Let's now talk about the Hougang services first then to Punggol
ones.
In 1978, the first few HDB blocks were completed at Tampines Way
(the current Hougang Ave 3 stretch). With the completion of the
estate, a new service 86 was introduced from Tampines Way to
shenton way. It was the first pioneered service that uses the first
batch of Layland Atlantean DDs with BACO and Metsec body.
Before Hougang New Town was developed, there were two terminals
situated at Upp Serangoon Rd. They were situated at 10.5km of Upp
Seragoon Rd and the another at the end of Upp Serangoon Rd. (Do not
confuse Upp Serangoon Rd as Serangoon New Town as Upp Serangoon Rd
runs through Hougang)
The Upp Serangoon Rd Ter at 10.5km has:
85 - To Sims Ave (loop)
111 - To C'waelth Ave (via Orchard Blvd)
112 - To C'wealth Ave (via Tiong Barhu Rd)
The Upp Serangoon Rd Ter at road end has:
136 - To Ang Mo Kio
156 - To Toa Payoh
In the early 1980s, the Hougang New Town began construction and its
developing until the 1990s, together with the first gen of HDB
blocks at Tampines Way. With this new satellite town developing,
another new bus interchange was planned at Hougang St 21. In 1983,
existing services from Upp Serangoon Rd Ter at 10.5km (except 112
which was withdrawn) began to termiante at the new Hougang Bus
Interchange at Hougang St 21. Other services like 97 to Jurong East
Central Ter were introduced as well as feeder services like 321,
323 and 329 that plies within the neighbourhood Hougang
areas.
However, the Upp Serangoon Rd Ter at road end, still continues to
operate, with 3 services, 84, 136 and 153. Service 156 was known to
have been withdrawn in the early 1980s.
- Services in Hougang Bus Int in 1985 -
85 - To Sims Ave
97 - To Jurong East Ter
111 - To Buona Vista
321 - To Upp Paya Lebar Rd (Loop)
[322 - To Hougang Ave 2 (Loop)] - introduced at late 1985
323 - To Hougang Ave 5/7 (Loop)
[327 - To Hougang Ave 7 (Loop)] - introduced at late 1985
329 - To Defu Ave 1 (Loop)
In fact, in addition to the existing feeders, more feeders were
planned, they were 326 and 328. 326 plys to Hougang Ave 6 and 328
plys to Hougang Ave 8. But there's only a minor change to 2
feeders, 323 and 329. Service 323 was actually an integration of
existing 323 and 329, it plys via Hougang Ave 5 and 7 (old 323
route) and Defu Ave 1 (old 329 route), instead of Tampines
Rd.
Service 54 was introduced as Hougang to Eunos service (a loop
service) in 1986. Its routrings were:
Hougang Int, Hougang St 21, Hougang Ave 1, Tampiens Rd, Hougang
Ave3, Eunos Link, Jln Eunos, Changi Rd, Jln Turi (Loop), Sims Ave,
Jln Eunos, Eunos Link, Hougang Ave 3, Tampines Rd, Hougang Ave 1,
Hougang St 21 and Hougang Int
And Service 54 was withdrawn in 1987. On the other hand, Service 51
was integrated with Service 54 for Hougang to Jln Eunos stretch,
thus Service 51 extends to Hougang Int.
Other significant changes
The first Aircon Service in Hougang was Service 118, which was
introduced to loop at Orchard Rd. This service was duplicated with
existing 111 and was withdrawn after 2 years of service
62 was extended to Hougang Int (St 21) with the introduction of 63
that will termiante at Rumah Tinggi ter.
74 was extended to Upp Serangoon Rd End Ter in late 1988.
97 was being amended to Jurong East Int when the interchange kicks
off operation in 1986.
111 was extended to Ghim Moh in the early 1990s.
132 was extended to Hougang Int (St 21) in the late 1980s.
147 was extended to Upp Serangoon Rd Ter in the early 1990s, with
the merger of Service 83.
151 was introduced as Hougang to Kent Ridge Ter service
153 was amended to serve Bt Merah Ctrl in 1992 instead of Henderson
Rd
322 was amended to ply along Hougang St 61 in 1986.
A new interchange was planned at Hougang Central. As the existing
bus interchange in Hougang St 21 does not have enough boarding
space to accomodate more services, the latter had to be terminated
at the new interchange instead. Upp Serangoon Rd End Ter was
acquired for future developments and services that terminate at the
terminal had no choice but have to re-amended all its
routings.
