Bulim Bus Depot

Bulim Bus Depot is a bus depot along Bulim Avenue and Jurong West Avenue 2. The depot is presently occupied by Tower Transit Singapore under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), as the successful tenderer of the Bulim Bus Package.

SMRT Buses also utilises Bulim Bus Depot as a Tenant Operator.

General Information
Name Bulim Bus Depot
Address 21 Bulim Drive, Singapore 648170
Depot Information
Anchor Operator Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
Tenant Operator SMRT Buses Ltd
BCM Route Package Bulim Bus Package
Type Main bus depot with maintenance facilities, ancillary offices, and bus park
Catchment Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Clementi

Bulim Bus Depot was the first depot that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) had developed and funded, in contrast to previous bus depots which were owned by bus operators. As part of enhanced structural assistance provided by the Government to the bus industry (as announced in the Committee of Supply (COS) 2012), new bus depots would be constructed with government funds to accommodate additional buses that are being introduced over the years, as the overall bus capacity increases under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP).

Contract RD258 for the design and construction of Bulim Depot was awarded to KTC Civil Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd at S$87.5 million. The depot was designed to park and maintain 550 buses. Construction was completed in mid-2015.

Operational History:

Whilst the main building of Bulim Depot was still under construction, the completed bus park of Bulim Depot was opened on 17 August 2014 for overnight parking of SMRT Buses, making SMRT Buses Ltd the first operator to occupy Bulim Depot. The bus park relieved overcrowding at Kranji Depot and the extensive use of overnight parking at its interchanges. However, SMRT buses based at Bulim have their maintenance and refuelling carried out at Kranji Depot. A regular employee shuttle service to Bukit Batok Interchange (and limited departures from Choa Chu Kang) brought about increased accessibility for SMRT staff. The depot exit was converted to a two-way access road leading from Bulim Ave to the bus park within the depot.

The completed bus depot was handed over to new bus operator Tower Transit Singapore on 31 Jul 2015, who was awarded the tender to operate the Bulim Bus Package. As part of the transitioning into the Bus Contracting Model, the early handover allowed sufficient time for the new Operator to build up its resources, such as recruitment and training of bus captains and technicians, for a smooth transition before the implementation of the first tranche of bus services.

Tower Transit’s Engineering Centre of Excellence is also situated at Bulim Depot, providing professional accreditation and international qualifications for vehicle technicians in the automotive industry. It offers diplomas from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and is the only place outside the UK where vehicle technicians can be assessed for an irtec licence.

Operator History:
  • Aug 2014 – 30 Jul 2015: SMRT Buses Ltd
  • 31 Jul 2015 onwards: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd

 


Electric Bus Charging Infrastructure

As part of the 60 Electric Buses that LTA procured in 2018, NARI has installed 14 charging piles at Bulim Bus Depot, along with a new shelter to facilitate charging for the Yutong E12 & E12DD buses.

 

Private Bus Operator Usage Trial

As part of a six month small-scale trial, private bus operators Tong Tar Transport & Leisure Frontier were allowed to use the electric vehicle chargers in Bulim Bus Depot from February 2024 & End-March 2024 respectively to charge their buses when they are not used by the public bus operators.


Bus Contracting Model (BCM)

Under the BCM, Bulim Bus Depot was bundled together with the Bulim Bus Package. These routes operate mainly from Bukit BatokJurong East and Clementi Bus Interchanges, with the Depot handling the operations of all buses operating on these routes.

As part of Tower Transit’s successful bid for Contract PT217: Bus Contracting – Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages, bus services under these bus packages may be garaged at either Bulim Bus Depot or Mandai Bus Depot.


Bus Models

Tower Transit currently houses the following models of buses in Bulim Bus Depot:

Single Deck Buses
Double Decker Buses

Bulim Bus Depot Open House

Tower Transit held an Open House for the Bulim Depot on Sunday, 6 December 2015. The event provided a platform for Tower Transit Singapore to showcase its new depot, while educating the public on what to expect when the BCM came into effect in the following next year. In addition, static display buses were open to public viewing, and job-seekers could sign up for job opportunities with Tower Transit.

Read our main article on the Open House, A Bulim Carnival Day.


Gallery:

Gallery: (Year 2014 / SMRT use)

SMRT previously used Bulim Bus Park for the overnight parking of buses, while the rest of Bulim Bus Depot buildings were still under construction.

Depot Facilities:

Photos taken during the Bulim Depot open house. Check out A Bulim Bus Carnival Day for more photos.

Artist’s Impression:

Artist's Impression, image from KTC group
Image from KTC group
Image from KTC group
Image from KTC group

External Links & References:

Back to Bus Depots and Bus Parks
Back to Bus Articles

5 thoughts on “Bulim Bus Depot

  • 22 January 2022 at 7:16 AM
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    Several SMRT Woodlands BCs based at Seletar while Kranji at Bulim.
    As for now part of 178 & 187 KJ side park Bulim.
    Several 61 buses also will be park at Seletar with WL taking a few duties.67 suspected WL BC operated from Seletar side just like 75 & 985.

    For now KJ full svc like 61,172,184,983 & 991 park at Bulim with full fleets.985 i think 15 buses park at Kranji while remaining at Seletar.

    Reply
  • 10 October 2021 at 9:33 PM
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    Current SMRT service park here
    75:Majority fleets(19 out of 24)
    172:All fleets(20)
    184:All fleets(18)
    307:All fleets(14)
    927:Majority(5 out of 7)
    983:All fleets(15)
    985:All fleets(21)
    I don’t understand why 75,184,307 & 927 must be here?
    188 go to Woodlands Bus Park?
    They can simply make 180 & 188 park here better what..75 & 184 can park at Wlbp joining 970 & 972.

    Reply
  • 13 May 2020 at 1:58 AM
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    Hopefully Tower Transit Singapore will retain the bus package and also win either Sembawang-Yishun or Loyang package too.I do hope SMRT transfer over Euro VI A22 & A95 for service 944 & 991.

    Reply
  • 18 December 2019 at 9:14 PM
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    Bulim depot capacity decrease from 550 lots to 540 because of electric bus charger that takes 10 lots.

    Reply
  • 20 May 2018 at 5:56 AM
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    Predict this depot will temporarily replace Soon Lee waiting for refurbishment and reinstated while Bulim package will move to Tengah instead.

    Reply

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