Past bus routes and deployment

last SG · 2009-08-18T22:50:31+00:00

Are there any bus ply Hu Ching Rd in the past?Thought saw a SBS bus pass by Jurong Town Pri Sch when i was a kid

SBS8533C SG

when SBS took it over again it was still 820 and 821 for a period of time right? before renumbering as 378 and 379? wad buses did 820 and 821 use?

It was still 820/821. Buses used were Scania N113CRB. SBS3600A and SBS3624G

Bus and Train LoVuR SG

Let me contribute the history of Woodlands Bus Services.

I'm pretty sure that you all know that Woodlands Bus Services were started by SBS in the early 1980s.

In the humble days of Woodlands Bus Services pre-dominantly in the 1970s, only service 169, 180, 182 and 208 plys from a small bus terminal in Admiralty Rd. Service 169 goes from Admiralty Rd and Marsiling Dr and continues its route to Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 via Admiralty Rd West. Services 180, 182 and 208 plys from Admiralty Rd and pass through Woodlands Town Centre.

Service 178 and 181 was believed to have been extended to Admiralty Rd terminal for a very short while in 1980 after it was being amended to call at Woodlands Bus Interhcange.

The Woodlands Bus Interchange was opened on 29 Nov 1981. Services 169, 178, 181, 204 and 208 were called at the new Interchange. Service 204 was the first service that called from the Woodlands Interchange (it was neither introduced from Admiralty Rd, and the service goes to the Sg Kadut Industral Estate, when the industrial estate is developed to resettle several existing factories from nearby rural areas). Services 180 and 182 remains at Admiralty Rd Terminal.

IN early 1982, Feeder Service 372 from Woodlands to Marsiling Rd (A loop svc) was introduced to cater the Marsiling residents.

The services were then handed over to TIBS in 1983 by phases.

- Summary of Woodlands Services -
169 - Woodlands To Ang Mo Kio
178 - Woodlands To Jurong
180 - Admiralty Rd to WTC
181 - Woodlands To Crawford St
182 - Admiralty Rd to Anson Rd
204 - Woodlands To Sungei Kadut Est (Loop, charges Step Fare)
208 - Woodlands To Kranji Way (Loop, charges Step Fare)
372 - Woodlands To Marsiling Rd (Loop, feeder)

To avoid confusion between Admiralty Rd and Admiralty Rd West, the Admiralty Rd Terminal was known as Marsiling Terminal because of the HDB flats in teh Marsiling area.

In late 1984, a proposed second feeder service 900 was planned for the later phase of Woodlands New Town developments. It was started off as Woodlands to Woodlands St 13 loop service in mid-1985. In late 1985, Service 204 and 208 was being merged to form service 925, with the Sg Kadut route on ordinary days (Mon-Sat) and alternate route to Kranji Way on Sunday & PHs. Service 925 was the only flat fare services which issue bus tickets and charge at a flat fare of 60c

925 - Woodlands to Sungei Kadut Ave (Loop) (Mondays to Saturdays)
925 - Woodlands to Kranji Way (Loop) (Sundays & PHs)

A thrid feeder was started in 1987. Service 901 was introduced as Woodlands - Woodlands St 81 service and thereafter, the fourth feeder, Service 902 from Woodalnds - Woodlands St 32 in 1989.

Service NS1 (a special shuttle from Woodlands to National Stadium) was introduced in 1989. This service only operates from 1800-1900 from Woodlands and After Events back to Woodlands. The operating details would be published on newspapers and posters at Woodlands Int as well as along bus stops that plies the NS1 route.

Service 926 was introduced as a Sunday & PH service with a flat fare of 70c. It plys from Woodalnds to Singapore Zoo (loop service)

Service 950 (Marsiling - Shenton Way), the first full fleet Air-Con service was introduced in 1989, with 10 Air Con Hino Ht238K buses (TIB380K to TIB389L) plying on Service 950. Other buses like the 2 OAC Nissan Diesel buses (TIB279X and TIB280R) from 852 also settled on 950. TIB390G, another Nissan bus joins the service 950 fleet.

IN 1990, 3 more services were introduced. Service 951, 952 and SS7.

Service 951 was introduced as Marsiling to Jurong Service, designated to be a Full AirCon fleet. DAF Hispanos were brought in to do service 951 as well as Service 950. This service was later amended to Boon Lay due to the closure of Jurong Int, together with 178.

Service 952 was introduced later in 1990 as Marsiling to Marina Centre, 3rd Full Aircon service. DAF Hispanos were used as well.

