Singapore Airshow 2014 Shuttle Buses

The Singapore Airshow 2014 is held from 11th to 16th February. Back for its fourth installment, the biannual event since 2008 has relied on large numbers of shuttle buses to ferry visitors to and from Changi Exhibition Centre.

The Airshow is split into Trade Days (11th to 14th Feb) and Public Days (15th & 16th Feb). Trade days are open to invited guests only, while public days are open to those who bought tickets for the event.

SMRT Mercedes-Benz OC500LE and O405G deployed on the Airshow Shuttle
SMRT Mercedes-Benz OC500LE and O405G deployed on the Airshow Shuttle
Route Information
Route Singapore Expo ↔ Changi Exhibiton Centre
Passes Through — (Express)
Route Length Approximately 14.0km
Travelling Time 10 – 20mins (Depending on traffic conditions)
Operator Information
Current Operator SMRT Buses, Private Bus Operators
Current Depot Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot (AMDEP)
Kranji Bus Depot (KJDEP)
Woodlands Bus Depot
 (WLDEP)
Current Fleet Trade Days: Private Buses
Public Days: Majority of Bendy buses
Shifts / Fleet size Trade Days: About 10 – 20 buses
Public Days: About 100 buses
Departure Times from T1 Trade Days: 0730 – 1600
Public Days: 0730 – 1500
Departure Times from T2 Trade Days: 0800 – 1800
Public Days: 1330* – 1800
Frequency Direction 1 Direction 2
Subject to demand Subject to demand
Notes * On Public days, the first bus leaving Changi Exhibition Centre is usually brought forward

Operating History:

SMB29D on Airshow Shuttle 2012 (Trade Day)
SMB29D on Airshow Shuttle 2012 (Trade Day)
TIB1237K on Airshow Shuttle 2012 (Public Day)
TIB1237K on Airshow Shuttle 2012 (Public Day)
  • 2008 (19-24 Feb): Pasir Ris MRT Station ↔ Changi Exhibiton Centre
  • 2010 (2-7 Feb): Changi Airport Terminal 2/3 Coach Stand ↔ Changi Exhibiton Centre
  • 2012 (14-19 Feb): Changi Airport Terminal 2/3 Coach Stand ↔ Changi Exhibiton Centre
  • 2014 (11-16 Feb): Singapore Expo ↔ Changi Exhibiton Centre

The Singapore Airshow has historically been held over six days, with the first four days being trade days and the last two days (both weekends) being public days. During the event, the Airshow Shuttle would ferry guests between the exhibition venue and a nearby MRT station.

This year, Singapore Expo is being used as the boarding and alighting point for the Shuttle. Located near Expo MRT Station along the EWL, it is also served by SBS Transit Service 20 and more services along Upper Changi Road East.

The Airshow Shuttle is not wheelchair accessible.

Trade days: 

The Airshow Shuttle service is available to all trade attendees during the Trade Days (11 – 14 February 2014). The Shuttle bus fare of $8.00 per person per journey will be collected upon boarding, and seat availability is subject to a first-come-first-serve basis.

To board the Shuttle, passengers must present a valid trade day pass. The pass is not valid for public days. The boarding and alighting point is located at a bus stop along Changi South Avenue 1, opposite Yusen Logistics. It is currently served by Service 20.

Airshow Shuttle - Trade Day
Airshow Shuttle – Trade Day

Buses depart for Changi Exhibition Centre between 7:30am and 4:00pm. Return trips to Singapore Expo depart between 8:00am and 6:00pm.

Deployment:

SMRT Dennis Lance 245
SMRT Dennis Lance 245

Private coaches are deployed for the trade days, using buses from various private bus operators. This was in contrast with Singapore Airshow 2012, where SMRT handed all trade day shuttles using revenue service buses.

SMRT’s PA-plated Dennis Lance were among the private buses deployed on the trade day shuttles.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Public Days:

Visitors to the Airshow during the Public Days (15 & 16 February 2014) are encouraged to board the Airshow Shuttle at Singapore Expo Hall 7 for transfer to the show site. The Airshow Shuttle is available to public visitors with valid tickets, as well as valid pass holders only.