By end 1994, the Hougang Central Interchange was completed. All the
exising Upp Serangoon Rd End Ter services terminate at the
new int. The existing interchange in Hougang St 21 was renamed as
Hougang South Int, so as not to confuse between the 2 interchanges
bearing the same estate.
Service 97, 111 and 165 was also being amended to Hougang
Ctrl.
- Services at Hougang Ctrl Int -
74 - To Buona Vista
84 - To WTC
97 - To Jurong East
111 - To Ghim Moh
136 - To Ang Mo Kio
147 - To Clementi
153 - To Bt Merah
165 - To Clementi
325 - To Hougang St 51 (Loop)
- Services at Hougang South Int -
51 - To Jurong East
62 - To New Bridge Rd
132 - To Bt Merah
151 - To Kent Ridge
321 - To Upp Paya Lebar Rd (Loop)
322 - To Hougang St 61 (Loop)
323 - To Defu Ave 1 (Loop)
326 - To Hougang Ave 6 (Loop)
327 - To Hougang Ave 7 (Loop)
328 - To Hougang Ave 8 (Loop)
- Changes after 1994 -
27 - Extends to Hougang Ctrl Int on end 2002 running via
Buangkok.
51 - Amended to ply Pandan Gdns in 2002 and extends to Hougang Ctrl
int on 15 feb 2004 when the Hougang South int closed.
62 - Re-routed to form Punggol to Lor 1 Geylang loop svc under NEL
Rationalisation
80 - New Service between Tampines to Hougang Ctrl. It was
integrated with 72 and withdrawn. Service 72 covers the part of
service 80.
84 - Merged with 864 and withdrawn.
89 - Introduced in 1999 as Hougang to Cahngi Airport Cargo Cplx
loop svc
89e - FFw service introduced and operate during AM/PM peak hours.
Variant express service of 89.
97 - Services cutback to loop at Marina Centre due to NEL
Rationalisation.
107 - Service extended to Hougang Ctrl int due to NEL
Rationalisaion
111 - Service cutback to loop at Marina Centre due to NEL
Rationalsation.
112 - Service introduced from Hougang Ctrl Int to replace existing
322 and 327 due to the closure of Hougang South Int. This service
plys at Hougang St 21 in 2004.
113 - Service introduced from Hougang Ctrl Int to replace existing
321 and 326 due to the closure of Hougang South Int. This service
plys at Hougang St 21 in 2004.
115 - Service introduced as Hougang St 21 (Kovan City) to Hougang
Ave 3 Loop svc. It was planned to be withdrawn in 2008 but it was
saved from withdrawal.
116 - Service introduced as a trail service to Buangkok Green
Medical Parkon 3 Apr 2006. It was withdrawn on 15 aug 2006.
132 - Service was amended to Hougang Ctrl Int due to the closure of
the Hougang Sotuh Int
136 - Service was amended a numerous time. It became a loop service
at Hougang Ave 6, then to Upp Serangoon Rd > Punggol Place and
became 2-directional service (Ang Mo Kio - Punggol)
147 - Amended to ply alogn Prinsep St in 1999. THis service was
saved during the NEL Rationalisation. Initally it was slated for
withdrawal.
151 - Amended to ply along Kent Ridge Cres in 1994. It was amended
to Houagng Ctrl Int due to the closure of Hougang South Int
161 - Service introduced as Hougang Ctrl - Woodlands service. On 24
jun 2007, it plys at the 2 new bus stops along Woodlands Ave 2 (O/s
and opp Innova JC)
321 - Service withdrawn due to closure of Hougang South Int .
Integrated with 326 to form 113.
322 - Service extended to Hougang St 92 and no longer covers
Hougang St 61. Service withdrawn dur to closure of Hougang South
Int. Intergated with 327 to form 112
323 - Service withdrawn due to poor demand. It was known that this
service hardly have any passengers onboard prior to its
withdrawal.
325 - Services extended to serve Hougang St 91 and 93.
326 - Service withdrawn due to closure of Hougang South Int .
Integrated with 321 to form 113.
327 - Service withdrawn dur to closure of Hougang South Int.
Intergated with 322 to form 112
328 - Service withdrawn due to closure of Hougang South Int. Its
route extended to Serangoon Int & Buangkok Link and renumbers
to 101.
Express 501 - Introduced as an Express Service in 1997. One
directional Peak hour service from Hougang Ctrl Int to Penang Rd in
AM Peakl and Anson Rd to Hougang Ctrl Int in PM Peak. In 1999,
extended to ply along Marina Centre and converts to loops ervice.
