SBS Transit Bus Service 138 is a trunk route running from Ang Mo Kio and looping at Mandai Lake Road (Singapore Zoo), via Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, 6 and 5, Upper Thomson and Mandai Road.
↺ Singapore Zoo (Loop)
Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route | Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange ↺ Mandai Lake Road (Loop) | |||||||||||
Passes Through | Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, Upp Thomson Rd, Mandai Rd | |||||||||||
Route Length | 27.7 km | |||||||||||
Travelling Time | 80 mins | |||||||||||
Operator Information | ||||||||||||
BCM Route Package | Seletar Bus Package | |||||||||||
Current Operator | SBS Transit Ltd | |||||||||||
Current Depot | Seletar Bus Depot (SEDEP) | |||||||||||
Current Fleet | Single-deck buses | |||||||||||
Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
Departure Times from Ang Mo Kio |
Daily | |||||||||||
06:00 – 23:45 | ||||||||||||
Departure Times from Mandai Lake Rd (S’pore Zoo) |
Daily | |||||||||||
06:38 – 00:18 | ||||||||||||
Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
Loop Service | 6:30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | ||||||||
Weekdays | 11 – 14 mins | 9 – 15 mins | 9 – 14 mins | 12 – 13 mins | ||||||||
Saturdays | 11 – 13 mins | 6 – 14 mins | 10 – 13 mins | 11 – 13 mins | ||||||||
Sundays / Public Holidays | 10 – 17 mins | 6 – 17 mins | 9 – 12 mins | 12 – 15 mins | ||||||||
Fare Information |
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Fare | Charges regular distance fares |
Service 138 connects Ang Mo Kio Town Centre with the Mandai region, serving Bird Paradise, Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Night Safari along Mandai Lake Road, as well as Mandai Crematorium & Columbarium and Upper Seletar Reservoir Park along Mandai Road. It also supplements bus connections for residents around Mandai, Springleaf and Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 to Ang Mo Kio Town Centre.
Recreational demand for this route to and from Mandai Lake Road is high from tourists and locals alike, and concentrated around the late mornings and evenings in tandem with opening hours of the various parks located in the Mandai Wildlife area.
During weekends and public holidays, more buses will be deployed to cater for higher demand. Short Trip Service 138A operates unidirectional trips from Ang Mo Kio to Mandai Lake Road in the mornings, and in the afternoon, reverse trips starting from Singapore Zoo to Ang Mo Kio Int are operated. In addition, additional trips to Springleaf MRT are operated as Short Trip Service 138C.
Landmarks Served:
- Ang Mo Kio Town Centre / AMK Hub
- Ang Mo Kio Public Library
- Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic
- Ang Mo Kio Town Garden (West)
- Yio Chu Kang Secondary School
- Springleaf Nature Park
- Upper Seletar Reservoir Park
- Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium
- Mandai MRT / Bus Depot
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Bird Paradise / Singapore Zoo / River Wonders / Night Safari
MRT Stations Served:
- NS16 Ang Mo Kio
- TE4 Springleaf
Special Departures:
- Mandai Lake Rd (S’pore Zoo) → Ang Mo Kio Int
Saturdays: 14:59, 15:31, 16:04, 16:24, 16:55, 17:05, 17:45, 18:05, 18:15, 18:36 & 18:57
Sundays / Public Holidays: 15:07, 15:28, 15:59, 16:09, 16:31, 16:41, 17:22, 17:33, 17:56, 18:05 & 18:15 - Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 (Blk 604) → Ang Mo Kio Int
Weekdays: 06:38, 06:47, 06:56, 07:11, 07:24, 07:36, 07:48, 08:07 & 08:26
Saturdays: 06:38, 07:07 & 07:24
Short Trip Services:
- Service 138A: Ang Mo Kio Int → Mandai Lake Road (S’pore Zoo)
Saturdays: 08:32 – 12:13
Sundays / Public Holidays: 08:26 – 12:29 - Service 138A: Upp Thomson Rd (Springleaf Stn Exit 3) → Mandai Lake Road (S’pore Zoo)
Weekdays: 07:09 & 07:55 - Service 138B: Ang Mo Kio Int → Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 (Opp Blk 604)
Weekdays: 18:18 – 19:56 - Service 138C: Mandai Lake Road (S’pore Zoo) → Upper Thomson Road (Springleaf Stn Exit 2)
Saturdays: 14:50 – 19:08
Sundays / Public Holidays: 14:47 – 18:52
Gallery:
Operator History:
- 1994 – 2001: Singapore Bus Services Ltd
- 2001 – Present: SBS Transit Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2030 under the Seletar Bus Package.
History:
- 1994 (26 Apr): Introduced between Yio Chu Kang Ter and Mandai Lake Rd (Loop)
- 1994 (01 Oct): Amended to Ang Mo Kio Int
- 1996: Serves new bus stop outside Jubilee along Ang Mo Kio Ave 8
- 1997: Serves new bus stop before Mandai Rd along Mandai Lake Rd
- 2002 (24 Mar): Amended to Ang Mo Kio Temp Int and amended to ply Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 and Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
- 2007 (28 Apr): Amended to Ang Mo Kio Integrated Transport Hub
- 2011 (26 Sep): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus service (WAB)
- 2018 (14 Oct): Skips a pair of abolished bus stops before and after Singapore Zoo along Mandai Lake Rd
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Service 138 should be deployed MAN A22s to inform passengers (tourists specifically) when the Singapore Zoological Bus Stop has been reached and also to remind elderly locals from Singapore and possibly Malaysia that the have reached the Bus Stop closest to Bandai Crematorium and Columbarium
Hi Regan,
MAN A22s are not the only ones with speakers, the Citaros have too! So deploying A22s on this route is redundant. Furthermore, Citaros have a more luxurious look than A22s. Furthermore, a A22 once cameoed on the route, if you never catch it then…
Cheers,
SG5835M
The A22 cameo was once a 927 perm that went over to AMDEP to serve YIS route group.
I think MAN A22 debuted on svc 138, I didnt see any Citaro on svc 138 (Caught a KUB once on svc 138)