Newton MRT

One stop to Orchard and the new Downtown Line interchange has opened. Commuters are definitely pleased with this interchange. Don’t forget this is only a few meters walk to Newton Circus /​Hawker Centre. My favourite station maybe because it’s a stroll from where I live. Check it out!

The Newton MRT is conveniently located to our hotel, the Sheraton Towers. This is the next stop after Orchard MRT which is the shopping hub.
The MRT system is great. Very quick and efficient.
You don’t have to wait more than a few minutes for the next one.
We purchased the ezlink pass. $ 10 SGD minimum to load. And a one time fee of $ 5.00 SGD for the card itself. It’s a similar concept to our Clipper card in the Bay Area.
I left Singapore with $ 10 left on it. I tapped my card and the gate signal flashed red. I approached the MRT agent to explain. He said I had no $ left on it. I had to put another $ 10 on it. I was given my receipt. It showed $ 12.91 SGD. Which said I had $ 2.91 balance. So I did have money. Go figure.
But the system is wonderful. Easy to use and easy transfer points. We were going to take the MRT to the airport but we both fell sick with colds after close quarters on a cruise ship for two weeks. Settled on a Mercedes limo sedan instead!

Newton MRT is just 1 stop north of Orchard MRT on the red line. It probably does not handle a lot of passengers compared to other train stations on the same line, though the ridership is probably growing with more office buildings and condominiums in the area now.
Unfortunately it is not very user friendly to those who get around in a wheelchair or have a baby stroller/​pram. The elevator getting to Newton MRT is only on one side of the road (Exit A), same stretch as Sheraton Towers Hotel, Prudential Building, Alliance Francaise area. There are also ramps to get to the elevator.
That effectively disallows them to get in/​out of Exit B where Newton Circus, Environment Building and other residences area. There are no street crossing in the immediate vicinity, the nearest is where the Environment Building is (junction of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road). Plus you will need to navigate some steps just to get to the entrance of Exit B. I have seen mothers having to carry their prams up the stairs which will be quite a feat if they also have many bags with them or need to watch over a few children too.
The public washroom is by Exit B and is fairly decent. There is usually an attendant taking care of it.
That aside, there are at least 4 gates on each side of the station control room, so it is quite fast to enter and leave the station. There is also an elevator in the train platform area, which is helpful to those who need it.
There is a 7 – 11 store and many ATMs (2 x POSB/​DBS, UOB, OCBC and Citibank) serving the station. There are also public payphone booths.