KKKL Express is a long-time player in the coach market in Malaysia, and started running frequent buses into Singapore a few years back under the company KKKL Travel & Tours Pte Ltd. This time, I opted to travel back with them as it was the only reasonably-priced departure from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) at midnight with seats selling fast.
This article was originally published on 19 July 2018 on BusTravel Station.
Though the ticket stated the price as RM22, I actually paid S$22 (+ admin fee) for this journey instead. Guess the TBS CTS system didn’t register the currency and took only the number value.
You can only head down to the departure lounge 30 minutes before departure, enforced by the security guards by the entrance.
The departure lounge has washrooms and snack kiosks, however, if you want snacks or drinks, I’d advise getting them elsewhere before you descend to the departure lounge as it would be cheaper.
My bus would be departing from Gate 5.
Seems to be on time for now.
However, the bus only arrived at 12.17am. The bus actually departed from The 5 Elements Hotel in Chinatown at 11.59pm, but it states both the departure times from The 5 Elements Hotel and TBS at 11.59pm.
Before boarding the bus, the boarding pass needs to be checked to update the passenger reconciliation system.
My bus for the midnight trip back to Singapore.
My seat for the night.
A USB charging port is available side the seat in KKKL’s newer buses with Orient seats.
The generous legroom on the bus, even with the seat in front reclined.
The bus picks up passengers at The 5 Elements Hotel and TBS, and drops off passengers at Lavender MRT, Kovan Hub and Katong V.
The bus arrived at Tanjung Kupang CIQ at 4.00am, Tuas Checkpoint at 4.20am and the first drop-off point at Lavender MRT at 5.30am at Bus Stop 01311 Lavender Stn Exit B.
I alighted at Kovan Hub at 5.45am, making this an overnight journey of 5 hours and 24 minutes from TBS to Kovan.
Kovan Hub looks like a bus terminal because it was. Kovan Hub was converted into a community space from the former Hougang South Bus Interchange.
From here, you can access Kovan MRT Station on the North East Line and other passing-through bus services.
The bus will continue on to the final stop at Katong V from here.
Overall, a great overnight journey with KKKL, though ticket prices seem to be getting pricier every few months. But I guess with the quality of service with newer buses, seats, and one of the few companies who does the KL – Singapore route with a change of drivers in between, you get what you pay for.