Service SS7, a services that plys from Woodlands to Choa Chu Kang via Bt Panjang New Town. This service was the first service to use farecards on board, along with SBS 78.

Known amendments of Service 182 was an amendment of route to Shenton Way instead of New Bridge rd.

Service 180 was withdrawn in the late 1980s.

Service 856 from Yishun to Woodlands was introduced in 1989 to cater the workers of Senoko Industral Estate.

Let's take a look at the Woodlands Services in 1990

169 - Woodlands to Ang Mo Kio
178 - Woodlands to Boon Lay
181 - Woodlands to Crawford St
182 - Marsiling to Shenton Way
372 - Woodlands to Marsiling Dr (Loop)
856 - Yishun to Woodlands
900 - Woodlands to Woodlands St 13 (Loop)
901 - Woodlands to Woodlands St 81 (Loop)
902 - Woodlands to Woodlands St 32 (Loop)
925 - Woodlands to Sungei Kadut Dr (Loop) - Mon-Sat
925 - Woodlands to Kranji Way (Loop) - Sun & PHs
926 - Woodlands to Mandai Lake Rd (Loop)
950 - Marsiling to Shenton Way
951 - Marsiling to Boon Lay
952 - Marsiling to Marina Centre
SS7 - Woodlands to Choa Chu Kang

On 4 Feb 1996, the Woodlands Regional Int opened, located conveniently to Woodlands MRT Station. The first of a kind underground bus interchange, which intergates both Bus & MRT hubs in the Woodlands area. A Retail development was also being planned at that time, that is linked conveniently to the MRT as well.

The changes that took place when Woodlands Regional Int opened:

Services that serves WRI (with minor amendments)
169, 178, 181, 182, 856, 900, 902, 925, 926, 950, 951, 952, SS7

Services that remains at the old Woodlands Int:
372, 901

Details of the extended route:
169 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 8, Ave 9, continue its route from Admiralty Rd West
178 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 5, Marsiling Rise, Rd, Drive, Admiralty Rd, continue its route from Woodlands Rd
181 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from Woodlands Rd
182 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from Woodlands Rd
856 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from Woodlands Ctr Rd
900 - Loops at old Woodlands Int
902 - Loops at St 41 instead of St 32
925 - Extended its route to CCK (Mon-Sat)
926 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from BKE
950 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from BKE
951 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from BKE
952 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from BKE
SS7 - Woodlands Reg Int, Ave 3, continue its route from BKE

The rationalisation of Woodlands services was on 10 Mar 1996. Several services that had been affected.

169 - Merged with Service 857. It plys along Admiralty Rd East (part of 857 route) instead of Canberra Rd .
178 - Amended to ply the deleted sector of former Service 372 around the Marsiling Estate.
181 - No route changes
182 - Service withdrawal
187 - Extended to Woodlands Int. Originally a Bukit Panjang to Boon Lay service.
372 - Amended to operate at Woodlands Regional Int and became Service 903. Note that this service still plys from old Woodlands Int when the Woodlands Reg Int just opened.
856 - Amended to ply along Canberra Rd
858 - New Service from Woodlands to Yishun
903 - Renumbered from Service 372. This service plys from Woodlands to Woodlands Ctr Rd (loop)
950 - Service withdrawal
951 - Shortened to Bt Panjang Ter, renumbered to 180.
952 - Service withdrawal
SS7 - Service withdrawal

Other significant events on the WRI opening:

The problem faced is the Service 901. Service 901 was the only service that ply from old Woodlands Int (better known as Woodlands Checkpoint Terminus). Although the routes that ply doesn't call at the new WRI Int, there were many feedbacks from residents. So TIBS decided to split out the route from 901 and introduce a new Service 904 that plys from Woodlands to Woodlands Checkpoint Terminus). Service 901 was amended to start from the new Woodlands Reg Int and plys the existing route of 901.

Service 905 and 906 were introduced to ply Woodlands Dr 50 and Woodlands Circle respectively.

On 14 July 1996, is the merger of the existing feeder services to became an intra-town service. Intratown services means its a merger of 2 existing feeder service and it calls at the Interchange after doing its 1st loop before continuing its 2nd loop. Intra-town services are useful for passengers, so that they will not have to transfer buses to get to other side of Woodlands.

900 > 911
901 > 911
902 > 912
904 > 913
905 > 912
906 > 913

On the same day itself, a new Service 960 from Woodlands to Marina Centre via Bt Panjang was introduced.