For the public, the admission ticket includes two rides on the Shuttle to and from Changi Exhibiton Centre. Security checks will be conducted at the shuttle bus boarding point for visitors taking the Airshow Shuttle Bus. A map of the boarding and alighting point can be viewed here.

Buses depart for Changi Exhibition Centre between 7:30am and 3:00pm. Return trips to Singapore Expo depart between 1:30pm and 6:00pm.

Fleet: During trade days, a fleet of SMRT wheelchair-accessible rigid buses will be deployed, however the shuttle remains inaccessible to wheelchair passengers. On public days, a majority or full fleet of articulated buses will be deployed.

Deployment (15 Feb):

Airshow Shuttle deployments for 15 Feb.
Airshow Shuttle deployments for 15 Feb.
Airshow Shuttle deployments for 16 Feb.
Airshow Shuttle deployments for 16 Feb.

Do note that list of standby buses are unconfirmed. SMB74Y and SMB75U were seen ferrying passengers-in-wheelchair (PIWs) to the exhibition venue in the morning, but reverted to regular shuttle service in the evening. Both Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs are running without fleet identification numbers.

The fleet of 15 & 16 Feb comprises of 105 units of Mercedes-Benz O405G articulated buses, along with two Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs. Among the articulated bus fleet, majority of them were Hispano Habits and Hispano Mk1s, with a minority of Hispano MkIIs. Volgren O405Gs were not deployed.

Observations: 

  • SMRT Dispatcher is stationed along Changi South Avenue 4, bus stop 96351 (Geoservices). Buses will park along Changi South Avenue 4 and Changi South Avenue 2 while waiting.
  • Carpark K beside The MAX Pavilion is used as a holding area for shuttle buses. It is not open to the public during Airshow Public days.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Route Information:

Direction 1 Direction 2
  • Changi Sth Ave 1
    B/S 96319 Opp Yusen Logistics
  • Changi South Ave 2 (express)
  • Changi South Ave 3 (express)
  • Singapore Expo Hall 7
  • Somapah Rd (express)
  • Upp Changi Rd East (express)
  • Xilin Ave (express)
  • Changi Coast Rd (express)
  • Aviation Pk Rd (express)
  • Changi Exhibition Ctr
  • Changi Exhibition Ctr
  • Aviation Pk Rd (express)
  • Changi Coast Rd (express)
  • Xilin Ave (express)
  • Changi Sth Ave 1
    B/S 96319 Opp Yusen Logistics
  • ECP (express)
  • PIE (express)
  • Changi South Ave 3 (express)
  • Changi Business Pk Vista (express)
  • Somapah Rd (express)
  • Upper Changi Rd East (express)
  • Xilin Ave (express)
  • Singapore Expo Foyer 1
    Between Halls 2 and 3

Green denotes roads plied during Trade Days.
Blue denotes roads plied during Public Days.

Airshow Shuttle Routes at a glance, with blue indicating forward and red indicating return directions respectively.
Airshow Shuttle Routes at a glance, with blue indicating forward and red indicating return directions respectively.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Gallery: 

SMRT Dispatch queue along Changi South Avenue 2
SMRT Dispatch queue along Changi South Avenue 2
Shuttle holding area at Singapore Expo Carpark K
Shuttle holding area at Singapore Expo Carpark K
Shuttle buses lining up to receive boarding passengers at Expo Hall 7
Shuttle buses lining up to receive passengers at Singapore Expo Hall 7
Shuttle buses leaving Singapore Expo with more buses in the background
Shuttle buses leaving for Changi Exhibition Centre

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Bus Enthusiasts:

Enthusiasts who are trying to photograph the shuttles may consider the following locations:

  • Changi South Avenue 2 & 4 (Dispatch point)
  • Changi South Avenue 3, junction with Changi Business Pk Vista (suitable for offsides in the afternoon; buses turn right into Changi Business Pk Vista)
  • Somapah Rd, Carpark K entrance. Buses enter and exit here (suitable for morning)
  • Somapah Rd, near Upp Changi Rd East. Variety of nearside and offside angles (suitable for afternoon)
  • Changi Coast Rd, near Tanah Merah Coast Rd. Variety of nearside and offside angles (suitable for any time of day, may be inconvenient to access)

Taking pictures near Singapore Expo Hall 7 is discouraged due to presence of security.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

External Links & References:

Back to Bus Services
Back to Bus Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *