SBS Transit Bus Service 139

SBS Transit Bus Service 139 is a trunk route running between Toa Payoh Int and Bukit Merah Int, passing through St. Michael’s Estate, Jalan Besar / Serangoon Road, Dhoby Ghaut, River Valley, Alexandra and Lengkok Bahru. A route variant (Service 139M) is also operated.

Note:

• Bus Service 139 towards both Bukit Merah and Toa Payoh duplicates along Jalan Bahagia. Check the bus destination before boarding.
  – Buses displaying the Red 139 Plate head towards Bukit Merah
  – Buses displaying the White 139 Plate head towards Toa Payoh

Technical Information
Route	Toa Payoh Bus Interchange ↔ Bukit Merah Bus Interchange
Passes Through	St. Michael’s Estate, McNair Road, Towner Road, Jalan Besar / Serangoon Road, Dhoby Ghaut, River Valley, Alexandra, Lengkok Bahru
Route Length	17.6 km (D1) | 17.0 km (D2)
Travelling Time	80 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package	Bishan – Toa Payoh Bus Package
Current Operator	SBS Transit Ltd
Current Depot	Braddell Bus Park (BRBP)
Current Fleet	12-metre Single Deck Bus – Scania K230UB 12-metre Double Deck Bus – Volvo B9TL
Departure Times from Toa Payoh	0530 – 0000 (Weekdays) 0540 – 0000 (Saturdays, Sundays/PHs)
Departure Times from Bukit Merah	0530 – 0000 (Daily)
Frequency	Direction 1	Direction 2
	0630-0830: 08 – 10 mins 0831-1659: 11 – 15 mins 1700-1900: 10 – 13 mins After 1900: 13 – 17 mins	0630-0830: 10 – 12 mins 0831-1659: 09 – 16 mins 1700-1900: 10 – 13 mins After 1900: 12 – 17 mins

Service 139 is a trunk route connecting the residential areas of Toa Payoh, St. Michael’s, Boon Keng and Bukit Merah with connections to the city areas of River Valley, Dhoby Ghaut, Little India and Farrer Park. Offering various unique route connections, demand is largely moderate throughout the day. Double-deckers were first added to the fleet in 2011.

The route receives considerable demand between Whampoa and Toa Payoh, as residents of St. Michael’s commute to nearby Toa Payoh Town Centre. The sector has been enhanced with a supplementary bus service, Service 139M, from 14 Sep 2014.

Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares.

MAVIS App Trial

In January 2019, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) launched a six-month Assistive Passenger Information System (APIS) trial for commuters with special needs using an app called MAVIS, short for Mobility Assistance for the Visually Impaired and Special users.

Under the initial trial, 3 buses were equipped with APIS and were deployed on Service 139 serving Enabling Village till end-April 2019, and thereafter redeployed to Service 141 serving Singapore Association Of The Visually Handicapped (SAVH).

During the Committee of Supply Debate 2020, it was announced that the trial would be expanded for 3 years to cover all buses deployed on Services 139 & 141, beginning from Q4 2020.

MRT Stations Served

• NS19 Toa Payoh
• NE9 Boon Keng
• NE8 Farrer Park
• DT22 Jalan Besar
• DT21 Bencoolen
• NS24NE6CC1 Dhoby Ghaut

Special Departures

• Balestier Rd (S’pore Khalsa Assn) → Toa Payoh Int
  Weekdays: 0555hrs, 0637hrs

Route Variants

• Service 139M: Toa Payoh Bus Interchange ↺ Jalan Bahagia (Loop)
  Daily Service

---

Gallery

 

---

Operator History

• 1970s – 1973: United Bus Company Pte Ltd
• 1973 – 2001: Singapore Bus Services Ltd
• 2001 – Present: SBS Transit Ltd

The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Bishan – Toa Payoh Bus Package.

History

• 1971: Introduced between Toa Payoh and Lengkok Bahru (Loop), operated by United Bus Company
• 1979: Amended to Jalan Bukit Merah
• 1980: Amended to Bukit Merah Interchange
• 1983: Amended to Toa Payoh Int
• 1993: Amended to ply River Valley Rd
• 1997: Amended into St. Michael’s Estate
• 1998 (31 May): Amended to Toa Payoh Temp Int
• 2003 (21 Jun): Amended to ply Boon Keng Rd and Bendemeer Rd, under Phase 1 of NEL Rationalisation
• 2011 (16 Oct): Amended to serve Prinsep Street with the closure of a section along Bencoolen St for the construction of the Downtown Line
• 2012 (27 Aug): Introduction of shortworking trip 139A during PM Peak hours.
• 2013: Service improvement under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP)
• 2013 (03 Dec): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
• 2014 (14 Sep): Route variant Service 139M introduced
• 2016 (11 Dec): Resume plying Bencoolen Street with the completion of Downtown Line works
• 2018 (28 Oct): Amended to serve McNair Rd and Towner Rd towards Bukit Merah.

Past Routings

• Refer to this article
• 2018: Amended to present routing. No significant route changes since 2018.