Singapore - Transport

Singapore's transport system consists of one of teh world's largest and most efficient airports, a MRT (rail system), buses, taxis and private cars (which are very expensive).

A lot of of airlines fly into Singapore 's ultramodern Changi international airport - often voted one of the best airports in the world. Below is Singapore Airline's latest 550 seat A380 Airbus due to go into service to Australia in 2007.

Lots of visitors to Singapore combine their stay with a visit to Malaysia , which is just a kilometre away across the causeway over the Straits of Johor. You can travel between Malaysia and Singapore very easily by bus or taxi.

A second causeway has opened to ease congestion - it links Tuas in Singapore with Geylang Patah - and is known as the 'Second Link'. It can only be used if you have your own transport.

A passenger ferry operates between north Changi and Tanjung Belungkor, east of Johor Bahru, and a daily high-speed catamaran links Singapore with Malaysia 's Tioman Island.

There are no direct passenger ferries between Singapore and the main ports of Indonesia, but it is possible to travel between the two countries via the Indonesian islands of the Riau Archipelago, immediately south of Singapore.

Modern ferries link Singapore with the islands of Batam and Bintan in the archipelago. Speedboats link Batam with Pekanbaru in Sumatra, and several ships a week link Bintan with Jakarta.

Immaculate air-conditioned buses link Singapore to almost all large Malaysian cities; fares are generally inexpensive. Singapore is the southern terminus of Malaysia 's rail system and there are three trains a day to Kuala Lumpur (four on weekends).

Singapore has a comprehensive bus network with frequent services and a convenient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system, Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the new driverless North East Line (NEL) single carriage trains, linking the World Trade Centre (south) and Punggol (north-east).

You can charter bumboats (motorised sampans) to take various tours on the Singapore River.

Regular ferry services operate from the World Trade Centre to Sentosa and other islands, while luxurious junk tours can be taken around the harbour.

Rickshaws can still be found operating in Chinatown and back streets; agree on a fare beforehand.