Services that were introduced/amended after 1996:
181 - Was amended to Geylang Lor 1 Terminal due to the closure of Crawford St Ter possibly due to major road works around the Crawford St area in 1998.
858 - Was extended to Changi Airport on 2nd Nov 1997, bypassing Yishun Ave 3. It was amended to call at 2 bus stops around the Jln Kayu Bus Termianl.
900 - Re-introduced as Woodlands - Woodlands Dr 14 service in 1999. Another variant, 900A plys along Champions Way on 26 Jun 2006 and enhanced to serve Innova Pri Sch on 2 Jan 2008.
901 - Re-introduced as Woodlands - Woodlands Dr 16 service in 1999.
902 - Re-introduced as Woodlands - Republic Polytechnis service in Apr 2006. One-directional service in the mornings only.
911 - Amended to ply along St 82, Ave 4, St 83 and Ave 7 in 2001.
912 - Extended to ply along Admiralty MRT Station in 1997.
913 - No longer plys at the Woodlands Checkpoint Terminus in 2003, together with 911 and 912, hence it was skipped.
925 - Extended to Lim Chu Kang Rd and loop there cia Neo Tiew Cresent in 2006 (Sun & PH route) but it was cut back to Sungei Buloh Nature Park on 11 Mar 2007.
925 - On 15 July 2007, amended to call at 2 new bus stops at Northvale Condo at Choa Chu Kang Dr.
950 - Re-introduced as a cross-border service. From Woodlands to Kotaraya II ter.
961 - Renumber from 181 and enters Marina Centre on Suns & PHs. Amneded to ply along High St in 1999 and later on ply along Lavender St, Kallang Barhu & Boon Keng Rd (deleted sector of former 5 route)
962 - Introduces as Woodlands - Sembawang Dr on 24 Jun 2001.In 2003, extended and loop at Admiralty St. On 29 MAy 2005, amended to ply along Semabwang Cres and Way.
963 - Converted to trunk service (Woodlands - Harboutfront). It was former Express 521.
964 - Inroduced as Woodlands to Woodlands Loop svc in 1997.
965 - Introduced as Woodlands to Sengkang Service on 7 Jul 2002.
966 - Introduced as Woodlands to Marine Parade service on 16 Nov 2003. It was amended to serve Bt Panjang and subsequently to Petir Rd and Dairy Farm Rd in 2007.
969 - Introduced as Woodlands to Tampiens service on 15 Apr 2001.

In addition, SBS had make a comeback to Woodlands in 2001, after 17 years of the original services that was being handed over to TIBS. Likewise TIBS make a comback as well in Sengkang as 965 plys from Woodlands to Sengkang.

161 - Introduced as Hougang Ctrl to Woodlands service in 2002.
168 - Introduced as Bedok to Woodlands service in 2001.

Thanks a lot for the infomation.

SBS8533C SG

Just to note about the classification of the 8xx numbering system again for TIBS

80x : Yishun feeders (numbers used 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 804A, 805, 806)
81x : Intratown services (numbers used 811, 812)
82x : Jln Kayu services (numbers used 820, 821 - do not include 825 in)

85x : Yishun Trunk services (numbers used 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859)
86x : Sengkang Trunk services (numbers used 860, 864, 865, 866)

SMB66X SG

Yishun interchange got a record of past service before they become the "now" service. Meaning some put (Former 804) bellow the service number.

SBS8533C SG

I thought at one time 900, 901, 902, 904, 905 and 906 all terminated at the former interchange before they merged?

There were berths for these buses to park at that interchange.

900, 901, 902 and 904 only loops at the old Woodlands Checkpoint terminus. 905 and 906 doesn't loop there.

In addition, 911, 912 & 913 continue serving the Woodlands Checkpoint terminus until Mar 2003 when the terminus can no longer be used for buses to enter. The problem is that the old bus bay in the terminus is frequently used for illegal parking since 2001, when mototrists were unable to find a proper parking lots in the car park. It was sealed up to curb illegal parking.

TIB657M SG

214E 214W (SBS)
820 821 (TIBS)
378 379 (SBS)
Merged with 103.

Yes, merged. And shortened the routes due to NEL duplication. It plies from Serangoon to Seletar camp, namely 103 and 103W currently.

Do you have ideas which of the 103 permers were out after the merging other than SBS170T went over to 82? (with Hall ad)

TIB657M SG

However, I forsee some of 170 buses park there for their mealbreak.

TIB657M SG

Were there any swapping of buses between AMDEP/BRBP and HGDEP after 60, 63, 94 and 154 went over BRBP whereas 63, 82, 100, 101, 105, 315, 317 went over HGDEP?

