 is the nearest to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Novena Medical Centre & Revenue House.){kind=link}
Novena MRT Station (NS20)
Located in District 11 of Singapore, the Novena area falls within the Core Central Region (CCR). The footfall at Novena MRT Station is high, as the North-South Line brings people from all over the island to the various healthcare facilities located in close proximity to the station. The various exits of Novena MRT Station allow people to get to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Novena Medical Centre, Ren Ci Hospital as well as shopping malls such as Square 2 and Velocity@Novena Square conveniently. A great number of educational institutions and centres have also been set up in this area, so it gets especially crowded on weekends with young kids going for their classes and their parents accompanying them.
In this blog post, we will provide essential travel information relating to Novena MRT Station as well as some information on the establishments around this station.
1. Novena MRT Station Brief Info
| Address | 250 Thomson Road Singapore 307642 |
| Station Code | NS20 |
| Rail Line | North South Line (NSL) |
| Operator | SMRT Corporation Ltd (SMRT) |
| Exit A | Tan Tock Seng Hospital Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital National Neuroscience Institute National Centre For Infectious Diseases Ng Teng Fong Centre For Healthcare Innovation Novena Medical Centre Novena Specialist Centre Ren Ci Community Hospital New Phoenix Park (Ministry Of Home Affairs) Oasis Hotel Novena |
| Exit B | Courtyard By Marriott Singapore Novena Communicable Disease Centre (by bus/taxi) Dover Park Hospice (by bus/taxi) Goldhill Centre United Square Royal Square Medical Centre Hotel Royal Lee Kong Chian School Of Medical Clinical Sciences Building/ Medicine Headquarters (by bus/taxi) National Skin Centre (by bus/taxi) Novena Church Novena Square Revenue House (IRAS) Royal Square At Novena Thomson Medical Centre (by bus/taxi) Velocity@Novena Square |
| Platform A | North South Line (NSL) Towards Jurong East (NS1/EW24) |
| Platform B | North South Line (NSL) Towards Marina South Pier (NS28) |
| Level 1 | Street Level |
| Basement 1 | Concourse (Faregates, Passenger Service Centre, Top-Up Machines) |
| Basement 2 | Platform A, Platform B |
2. First & Last Train Timings
| To NS28 Marina South Pier | First Train | Last Train |
| Weekday | 5.44 a.m. | 11.41 p.m. |
| Saturday | 5.44 a.m. | 11.41 p.m. |
| Sunday/ Public Holiday | 6.08 a.m. | 11.41 p.m. |
| To NS1 Jurong East | First Train | Last Train |
| Weekday | 6.01 a.m. | 12.07 a.m. |
| Saturday | 6.16 a.m. | 12.07 a.m. |
| Sunday/ Public Holiday | 6.22 a.m. | 12.07 a.m. |
| To NS7 Kranji | First Train | Last Train |
| Weekday | – | 12.22 a.m. |
| Saturday | – | 12.22 a.m. |
| Sunday/ Public Holiday | – | 12.22 a.m. |
3. History And Facts Of Novena MRT Station
The station was originally named Thomson during the Phase One planning of the MRT system. However, it was later changed in November 1982 to Novena MRT Station to reflect its location more accurately. In fact, it was named after the Novena Church.
The contract for the construction of both Novena and Toa Payoh stations as well as the tunnel between Toa Payoh and Newton stations was awarded to Tobishima and Takenada. In January 1984, construction of Novena MRT Station commenced. To make way for the new station, a Jewish cemetery along Thomson Road was cleared.
In 1987, the station opened as the extension of the MRT system to Outram Park came into service.
In May 2007, the station underwent refurbishment. At around the same time, Square 2 opened for business.
4. The Surroundings Of Novena MRT Station
The area around Novena MRT Station is currently undergoing a major transformation, most notably with the construction of the North-South Corridor (NSC) and the development of HealthCity Novena.
Construction Of The North-South Corridor
In the near future, connectivity from the northern part of Singapore to the city centre will be enhanced with the completion of the NSC. The NSC is a multi-modal transportation corridor which runs parallel to the Central Expressway (CTE) and will serve to alleviate the heavy traffic on the expressway as well as the main roads in the region like Marymount Road and Thomson Road. With traffic diverted to the NSC tunnel underground, street level space can feature more communal and green spaces, with dedicated cycling paths and wider footpaths.
It was recently announced that the work on the road tunnel segment of the NSC faces some delay and will only be completed in 2029. The NSC will open in phases from 2027, starting with the viaduct section from Admiralty Road West all the way to Lentor Avenue.
