The Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, or BCEP for short, was launched on 30 July 2024 by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The BCEP will allocate an additional $900 million from 2024 to 2032, for the purchase of new buses, infrastructural improvements, and to fund operating cost of new bus services.
Initiatives under BCEP for Bus Services are:
- Improvement to bus services to address changing travel patterns
- Introduction of more peak-hour express bus services
- Speeding up the introduction of new bus services in new estates
- Introduction of “express feeder” bus services
BCEP – Bus Services
Bus Service Improvements
Under the BCEP, bus services will be improved in response of changing travel patterns through measures such as:
- Adding more trips
- Adjusting routes
- Introduction of new bus services
An example cited by LTA is the upcoming extension of an existing bus service to connect residents in Toa Payoh East to Caldecott MRT Station by the end of 2024.
Peak-hour Express Bus Services
More peak-hour express bus services, such as City Direct Services, will be introduced under the BCEP to provide an alternative option for residents to complement busier MRT lines.
An example cited by LTA is an upcoming new City Direct Service in Punggol from around October 2024.
New Bus Services in New Estates
Under the BCEP, early batches of residents who moved into new estates will be better served by the expedited introduction of new bus services in anticipation of growing demand.
An example cited by LTA is the aim of introducing a new bus service connecting residents in new and upcoming BTO developments in Yishun East to nearby Khatib MRT station by end September 2024. This was later announced to be Service 861 commencing service on 15 September 2024.
Express Feeder Bus Services
A new concept, “express feeder” bus services, will be launched under the BCEP to enhance connectivity for residents in estates with areas located farther away from major transport nodes and town centres. These services will take more direct routes with fewer intermediate stops compared to regular feeder bus services, reducing residents’ travel time for the first and last mile of their journeys from major transport nodes.
An example cited by LTA is an upcoming bus service in Tampines North, which will provide a more direct connection for residents in Tampines North to Tampines MRT station in December 2024.
Rollout
| S/N | Date | Bus Service | Category |
| 1 | 15 Sep 2024 | Bus Service 861 | New Bus Services in New Estates (Yishun East) |
| – | Short Trip Service 861A |
BSEP 2.0. My predictions
Bus 808: Proud of this idea from last year. Now it can be Chencharu -> Yishun Ave 8. Can also be an express Feeder 808e…?
(It’s possible another service may be introduced from Yishun)
Bus 238: Extended to serve Braddell & Caldecott MRT via Lor 1 TPY.
Other than that… no idea. But I am very excited that this would begin a whole new age of new bus services, so that LTA can FINALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES.
What Punggol really deserves is a merger of 82 and 107.
Tengah also needs a City Direct service, but not from the bus station. Maybe once the town is slightly more developed we will see it.
They should add an I word between Bus and Connectivity.
Bus
Improved
Connectivity
Enhancement
Programme
What a waste that they never call it BICEP. 😊
For the Yishun part there should be a new service operated by Tower Transit Known as service 861 which will run from Yishun ITH and loop at Nee Soon Road, 861 will also merge in with service 805 which means 805 could be withdrawn. Service 861 runs from Yishun and loops along Nee Soon Road passing via Yishun Avenue 4, Ring Road, Yishun Avenue 1 (serves 4 new stops to connect to future Chencharu Estate), Mandai Avenue & Road, Upper Seletar Reservoir, Springleaf MRT/Road & Nee Soon Road.
A few thoughts and ideas:
– a new service between toa payoh east and caldecott mrt. That will probably be service 239, formed by merging 230 & 235 into a dual loop service.
– a new city direct from punggol. It would be great if this city direct serves punggol west or northshore and orchard. Predict number would be 650. Tengah also needs a city direct number 658
– new service serving Yishun east and khatib would also most likely be a dual loop service. 801 would probably be converted into a dual loop 813.
– express feeder from tampines north to tampines, my guess is 298e, a variant of 298 which loops at tampines int
Anyways, cant wait to see what bcep has in store for us. This seems like BSEP V2
I think 298e will be launched so that on the eve of public holidays its operating hours can be extended as the southern Tampines side can be served by 293. Technically svc 298 is a townlink style feeder so basically only the so called north loop will have extended operating hours on eves of public holidays.