Sengkang MRT and Serangoon MRT: What’s Around Each Station and the Trip from Hougang

Sengkang MRT and Serangoon MRT are the two stations people from Hougang use most after their own. Sengkang (NE16) is two stops north, a rail and bus hub for a young town. Serangoon (NE12/CC13) is two stops south, where the North East Line meets the Circle Line under NEX. For anyone looking at LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences), planned above Hougang MRT (NE14), knowing what each of these stations opens up tells you a lot about daily life at Hougang Central.

Side by side

	Sengkang (NE16)	Serangoon (NE12/CC13)
From Hougang	2 stops north (via Buangkok)	2 stops south (via Kovan)
Approx. time in train	4–5 minutes	About 5 minutes
Rail links	NEL, Sengkang LRT East and West loops	NEL and Circle Line
Mall at the station	Compass One	NEX
Bus interchange	Sengkang Bus Interchange	Serangoon Bus Interchange, inside NEX
Change to watch	West LRT inner direction closed until 18 Oct 2026	Bus operator changes to SMRT on 13 June 2027

Sengkang MRT (NE16)

Sengkang station brings three modes together under one roof: the NEL platforms underground, the LRT above, and the bus interchange beside Compass One at street level. You can move between them under cover, which makes it one of the easier interchanges in the North-East on a wet day.

The Sengkang LRT loops

• East Loop: Compassvale, Rumbia, Bakau, Kangkar and Ranggung, serving Compassvale and Rivervale. Rumbia is the stop for Rivervale Mall.
• West Loop: Cheng Lim, Farmway, Kupang, Thanggam, Fernvale, Layar, Tongkang and Renjong, serving Anchorvale and Fernvale. Fernvale is the stop for The Seletar Mall, and Cheng Lim serves Sengkang General Hospital.

Sengkang Bus Interchange, and Compassvale

Sengkang Bus Interchange sits alongside the station. The overflow Compassvale Bus Interchange across the square closed when Buangkok Bus Interchange opened on 1 December 2024; its service 374 moved into Sengkang Bus Interchange and service 110 moved to Buangkok. If an old map still shows Compassvale, it is out of date.

What’s around Sengkang MRT

• Compass One, the mall wrapped around the station.
• Sengkang Riverside Park and its floating wetland, a few LRT stops west.
• Sengkang General Hospital and Sengkang Community Hospital.
• Hawker centres and coffee shops across Compassvale, Rivervale and Fernvale, a short LRT hop away.

Serangoon MRT (NE12/CC13)

Serangoon is the North-East’s main link to the Circle Line. The North East Line platforms opened in 2003 and the Circle Line platforms in 2009. Changing lines involves a walk through underground passages, so allow a few extra minutes at peak hour.

• North East Line: south to Dhoby Ghaut, Outram Park and HarbourFront; north to Kovan, Hougang, Sengkang and Punggol.
• Circle Line: west to Lorong Chuan and Bishan; east to Bartley, Paya Lebar and the city side of the loop.

NEX and Serangoon Bus Interchange

NEX sits on top of the station, and Serangoon Bus Interchange is inside the same building, so train, bus and mall connect indoors. In July 2026 LTA awarded the Serangoon-Eunos bus package to SMRT Buses. From 13 June 2027, SMRT takes over 26 services and the Serangoon, Eunos and Woodleigh bus interchanges from SBS Transit. Routes are planned by LTA, so the operator name is the main change most riders will notice, but check for route notices nearer the date.

What’s around Serangoon MRT

• NEX, with shops, food courts, a cinema and a rooftop library.
• Serangoon Gardens and Chomp Chomp, a short bus ride away. See our Serangoon Gardens guide.
• Serangoon Stadium and swimming complex nearby.

Which one will a Hougang Central resident use?

• For the Circle Line (Paya Lebar, Bishan, one-north side): Serangoon, two stops.
• For a big mall day indoors: NEX at Serangoon.
• For Sengkang General Hospital, parks and Sengkang estates: Sengkang, two stops, then LRT.
• For the city: stay on the NEL; both stations are on the way, and Dhoby Ghaut is direct from Hougang.

From about 2030, when LTA targets CRL Phase 1, Hougang itself becomes an interchange, adding a direct east-west line. Our Hougang MRT guide explains how the station works today.

What this means for LinkTown Residences

LinkTown Residences is planned with a direct link to Hougang MRT, midway between these two stations. That means a Circle Line change or a Sengkang LRT connection is two stops either way. See the location page for travel from the site, and the project details for what Hougang Central Residences will include.

Sources: LTA, train service adjustments for upgrading works (2026); LTA, Buangkok Bus Interchange; LTA, Serangoon-Eunos bus package. Check SBS Transit and SMRT for live service updates.

Register to get LinkTown Residences launch details as soon as they’re released.

Frequently asked questions

How many stops is Sengkang from Hougang?

Two stops north on the North East Line: Hougang (NE14), Buangkok (NE15), then Sengkang (NE16). Allow roughly 4 to 5 minutes in the train; this is approximate.

Is Sengkang MRT an interchange?

Yes. Sengkang station links the North East Line with the Sengkang LRT East and West loops, and Sengkang Bus Interchange sits alongside, next to Compass One mall.

Is the Sengkang West LRT closed?

Partly. From 19 April to 18 October 2026, the West Loop’s inner direction via Cheng Lim is closed for depot works. The outer direction via Renjong still runs, and shuttle buses operate at weekday peaks.

Which lines stop at Serangoon MRT?

The North East Line (NE12) and the Circle Line (CC13). NEX mall and Serangoon Bus Interchange are part of the same development.

Is Serangoon MRT the same as Serangoon North MRT?

No. Serangoon North is a separate Cross Island Line station under construction, targeted by LTA for 2030. It is not part of the Serangoon interchange.