In 2000, it was extended to Sengkang Int and withdrawn due to NEL
Rationalisaition.
Express 502 - Introduced as an Express Service in 1997. Between
Hougang Ctrl - Boon Lay. In 2000, it was extended to Sengkang Int
and shortened to Marina Centre in 2003 NEL Rationalisaiton.
Express 511 - Renumbered from 508. One directional peak service
from Hougang Ctrl - Penang Rd in AM peak and Outram Rd to Hougang
Ctrl in PM peak. WIthdrawn due to NEL Rationalisaion.
Express 512 - Introduced as One directional peak service from
Hougang Ctrl - Orchard Rd in AM peak and Moulmein Rd to Hougang
Ctrl in PM peak. WIthdrawn due to NEL Rationalisaion.
TIBS 860 - Introduced as Sengkang to Hougang South Int service in
1998. It was withdrawn, with the introduction of service 865.
On a side note:
During the construction of NEL, the Hougang Ctrl Int was splitted
into two areas in 1998. But it was reverted back in 2002 when the
NEL has completed its construction works.
Now let's move on to the Punggol services.
There was only 1 terminus at the Punggol Rd End, with initially has
a Punggol Bus service 1 that loops at Bartley Rd.
In the 1971 re-organisation period, this service falls under the
ABS Group, with 2 newly introduced service as part of the exercise.
They were Service 82 from Punggol to Prince Edward Rd and Service
83 from Punggol to New Bridge Rd/Neil Rd. These 2 dominated routes
of Punggol served well to the Punggol villagers as these 2 service
brought them to the city without having to transfer.
When the Prince Edward Rd Ter closed to make way for future
developments of the urban area, Service 82 was called at the
Shenton Way Ter instead and its routes were remain unchanged except
for some minor changes in the Hougang New Town areas.
Service 82 was amended to ply along Hougang Ave 2 and 10 instead of
ave 8
Service 83 was amended to ply along Hougang Ave 2, 8 and 10.
When service 147 was merged with Service 83, the service was
withdrawn. Part of the existing 83 route became part of Service
147. Thus, the only service in Punggol Rd Terminal was 82.
Service 82 was handed over to TIBS in 1995 and back to SBS in 1999,
without any route changes until the NEL Rationalisation in 2003.
Now with the shortening of Service 82 under this exercise, the
heydays of service 82 were gone and the passengers who frequented
82 from the North Eastern side (Hougang & Punggol) to Shenton
Way had to make other arrangements to get to their destination in
the city area, as the NEL is conveniently located.
In 2003, the new Punggol Temp Int was opened, with the conjunction
of the NEL MRT and the NEL Rationalisation Exercise
3 - Service extended to Punggol loop service and subsequently
amended to Punggol Int
34 - Service introduced on 31 Jul 2005, as Punggol - Changi Aitport
service
43 - Service introduced on 23 Oct 2005, as Punggol - Upp east coast
sercice
62 - Service re-routed to form Punggol to Lor 1 Geylang (Loop), in
addition to the NEL Rationalisaion
83 - Service introduced as Sengkang to Punggol Field (loop), it was
subsequently amended around the Punggol area and eventually
termiantes at Punggol Int
84 - Service introduced as a temporary service from Punggol -
Punggol East (Loop). It was withdrawn on 12 MAr 2005, with the
opening of the Punggol LRT (East Loop).
85 - Service introduced as Punggol - Yishun from 1 Jan 2006.
136 - Service was amended to Punggol Int in 2003.
Great write up on the Hougang, Punggol bus service history.
I missed the heydays of Hougang South bus interchange. The
Hougang feeders all fully used Volvo B57s before changing to
Volvo B10M MK2 NACs then to Volvo Olympians 2 axles NACs to Volvo
B10M MK2 CACs.
Luckily 147 was saved from the NEL rationalisation, the demand
now is still high for this service, even with NEL. This shows that
bus services are still important despite MRT lines. Too bad many of
the services, 81, 82, 84, old 85, 97, 111, 501, 502, 511 and 512
are not so lucky. I missed the rides of double deckers along the
tunnels of CTE. :(
Anyway, the old estate along Tampines Way in the late 1970s
refers to BLK 1 to 25 along Hougang Ave 3, near Hougang CC???
Was there a bus terminal along Tampines Way for service 86 or
was it just a roadside bus stop???