Novena MRT Station (NS20)

Novena MRT Station (NS20)

Novena MRT Station Sign
Novena MRT Station Sign

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

Address250 Thomson Road Singapore 307642
Station CodeNS20
Rail LineNorth South Line (NSL)
OperatorSMRT Corporation Ltd (SMRT)
Underground Linkway At Exit A Towards Tan Tock Seng Hospital And Other Hospitals
Underground Linkway At Exit A Towards Tan Tock Seng Hospital And Other Hospitals
Novena MRT Station Exit B On Street Level
Novena MRT Station Exit B On Street Level
Exit ATan 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 BCourtyard 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 ANorth South Line (NSL) Towards Jurong East (NS1/EW24)
Platform BNorth South Line (NSL) Towards Marina South Pier (NS28)
Level 1Street Level
Basement 1Concourse (Faregates, Passenger Service Centre, Top-Up Machines)
Basement 2Platform A, Platform B

2. First & Last Train Timings

To NS28 Marina South PierFirst TrainLast Train
Weekday5.44 a.m.11.41 p.m.
Saturday5.44 a.m.11.41 p.m.
Sunday/ Public Holiday6.08 a.m.11.41 p.m.
To NS1 Jurong EastFirst TrainLast Train
Weekday6.01 a.m.12.07 a.m.
Saturday6.16 a.m.12.07 a.m.
Sunday/ Public Holiday6.22 a.m.12.07 a.m.
To NS7 KranjiFirst TrainLast Train
Weekday12.22 a.m.
Saturday12.22 a.m.
Sunday/ Public Holiday12.22 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

Construction Of The North South Corridor In Novena
Construction Of The North South Corridor In Novena

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.

Closure Of Underpass At Novena MRT Station
Closure Of Underpass At Novena MRT Station

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.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Novena Medical Centre & Square 2
Novena Medical Centre & Square 2
Novena Specialist Centre & Oasia Hotel
Novena Specialist Centre & Oasia Hotel

Revenue House

Revenue House
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

United Square Shopping Mall
United Square Shopping Mall

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

Velocity@Novena Square Against The Backdrop Of Offices And Courtyard By Marriott Singapore Novena
Velocity@Novena Square Against The Backdrop Of Offices And Courtyard By Marriott Singapore Novena

Novena is also home to many offices, hotels and shopping malls.

5. Transfer To Buses From Novena MRT Station

Name Of PlacesBus StopBus 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 RoadsBus StopBus Services
Balestier Road50038 (Exit B)
50031 (Exit B)
21
21, 131
Bukit Timah Road50038 (Exit B)56, 57, 166, 851, 980
Dorset Road50038 (Exit B)131
Gloucester Road50038 (Exit B)141
Jalan Eunos50031 (Exit B)5
Jalan Toa Payoh50031 (Exit B)5, 56, 57, 143, NR1
Kampong Java Road50038 (Exit B)56, 57, 166, 851, 980
Keng Lee Road50038 (Exit B)56, 57, 166, 851, 980
Lorong 2 Toa Payoh50031 (Exit B)56, NR1
Lorong 6 Toa Payoh50031 (Exit B)57, 143
Mcnair Road50038 (Exit B)21
Moulmein Road50038 (Exit B)21
Newton Road50037 (Exit B)5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167
Norfolk Road50038 (Exit B)131, 141
Owen Road50038 (Exit B)131, 141
Rangoon Road50038 (Exit B)141
Scotts Road50037 (Exit B)5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167
Sungei Road50038 (Exit B)56, 57, 166, 851, 980
Thomson Road50038 (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 Road50038 (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 ToStation CodeBus StopBus Service
Ang Mo KioNS1650031 (Exit B)162, 162M, 166
Bedok ReservoirDT3050031 (Exit B)5
BencoolenDT2150037 (Exit B)162, 162M, 167
BishanNS17/CC1550031 (Exit B)54, 56, 57
Bras BasahCC250037 (Exit B)162, 162M, 167
Bright HillTE750031 (Exit B)162, 162M
CaldecottCC17/TE950031 (Exit B)141
ChinatownNE4/DT1950037 (Exit B)54, 143
City HallNS25/EW1350037 (Exit B)162, 162M, 167
Clarke QuayNE550037 (Exit B)54
Dhoby GhautNS24/NE6/CC150037 (Exit B)162, 162M, 167
EsplanadeCC350037 (Exit B)162, 162M
Fort CanningDT2050037 (Exit B)54, 143
HarbourfrontNE1/CC2950037 (Exit B)143
Haw Par VillaCC2550037 (Exit B)143
Jurong EastNS1/EW2450037 (Exit B)143
Kaki BukitDT2850031 (Exit B)5
KhatibNS1450031 (Exit B)851
Labrador ParkCC2750037 (Exit B)143
MarymountCC1650031 (Exit B)54, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 851, 980
MayflowerTE650031 (Exit B)166
NewtonNS21/DT1150037 (Exit B)5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167
OrchardNS22/TE1450037 (Exit B)5, 54, 143, 162, 162M, 167
Outram ParkEW16/NE3/TE1750037 (Exit B)54, 143
Pasir PanjangCC2650037 (Exit B)143
Pasir RisEW150031 (Exit B)5
PromenadeCC4/DT1550037 (Exit B)162M
Raffles PlaceNS26/EW1450037 (Exit B)162, 167
SembawangNS1150031 (Exit B)167, 980
SimeiEW350031 (Exit B)5
SomersetNS2350037 (Exit B)143, 162, 162M, 167
SpringleafTE450031 (Exit B)167, 980
Tampines WestDT3150031 (Exit B)5
Tanjong PagarEW1550037 (Exit B)162, 167
Telok BlangahCC2850037 (Exit B)143
Tiong BahruEW1750037 (Exit B)5
Toa PayohNS1950031 (Exit B)56, 57, 141, 143
Upper ChangiDT3450031 (Exit B)5
Upper ThomsonTE850031 (Exit B)162, 162M, 166
Yio Chu KangNS1550031 (Exit B)162, 162M, 851
YishunNS1350031 (Exit B)851

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