JB Larkin Sentral To Charge RM1 To Singapore-Bound Passengers

Johor Bahru Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal will charge RM1 per passenger going to Singapore from 1 January 2023. This affects all regular cross-border buses heading from Larkin Sentral including SBS Transit Bus 170, Causeway Link Bus CW2 and CWL, and Singapore-Johore Express (SJE). All SBS Transit, Causeway Link, and Singapore-Johore Express passengers must pay RM1 to Larkin Sentral before boarding the bus.

Boarding Procedures at JB Larkin Sentral to Singapore till 31 December 2022

1. Board the bus

Boarding Procedures at JB Larkin Sentral to Singapore from 1 January 2023

1. Purchase QR Pass in advance via Touch ‘n Go eWallet, online at https://golarkin.com.my/, or on the spot at JB Larkin Sentral ticket counters Collect QR Pass on the spot (FREE OF CHARGE) at JB Larkin Sentral at CTS gate in Singapore Departure Hall (Gates 1 and 2)
2. Scan QR Pass at CTS gate in Singapore Departure Hall (Gates 1 and 2)
3. Wait in Singapore Departure Hall for SBS Transit Bus 170, Causeway Link Bus CW2 and CWL, and Singapore-Johore Express (SJE)
4. Board the bus

The new departure procedures from JB Larkin Sentral to Singapore from 1 January 2023 is largely similar to the Causeway Link VTL Bus experience, but of course minus all the COVID testing, vaccination checks, and fixed-time departures.

UPDATE (2 January 2023)

The Larkin RM1 Singapore charge has not launched on 1 January 2023. Passengers to Singapore may continue to use Larkin Sentral bus terminal without charge. However, the QR Pass system has been implemented. Collect your QR Pass directly at the Singapore Departure Hall gate.

Purchase QR Pass

The Larkin Singapore QR Pass can be purchased on the spot from Larkin Sentral ticket counters. However, the Larkin Singapore QR Pass cannot be purchased from the CTS ticket machines.

Now that all Singapore-bound passengers must purchase a QR Pass before boarding, do expect long queues at Larkin Sentral ticket counters, just like in the VTL era. Perhaps it may be longer as the border is now free-for-all instead of limited to 43 passengers for each fixed-frequency departure.

Also, good luck to domestic express bus passengers trying to use the same ticket counter to exchange for the CTS boarding pass.

Singapore Departure Hall (Gates 1 and 2)

Once you have your Singapore QR Pass purchased either via Touch ‘n Go eWallet, online at https://golarkin.com.my/, or on the spot at JB Larkin Sentral ticket counter, head to the Singapore Departure Hall at Gates 1 and 2. The Singapore Departure Hall is on the left side of the bus terminal when you are facing the ticket counter.

Scan your Larkin Singapore QR Pass at the CTS ticket gate.

Wait for your bus to be called, VTL-style.

Board the bus

Once the bus is ready for departure, boarding calls will be made, usually in the form of “Singapore Singapore” or “Lai lai (来来)”. Pay your bus fare as per normal when boarding the bus. The Larkin RM1 charge to Singapore-bound passengers does not include the bus fare.

Avoid the Larkin RM1 Charge

If you are changing from express buses at Larkin Sentral to a bus for Singapore, then unfortunately there’s not much choice but to pay the new Larkin RM1 charge. Taking myBas T10 or T13 to JB Sentral will also cost more than RM1, so just pay the new Larkin RM1 charge.

If you are coming from anywhere else around Johor Bahru, skip the Larkin-BSI sector and walk in to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar directly from JB Sentral for immigration, and board your Singapore bus after immigration directly. The Larkin RM1 charge is only when you are departing from Larkin Sentral, and boarding from anywhere else does not incur you the new charge.

There is no charge for arriving passengers from Singapore in to Larkin Sentral. Yet.