History of Bukit Timah Bus Services

Introduction:

Bukit Timah is a residential estate located in the north-western region of Singapore, spanning from Bukit Panjang to Newton. It has been served by numerous trunk services along Upper Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road / Bukit Timah Road since its development, which continue to cater to both public and private residential developments located sparsely across the area today.

This article will only cover the evolution of bus services that serve the public housing developments in Bukit Timah, which are located in the small Toh Yi estate along Jalan Jurong Kechil and Toh Yi Drive. When the upcoming public housing projects at the former Turf City are completed in the near future, the scope of this article will also be expanded to cover the history of bus services that serve the new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.

Due to the small size of the public housing estate in Bukit Timah, no specific town centre have been planned for to cater to the public transport needs of its residents, apart from the opening of Beauty World MRT station along the Downtown Line (DTL) in 2015. However, a bus interchange has been proposed for development as part of The Reserve Residences in the near future.

Bus Services in Bukit Timah (since 1971):

While the public housing estate in Toh Yi was only developed in 1988, the bus services operating around its vicinity have been operational for over a decade along major roads like Bukit Timah Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road, which provide connections to the northern and City areas of Singapore.

After the bus reorganisation exercise of 1971, a roadside bus terminus was opened near the former Ewart Circus located near the junction of Bukit Timah Link and Upper Bukit Timah Road, catering to several bus services operated by the United Bus Company (UBC). Many of its bus services were later further extended northwards to the developing residential towns of Bukit Panjang and Woodlands.

Moreover, with the opening of bus interchanges in the nearby towns Clementi, Jurong East and Bukit Batok in the 1980s, Bukit Timah Bus Terminal became a less prominent transfer point for bus services in the region, which subsequently led to its eventual closure in 1988, around the time when Toh Yi public housing estate was completed.

Summary of Post-Amendment Bus Routes in Bukit Timah (as of 31 Jul 1988):

• 5: Bukit Panjang – Bukit Timah – Buona Vista – Havelock Road – Bugis – Lorong 1 Geylang
• 61: Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Buona Vista – World Trade Centre – Chinatown/Bugis – MacPherson
• 75: Marina Centre – Shenton Way – Holland Road – Bukit Timah – Bukit Panjang – Choa Chu Kang
• 122: Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Buona Vista – River Valley Road – Bugis – St. Michael’s
• 157: Jurong – Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Toa Payoh
• 170: Queen Street – Little India – Bukit Timah – Woodlands – Johor Bahru (Malaysia)
• 171: Queen Street – Orchard Road – Bukit Timah – Mandai Road – Yishun
• 172: Shenton Way – Little India – Bukit Timah – Choa Chu Kang Road – Lim Chu Kang
• 173: New Bridge Road – Orchard Road – Bukit Timah – Princess Elizabeth
• 174: NTI – Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Orchard Road – New Bridge Road
• 175: Tuas – Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Little India – Shenton Way
• 179: Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Orchard Road – New Bridge Road
• 180: World Trade Centre – Clemenceau Avenue – Bukit Timah – Marsiling
• 181: Crawford Street – Chinatown – Jalan Bukit Merah – Queenstown – Bukit Timah – Woodlands
• 182: New Bridge Road – Orchard Road – Bukit Timah – Woodlands
• 185: Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Queensway – Havelock Road – Shenton Way
• 193: Princess Elizabeth – Bukit Timah – Queensway – Havelock Road – Shenton Way
• 200: Kent Ridge – South Buona Vista Road – Buona Vista – Jalan Anak Bukit (Loop)
• 201: Kent Ridge – Clementi Road – Jalan Anak Bukit (Loop)
• 202: Buona Vista – Clementi Road – Jalan Anak Bukit (Loop)
• 205: Clementi – Toh Tuck Road – Jalan Anak Bukit (Loop)
• 852: Jurong – Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah – Ang Mo Kio – Yishun

More detailed information for operational bus services can be found in the Historical Routes of Bus Services article.

Future Bus Service Developments in Bukit Timah (1988 – Present)

With the discontinuation of Bus Service 177, Bukit Timah Bus Terminal was permanently closed in 1988, replaced by new bus terminals located in Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang.

