SBS Transit is piloting Feeder Bus Service 261 as a ‘School-Friendly Public Bus Service’ in collaboration with Townsville Primary School. The trial ran from 9 May 2024 to 15 November 2024. In February 2025, SBS Transit announced in a Facebook Post that the trial is back for another year (2025).
The initiative is intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for children as young as six years old to learn to travel independently to and from school. Dedicated Bus Ambassadors, including some of the school’s parent volunteers, accompany students onboard these buses between Ang Mo Kio Interchange and Townsville Primary School, located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.
Dedicated Bus Ambassadors, including some of the school’s parent volunteers, accompany students on their journeys. They ensure smooth travel from Ang Mo Kio bus interchange to the bus stop opposite Townsville Primary School. The Ambassadors guide the children to the school gate, including assisting with road crossings, while the bus continues its regular route. After school, the Ambassadors also accompany the students on their return journey.
The trial service was reported as a success in the SBS Transit Annual Report 2024, with plans to expand this service to more schools.
Bus Ambassadors
In the mornings, Bus Ambassadors will board Bus Service 261 with students at Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange, ensure they alight at the correct stop, and escort them across the road to the school gate. These trips depart Ang Mo Kio Int at 6.58am, 7.02am, and 7.04am (as of 2025).
In the afternoons, ambassadors will walk students from the school gate to the bus stop across the road and accompany them on Service 261 back to the interchange. These trips depart Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 (Opp Townsville Pr Sch) at 1.35pm, 1.42pm and 1.49pm (as of 2025).
Bus ambassadors will be deployed on school days only.
Bus Wrap
3 Scania K230UB (Euro V) buses were wrapped with exterior advertisements promoting the school-friendly public bus service. These are:
- SBS5119K
- SBS5162J
- SBS5232R
References:
- SBS Transit Launches Singapore’s First School-friendly Public Bus Service To Ease School Bus Driver Crunch And Empower Young Students To Travel Independently – SBS Transit
- Trial in Ang Mo Kio helps Townsville Primary pupils travel to and from school on bus 261 – The Straits Times
- SBS Transit Facebook Post
- SBS Transit Annual Report 2024 (Pg 5)
Shld do the same with the following services:
– 42 (Opera Est Pri Sch)
– 181M (Corporation Pri Sch)
– 807B (Jiemin Pri Sch)
– 991A (Princess E Pri Sch)
These services either loop at primary schools or terminate at them.
how about 122?
yeah 122 serves queensway secondary school, Crescent girl’s school in the tanglin-queenstown region.