Serangoon Bus Interchange

Serangoon Bus Interchange is an Integrated Transport Hub (ITH) located at Serangoon Central, serving residential areas around Serangoon, Kovan and Serangoon Gardens.

The interchange is the fifth air-conditioned bus interchange in Singapore, integrated within the Nex shopping mall and seamlessly connected to Serangoon MRT station. Nearby public amenities include the Braddell Heights Community Hub, Braddell Heights CC and Serangoon Stadium.

Currently, SBS Transit is the anchor operator of Serangoon Bus Interchange. With the rollout of the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), the future operator of the Serangoon – Eunos Bus Package will take over as anchor operator of this interchange.

Details

The Interchange:

Serangoon Bus Interchange is a bus station located in the residential town of Serangoon. Connecting with Serangoon MRT station along the North East MRT Line and the Circle MRT Line, the interchange is a transport node for commuters heading in and out of town, allowing for convenient transfers between the rail network and the many bus services at the interchange.

Opened in September 2011, Serangoon Bus Interchange was the fourth Integrated Transport Hub (ITH) to be opened in Singapore, after Toa Payoh in May 2002, Sengkang in January 2003, Ang Mo Kio in April 2007 and Boon Lay in December 2009. The interchange is integrated within the Nex shopping mall, with entrances leading into the underground Serangoon MRT station, hence combining retail and transportation facilities under one roof.

The interchange has a single vehicular concourse area with a bus park in the middle. A combined vehicular entrance/exit leads to a traffic light junction with Serangoon Avenue 2.

The passenger concourse features three sawtooth boarding berths and a single linear alighting berth (with space for 2 buses). A single pedestrian entrance/exits leads to Serangoon Avenue 2, and more entrance/exits are located within the interchange, leading to retail portions of the Nex shopping mall. While situated on the same level as Serangoon Avenue 2, the interchange is in fact on Basement 2 of Nex, as the building sits on a slope.

Historical Background

The need for a bus interchange at Serangoon arose in the mid-1980s with the development of Serangoon New Town. Previously, the main terminating point for buses was the overcrowded Serangoon Gardens Bus Terminal serving the private housing estate with Services 72, 100, 101, 104, 106, 107, 217 and 315 terminating there. As the New Town expanded, a temporary roadside Serangoon Avenue 3 Bus Terminal commenced operations in December 1985 with the introduction of Service 312.

On 13th March 1988, Serangoon Bus Interchange opened along Serangoon Central, taking over operations from the previous two terminals. The interchange was built underneath a multi-storey carpark (Block 264), similar in design to Bishan and Bukit Batok bus interchanges. The spacious compound had both end-on berths at the East side and sawtooth berths (with a bus park) at the West side. Entrance and exit was located along Serangoon Ctrl.

When the Nex shopping mall opened in November 2010, the old bus interchange continued to operate until it was relocated to the new interchange on 3rd September 2011. The air-conditioned interchange is located on the bottom floor of the mall and provides easy connection to Serangoon MRT. It also incorporates glass walls facing the bus bays to allow passengers to easily see when the bus is arriving.

Bus services:

Serangoon has a history of four feeder services: Service 312, 315, 317 and 318. Service 312, which served Serangoon Avenue 3 and Upper Serangoon Rad, was withdrawn in 1992. Service 318 was merged with Service 315 in 1989 and withdrawn. Services 315 and 317 continue to operate today.

The shift to the new Serangoon Interchange brought about many changes in bus routes. Services 100, 101, 103, 105, 109, 158, 315 and 317 were relocated to the new bus interchange, while two existing services, 81 and 82, were amended to loop at Serangoon Central from Tampines and Punggol Interchange respectively, as the small bus interchange could not handle too many buses.

Interchange facilities:

• Passenger Service Office – SBS Transit
• Top Up Kiosk
• Drivers lounge
• NTWU Canteen
• Boarding and alighting berths
• Information boards & Service guide racks
• Bus departure timing screens
• Retail outlets
• Toilets

Bus Services:

Berth Allocation:

Gallery:

For more pictures, refer to Serangoon Bus Interchange: Gallery

External Links & References:

• Interchanges and Terminals – SBS Transit

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