The Unexpected Rule Tourists In Singapore Need To Know Before Hopping On A Public Train
Step onto a public train in Singapore, and one of the first things you'll notice is that it's spotless. There are no discarded food wrappers or drinks cans rolling around, and the floor and seats are devoid of coffee stains and sticky spills. Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) carries around 3 million passengers per day and is efficient, economical, and squeaky clean, often ranking in the world's top 10 for outstanding public transportation. Changi Airport, too, has fantastic public transport options.
But it's no accident that those subway trains are immaculate. There's a rule that every tourist needs to know before hopping on the MRT: consuming food and drinks is banned. The rules are clear and extend beyond the trains themselves. In the stations, too, eating and drinking are not allowed except in designated areas. And yes, the rule doesn't even make an exception for water. Chewing gum and bubble gum — banned in Singapore — get a special shoutout in the regulations. Yep, you guessed it: They're also not allowed on the MRT.
What happens if you eat or drink on the train
Wondering if the ban on food and drink is enforced on Singapore's MRT? Well, unlike the bathroom mistake that can get you fined in Singapore, eating and drinking on public transit is pretty public. Locals and tourists on Reddit's r/askSingapore forum report being told to stop drinking water by staff. Others in the r/singapore forum say they were told off for drinking via announcements on the station's P.A. system — CCTV is ever-present in Singapore.
The consequences of eating and drinking on the MRT can be worse than a simple telling-off. Fines for consuming food and drinks run to SGD 500 (around $377). Fortunately for tourists, there are clear signs in the stations and on the trains showing what's prohibited. (Durians, Asia's stinkiest fruit, are not permitted in any form!) So, while riding the train in Singapore, put that bubble tea down, and don't even think about munching on your curry puff. And be grateful that New York City's Pizza Rat wouldn't find a home in Singapore's MRT.