... I didn't think this was gonna be much of pleasure with 3 kids.

Bus #170 will drop u at Singapore immigration, keep bus tickets and board the first bus #170 that comes along after u clear SIN immigration.
The bus then crosses the causeway and stops at Malaysian immigration, clear Malaysian immigration and customs then walk 200 metres to KL Sentral station.

I think you mean JB Sentral Station

I do, I do

Do you also know more or less how long this trip will take with clearing passports etc...? Thanks !

Time can vary considerably depending on the day, time of day etc.
ie. Fri afternoon/evening, Sun afternoon/evening lines can be very long,
One hour should see u thru at quieter times, I'd imagine, but I'd leave a 2 or 3 hour gap before the train leaves.

Thanks for your help! Haven't decided yet how we're gonna do it, time will tell !

Why train? Have you checked out flight prices with air asia?

Hello,

Yes we did consider taxi, but can you take taxi all the way to JB station? And do you have an idea of the price? TX!

Well, there's many reasons why we choose to travel by train....! We have plenty of time, we save a night hotel, we're gonna see other things then when flying etc... tx anyway but we'll try the train!

We last took the taxi more than 3 years ago. Back then it was SGD10 per person.
So for you & 3 kids, that will be SGD40. Good in the sense it is like chartering the whole taxi. Other wise, they will wait for 4 people (i.e. the taxi is full) before moving.
It will stop opposite Kota Raya in JB.

I am not sure how strict the security is, the last time, we had to get out of the taxi for the immigration to take our photos. This was at the SG side. In JB, you just pass your passport to the imigration counter. No need to get out of the taxi for photos, unless requested by customs.

The process might be different now.

Many thanks Aarbain, taxi all the way might be a good idea!

stefjesplivskyeask,

After your trip, will you let us know what you found out? My wife and I are doing this route as well and we are interested to hear what you find out.

Thanks,
David