Beauty World Bus Interchange has been proposed as part of an integrated development (The Reserve Residences) for Bukit Timah, and is expected to serve the neighbouring Toh Yi public housing estate and the future public housing developments at the site of the former Turf City.

Gallery:

Chronological History of Bukit Timah Bus Services:

• 1971 (11 Apr):
  • Launch of 14 new services in Bukit Timah:
    • 170 between Queen St & Johor Bahru (Malaysia) via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 171 between Queen St & Sembawang Rd via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 172 between Prince Edward Rd & Lim Chu Kang Rd via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 173 between New Bridge Rd & Princess Elizabeth via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 174 between Nanyang University & New Bridge Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil & Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 175 between Upp Jurong Rd & New Bridge Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil & Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 176 between Corporation Dr & Prince Edward Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil & Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 180 to Prince Edward Rd
    • 180A to Stamford Rd
    • 181 to C’wealth Ave
    • 182 to Jln Besi
    • 200 to Sth Buona Vista Rd
    • 201 to Pasir Panjang Rd
    • 207 between Toh Tuck Rd & Bukit Timah Bus Depot via Upp Bt Timah Rd & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1971 (9 May): Discontinuation of Bus Service 180A
• 1971 (22 Jun): Launch of Bus Service 157 between Lor 1 Toa Payoh & Jln Samulun via Upp Bt Timah Rd & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1971 (4 Nov): Route extension for Bus Service 193 to Bukit Timah
• 1971 (8 Nov): Route extension for Bus Service 181 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1971: Route extension for Bus Service 5 to Bukit Timah
• 1971: Route extension for Bus Service 200 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1974 (3 Feb):
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 176 to Crawford St via Upp Ayer Rajah Rd & Ayer Rajah Rd
  • Launch of Bus Service 178 between Corporation Dr & Upp Bt Timah Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil
  • Launch of Bus Service 179 between Lim Chu Kang Rd & Bukit Timah
  • Route extension for Bus Service 180 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 207, with the route extension for Bus Service 201 to Toh Tuck Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1975 (28 Jul): Launch of Blue Arrow Bus Service 306 between Eng Kong Pk & Robinson Rd
• 1976 (6 Jun): Route extension for Bus Service 182 to Admiralty Rd
• 1976: Route extension for Bus Service 193 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1978 (1 Jun): Route amendment for Bus Service 178 to ply Jurong Rd instead of Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1978 (27 Nov):
  • Launch of Bus Service 177 to Choa Chu Kang Rd End
  • Launch of Bus Service 202 to Commonwealth Ave on weekdays & Saturdays
• 1979 (30 Dec):
  • Route amendment for Bus Services 5 & 202 to ply Jln Anak Bt when departing Bukit Timah Bus Terminal
  • Route amendment for Bus Services 157, 174, 175, 201 & 306 to ply Upp Bt Timah Rd, Bt Timah Lk & Jln Anak Bt towards Dunearn Rd / Clementi Rd
  • Route amendment for Bus Services 170, 171, 172, 173, 180, 181, 182, 193 & 200 to ply Jln Anak Bt towards Dunearn Rd
  • Route amendment for Bus Services 177 & 179 to ply Jln Anak Bt towards Bukit Timah Bus Terminal
• 1980 (14 Dec): Route cutback for Bus Service 193 to Princess Elizabeth via Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1981 (25 May): Launch of Bus Service 205 between Clementi & Jln Anak Bt
• 1981 (15 Nov): Route cutback for Bus Service 200 to loop at Jln Anak Bt from Kent Ridge
• 1983 (27 Nov): Discontinuation of Bus Service 179
• 1985 (6 Jan): Route extension for Bus Service 122 to Bukit Batok via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1985 (18 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 179 between Bukit Batok & New Bridge Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil & Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1985 (8 Dec): Launch of Bus Service 852 between Yishun Ctrl & Jurong via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt
• 1986 (1 Jun): Route extension for Bus Service 5 to Bukit Panjang