One Harmonius Blend SG

How does TIB 380K-TIB 389L look like? i nvr saw them before

SBS8533C SG

Hino BF177s??? How do they looked like??? I had never seen them before.

For services at Admiralty Rd West, Sembawang Road End and Nee Soon Camp (160,161,164,167,171), how do the services came about before SBS took over in 1973??? Is there any other services other than these which might have withdrawn when SBS took over??? And I seen in other forums that Sembawang services under SBS used Volvo B57s before, how true is this claim???

Thanks.

Its front body is completely different from other TIBS Hino buses. It was the only bus purchased by CSS. Regoed as CSS178K to CSS194M (it was later being re-registered on the new Nissan buses), when BF177s were sent to TIBS.

In the pre-1971 reorganisation, all Sembawang, NBD & Nee Soon Services were from Tay Koh Yat.

TKY 1 - Mata Gate to Nee Soon Village
TKY 2 - Hoi How Rd to Rotterham Gate (NBD)
TKY 3 - Hoi How Rd to Sembawang Rd 15 ms
TKY 5 - Beach Rd to R.N. Air Station (NBD)
TKY 6 - Nee Soon Village to Nee Soon Tansit Camp
TKY 8/8A - Sembawang Hills Est to Havelock Rd

During its reorganisation on 11 Apr 1971, the existing Sembawang, NBD & Nee Soon Services were assigned to UBC, and numbered as 16x.

160 - Crawford St to Rotherham Gate, HM Naval Dockyard (NBD)
161 - Sembawang Rd (end) to Prince Edward Rd
162 - Crawford St to Nee Soon Transit Camp
164 - Sembawang Rd to New Bridge Rd/Neil Rd
166 - Nee Soon Village to Sembawang Rd (end)
171 - Mandai Rd (near Sembawang Rd) to Queen St

UBC 160 and 160A were split out and re-routed in the late 1971. 160 ply from Canberra Gate (NBD) to Crawford St, while 160A plys from New Bridge Rd to Rottherdam Gate, HM Naval Dockyard (NBD)

Routes for all of its existing ABC, ABS & UBC services remain unchanged when the 3 companies were amalgamated to become SBS in 1973.

The first rationalisation took place in 1974, unlike other services that were being re-routed/amended/re-numbered/withdrawn during its rationalisaion.

160A - re-numbered to 167
162 - service withdrawal
166 - service withdrawal

So if you have seen a service 167 bus in its early days, you would recall that the route is the same as 160A.

earlier records shown that albion vikings deploys on sembawang service

TIB657M SG

Does anybody have an idea how SMRT took over Bus Plus? Bus Plus was under which company last time?

SBS8533C SG

How does TIB 380K-TIB 389L look like? i nvr saw them before

its merely the same prototype of the other ordianry Nissan U31SCN buses, but the windows are designed for OAC.

SBS8533C SG

Does anybody have an idea how SMRT took over Bus Plus? Bus Plus was under which company last time?

Bus Plus was under TIBS Holdings subsidiary, then later to SMRT after the re-branding of TIBS.

TIB657M SG

Where were the minibuses gone after 20 was withdrawn and merged with old 125?

Was the re-introduced 57 meant to amend the loss of old (some) 125 route like: KK Hospital, Rochor Road?

SBS8533C SG

Where were the minibuses gone after 20 was withdrawn and merged with old 125?

Was the re-introduced 57 meant to amend the loss of old 125 route?

The Minibuses went to 42. The svc 57 is a new service and it doesnt cover the sv 125 route.

The_Bus_Guide SG

Questions about Volvo B57s:

1. What did the "7 Turbo 6" signage on the big front grille meant??? 7 litre engine, and 6 speed automatic???

- It means 7 litre, 6 cylinder turbocharged engine. This was found on Volvo heavy vehicles of the time. The B10MD had "10 Turbo 6" and I've seen an old Volvo truck showing "12 Turbo 8".

3. Was there a B57 being converted to a full air con bus before??? If so, which bus (rego) was it??? Which depot did the modifications and it was based in which depot??? Which service it ran before???

- This is a good question. I wish I knew the answer.

6. Why are the designs of the 2 batches of Volvo B57 different, as in the design of the top canopy of the raised front route display board, one flat, one rounded, when they were newly acquired in the 1980s???

- The raised desto design was fitted to the first batch of B57s. The second batch had the curved roof design, which was also fitted to the second batch of OF1417. Perhaps it was a design change requested by SBS?