From 21 February 2021, the underpass near Exit B of Novena MRT Station linking to United Square and Goldhill Centre had closed permanently due to the construction of the NSC. To get to United Square and Goldhill Centre, the public can use the pedestrian crossings along Thomson Road, Newton Road or Moulmein Road as well as the overhead bridge just in front of Velocity@Novena Square.
HealthCity Novena
The Novena area is already an established medical zone, with many prominent healthcare centres and hospitals concentrated in this region. With the development of the 17-hectare HealthCity Novena, the area will further support and serve the healthcare needs of our growing and greying population in Singapore.
With Novena MRT Station, the public can get to Tan Tock Seng Hospital as well as the various medical and healthcare centres easily from any region of Singapore.
Revenue House
This is where the offices of Inland Revenue Authority Of Singapore (IRAS) and Accounting And Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) are housed.
United Square & Goldhill Centre
Educational centres and institutes in the Novena area are mostly concentrated in United Square Shopping Mall and the nearby Goldhill Centre. On weekends, the area around Novena MRT Station gets especially crowded with kids going for their weekly lessons and shoppers enjoying their retail therapy at the malls.
Shopping Malls, Offices & Hotels
Novena is also home to many offices, hotels and shopping malls.
5. Transfer To Buses From Novena MRT Station
| Name Of Places | Bus Stop | Bus Services |
| Agape Baptist Church (One Dorset) – Dorset Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Balestier Market – Balestier Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Balestier Road Seventh-day Adventist Church – Balestier Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Burmese Buddhist Temple – Tai Gin Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Cairnhill Community Club – Anthony Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Cairnhill Neighbourhood Police Post – Gloucester Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131 |
| Cambridge Park – Cambridge Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Central Sikh Temple – Towner Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Ceylon Sports Club – Balestier Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Chan Chor Min Tong Temple – Jalan Kemaman | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Church Of The True Light – Perak Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Faith Assembly Of God Church – Kim Keat Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Feeha Cheng Sean Temple & Old Folks Home – Jalan Ampas | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Hakka Methodist Church – Evelyn Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| HDB Toa Payoh Branch Office – Lorong 6 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 56, 143, NR1 |
| Housing & Development Board (HDB) – Lorong 6 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 56, 143, NR1 |
| Indian Heritage Centre – Campbell Lane | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Kallang Community Club – Boon Keng Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| KK Women’s And Children’s Hospital – Bukit Timah Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 166, 851, 980 |
| Kuang Chee Tng Buddhist Association – Moulmein Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Kuang Im Tng Temple – Balestier Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital – Serangoon Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Land Transport Authority (Corporate Headquarters) – Hampshire Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 166, 851, 980 |
| Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home (Thomson) – Thomson Lane | 50031 (Exit B) | 54, 141, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 851, 980 |
| Leng Ern Jee Temple – Jalan Rajah | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Leong Hwa Monastery – Shrewsbury Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Masjid Abdul Gaffoor – Dunlop Street | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Masjid Angullia – Serangoon Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 141 |
| Masjid Tasek Utara – Bristol Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 166, 851, 980 |
| Ministry Of The Environment And Water Resources (MEWR) – Scotts Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| National Environment Agency (NEA) – Scotts Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| National Skin Centre (NSC) – Mandalay Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Newton Food Centre – Clemenceau Avenue North | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Newton Life Church – Newton Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Novena Rise Park – Novena Rise | 50031 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 56, 57, 141, 143, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 851, 980, NR1 |
| Parish Of Christ Church – Dorset Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Pek Kio Community Centre – Gloucester Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131, 141 |
| Pek Kio Market And Food Centre – Cambridge Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131, 141 |
| Pentecostal Church Of Singapore – Tai Gin Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Qing De Tang Temple – Lorong Ampas | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Revival Centre Church – Moulmein Rise | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Royal Thai Embassy – Orchard Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Singapore Baptist Church – Cambridge Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution – Lorong 4 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 57 |
| Singapore Indian Association – Balestier Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Singapore Life Church – Prinsep Street | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Singapore Thomson Road Baptist Church – Thomson Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 141, 166, 851, 980 |
| Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple – Serangoon Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 141 |
| Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall – Tai Gin Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Tai Pei Old People’s Home – Jalam Ampas | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Tai Pei Yuen Temple – Jalan Kemaman | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Tanglin Police Division Headquarters – Kampong Java Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Tekka Wet Market – Buffalo Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| The Church In Singapore – Derbyshire Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 141, 166, 851, 980 |
| The Free Christian Church Of Singapore – Mackenzie Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 166, 851, 980 |
| Thomson Medical Centre – Thomson Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 56, 57, 141, 143, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 851, 980, NR1 |
| Thong Teck Sian Tong Lian Sin Sia Temple – Boon Teck Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Toa Payoh Methodist Church – Lorong 2 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 56, NR1 |
| Toa Payoh Sports Centre/ Sports Hall/ Stadium/ Swimming Complex – Lorong 6 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 57 |
| Zhong Shan Park – Balestier Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Balestier Hill Primary School – Balestier Road | 50031 (Exit B) | 21, 131 |
| Farrer Park Primary School – Farrer Park Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131, 141 |
| MOE Language Centre (Newton Campus) – Cairnhill Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Northlight School – Towner Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Saint Joseph’s Institution Junior – Essex Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Name Of Roads | Bus Stop | Bus Services |
| Balestier Road | 50038 (Exit B) 50031 (Exit B) | 21 21, 131 |
| Bukit Timah Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Dorset Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131 |
| Gloucester Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 141 |
| Jalan Eunos | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Jalan Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 5, 56, 57, 143, NR1 |
| Kampong Java Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Keng Lee Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Lorong 2 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 56, NR1 |
| Lorong 6 Toa Payoh | 50031 (Exit B) | 57, 143 |
| Mcnair Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Moulmein Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
| Newton Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Norfolk Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131, 141 |
| Owen Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 131, 141 |
| Rangoon Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 141 |
| Scotts Road | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Sungei Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 166, 851, 980 |
| Thomson Road | 50038 (Exit B) 50031 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 131, 141, 166, 851, 980 5, 21, 54, 56, 57, 131, 141, 143, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 851, 980, NR1 |
| Towner Road | 50038 (Exit B) | 21 |
6. Free Bus Services To Other MRT Stations During Train Service Disruptions
In the event of train service disruptions, regular and bridging buses will be made free for all commuters travelling from Novena MRT Station to other MRT stations. Refer to the table below for the bus services available at the bus stops near the exits.
| Going To | Station Code | Bus Stop | Bus Service |
| Ang Mo Kio | NS16 | 50031 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 166 |
| Bedok Reservoir | DT30 | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Bencoolen | DT21 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 167 |
| Bishan | NS17/CC15 | 50031 (Exit B) | 54, 56, 57 |
| Bras Basah | CC2 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 167 |
| Bright Hill | TE7 | 50031 (Exit B) | 162, 162M |
| Caldecott | CC17/TE9 | 50031 (Exit B) | 141 |
| Chinatown | NE4/DT19 | 50037 (Exit B) | 54, 143 |
| City Hall | NS25/EW13 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 167 |
| Clarke Quay | NE5 | 50037 (Exit B) | 54 |
| Dhoby Ghaut | NS24/NE6/CC1 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 167 |
| Esplanade | CC3 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 162M |
| Fort Canning | DT20 | 50037 (Exit B) | 54, 143 |
| Harbourfront | NE1/CC29 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143 |
| Haw Par Villa | CC25 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143 |
| Jurong East | NS1/EW24 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143 |
| Kaki Bukit | DT28 | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Khatib | NS14 | 50031 (Exit B) | 851 |
| Labrador Park | CC27 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143 |
| Marymount | CC16 | 50031 (Exit B) | 54, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 851, 980 |
| Mayflower | TE6 | 50031 (Exit B) | 166 |
| Newton | NS21/DT11 | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Orchard | NS22/TE14 | 50037 (Exit B) | 5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Outram Park | EW16/NE3/TE17 | 50037 (Exit B) | 54, 143 |
| Pasir Panjang | CC26 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143 |
| Pasir Ris | EW1 | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Promenade | CC4/DT15 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162M |
| Raffles Place | NS26/EW14 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 167 |
| Sembawang | NS11 | 50031 (Exit B) | 167, 980 |
| Simei | EW3 | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Somerset | NS23 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143, 162, 162M, 167 |
| Springleaf | TE4 | 50031 (Exit B) | 167, 980 |
| Tampines West | DT31 | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Tanjong Pagar | EW15 | 50037 (Exit B) | 162, 167 |
| Telok Blangah | CC28 | 50037 (Exit B) | 143 |
| Tiong Bahru | EW17 | 50037 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Toa Payoh | NS19 | 50031 (Exit B) | 56, 57, 141, 143 |
| Upper Changi | DT34 | 50031 (Exit B) | 5 |
| Upper Thomson | TE8 | 50031 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 166 |
| Yio Chu Kang | NS15 | 50031 (Exit B) | 162, 162M, 851 |
| Yishun | NS13 | 50031 (Exit B) | 851 |