• 1987 (19 Apr): Route extension for Bus Service 61 to Bukit Batok via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1988 (28 Feb): Launch of alternate Bus Service 181# between Woodlands & Crawford St via Marina Ctr on Sundays & Public Holidays
• 1988 (11 Jul): Discontinuation of Blue Arrow Bus Service 306
• 1988 (31 Jul):
  • Route extension for Bus Service 75 to Choa Chu Kang via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 177 & closure of Bukit Timah Bus Terminal
  • Launch of Bus Service 185 between Choa Chu Kang & Shenton Way via Jln Jurong Kechil & Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 202 to loop at Jln Anak Bt from Buona Vista
• 1989 (5 Nov): Route cutback for Bus Service 175 to Bukit Batok
• 1989 (17 Dec): Launch of Bus Service 66 between Tampines & Jurong East via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1990 (11 Mar): Route cutback for Bus Service 173 to loop at Jln Anak Bt from Bukit Batok
• 1990 (16 Dec): Discontinuation of Bus Service 179
• 1991 (6 Jan): Discontinuation of Bus Service 180
• 1991 (7 Apr): Discontinuation of Bus Service 205, with the route extension for Bus Service 173 to Clementi via Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1991 (28 Apr):
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 122 to Buona Vista
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 193
• 1991 (26 May):
  • Launch of Bus Service 67 between Tampines & Choa Chu Kang via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 172 to loop at Jln Anak Bt from Lim Chu Kang
• 1993 (3 Jan): Route cutback for Bus Service 185 to loop at Jln Anak Bt from Choa Chu Kang
• 1993 (4 Apr): Discontinuation of Bus Service 201
• 1993 (5 Dec):
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 200 to loop at Holland Dr
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 202
• 1994 (3 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 184 between Bukit Panjang & Clementi MRT via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt
• 1996 (10 Mar): Discontinuation of Bus Service 182
• 1996: Route extension for Bus Service 77 to Bukit Batok via Upp Bt Timah Rd/Jln Anak Bt & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 1998 (27 Dec):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 181/181#
  • Launch of Bus Service 961/961# between Woodlands & Lor 1 Geylang via Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1999 (26 Dec):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 5
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 172 to Choa Chu Kang
• 2000 (20 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 970 between Bukit Panjang & Shenton Way via Jln Jurong Kechil & Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 2001 (5 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 989 between Choa Chu Kang & Changi Airport via Jln Jurong Kechil & Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 2003 (27 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 985 between Choa Chu Kang & Lor 1 Geylang via Jln Jurong Kechil & Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd, with the integration of Bus Services 185 & 989
• 2005 (28 Mar): Launch of peak hour Fast Forward Bus Service 174e between Boon Lay & Nth Bridge Rd via Jln Jurong Kechil
• 2005 (23 Oct): Launch of Bus Service 52 between Bishan & Jurong East via Jln Anak Bt/Upp Bt Timah Rd & Jln Jurong Kechil
• 2006 (15 Oct): Launch of alternate Bus Service 985W between Choa Chu Kang & Lor 1 Geylang via Bt Batok Rd & Bt Batok West Ave 7
• 2007 (14 Oct): Discontinuation of alternate Bus Service 985W
• 2014 (14 Dec): Launch of Bus Service 41 between Jurong East & Jln Anak Bt under BSEP
• 2015 (27 Dec): Route amendment for Bus Service 173 to ply southbound Upp Bt Timah Rd instead of Jln Anak Bt
• 2019 (8 Sep): Re-numbering of alternate Bus Service 961# to 961M
• 2020 (30 Aug): Route cutback for Bus Service 171 to loop at Bukit Panjang MRT/LRT from Yishun
• 2021 (11 Apr): Route amendment for Bus Services 67, 75 & 170 to ply southbound Upp Bt Timah Rd instead of Jln Anak Bt
• 2021 (12 Dec): Route cutback for Bus Service 66 to loop at southbound Upp Bt Timah Rd from Jurong East
• 2024 (21 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 871 between Tengah & Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 2025 (17 Nov): Launch of peak hour Bus Service 452 between Beauty World Stn & Tengah under BCEP

External Links & References:

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