7. What happened to the B57 Soon Chow built Dumple Metsec demostrator??? Is it exported after a year or it was with SBS throughout its lifetime??? When was it deregistered then???

- I saw the B57 demo by chance when I was cycling around Ang Mo Kio with my cousins in 1989/90. It was being used as a training bus. I presume it stayed with SBS till the end

8. I remembered that the interior of the B57s are fully wood panel designs from driver onwards to end. Anyone can confirm???

- Yes. Grey woodgrain design on a white background.

9. I saw a picture of a B57 chassis in Soon Chow anniversary book. It had a newer generation front rims, like those on the Volvo Olympian 2 axles. I am certain it is a B57 because of the front engine layout. Did SBS change this rims to the older designed ones when the bus was built up??? Why SBS did that???

- I'm quite sceptical of the picture. This is because Soon Chow had bodied another kind of front-engined Volvo chassis, the newer generation Volvo B7. The bus was owned by Paya Lebar Transit. I found a derelict B7 abandoned at a heavy vehicle park in Sin Ming but I'm not sure if its still there. Also, the knob I'm inclined to think that the chassis in the picture is that of a B7.

10. The NZB and DM(demo) bodied B57s had center back service number holder. Was it used in public operations before??? If so, for how long??? Why was it not successful??? When was the year that they eventually put a SBS logo behind??? Same for the NZB and Hawke Mercedes Benz OF1417s???

- Yes, the rear desto was used to show the service number but it didn't last very long. It was disused somewhere in 1985-86. Why they ditched the idea I do not know.

vicamour SG

Seriously, I never see the BF177s before. Apart from the front design, the rest follows the HT238/228 or the RK176???

Thanks for those info on Sembawang routes. Some of the roads have long cease to exist.

Ok, routes on Hougang Central/South and Punggol, please. Was service 86 in 1977 under Tampines or Hougang???

Questions about Volvo B57s:

1. What did the "7 Turbo 6" signage on the big front grille meant??? 7 litre engine, and 6 speed automatic???

- It means 7 litre, 6 cylinder turbocharged engine. This was found on Volvo heavy vehicles of the time. The B10MD had "10 Turbo 6" and I've seen an old Volvo truck showing "12 Turbo 8".

- This is a good question. I wish I knew the answer.

7. What happened to the B57 Soon Chow built Dumple Metsec demostrator??? Is it exported after a year or it was with SBS throughout its lifetime??? When was it deregistered then???

- I saw the B57 demo by chance when I was cycling around Ang Mo Kio with my cousins in 1989/90. It was being used as a training bus. I presume it stayed with SBS till the end

8. I remembered that the interior of the B57s are fully wood panel designs from driver onwards to end. Anyone can confirm???

- Yes. Grey woodgrain design on a white background.

- Yes, the rear desto was used to show the service number but it didn't last very long. It was disused somewhere in 1985-86. Why they ditched the idea I do not know.

Thanks for all the answers, although not all.

Appreciated! :)

sbs&tibs SG

Were there any swapping of buses between AMDEP/BRBP and HGDEP after 60, 63, 94 and 154 went over BRBP whereas 63, 82, 100, 101, 105, 315, 317 went over HGDEP?

60 swop its Mark2s to 82 103 for Mercs

100 inherited most of 33 and 63's MK4s

154 B10Ms went to 100 158 mainly.

63 154 got most of 100's Mercs

105 got random Volvo buses from hgdep after the transfer

315 317 got those spare Volvos also.

94 got 157's NAC CRBs while 157 got more aircon buses.

60 got 3671U while 94 got 3673P from 82. The 2 were replaced by oncoming mercs from hgdep and sent to bndep. Cool man.

SBS8533C SG

There are no b57s that ever being converted into a CAC. Its very last use of the b57s were from BBDEP before its exportation to Ireland in 1995.

SBS8533C SG

Seriously, I never see the BF177s before. Apart from the front design, the rest follows the HT238/228 or the RK176???

Thanks for those info on Sembawang routes. Some of the roads have long cease to exist.

Ok, routes on Hougang Central/South and Punggol, please. Was service 86 in 1977 under Tampines or Hougang???

Thanks for all the answers, although not all.

Appreciated! :)

Its front design of the BF177s do not follow the same as the other Hino buses, apart from its chassis,

Service 86 of 1977 (Tampines Way to Shenton Way) is under Hougang. Tampines Way is now part of Hougang Ave 3, to avoid confusion between Hougang new town and Tampines new town. Will post up the Hougang & Punggol ones later

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