SBS Transit Bus Service 170X

SBS Transit Bus Service 170X is a cross-border service plying between Kranji MRT and JB Sentral in Johor Bahru, passing through Woodlands Centre, Woodlands CIQ and Sultan Iskandar CIQ. It was formerly referred to as 170 (Blue Plate) or 170* to distinguish it from its parent Service 170.

170X
45131 Opp Kranji Stn NS7 Woodlands Rd
46021 Bef W'Lands Ind Pk D St 2 Woodlands Rd
46031 Kranji Lodge 1 Woodlands Rd
46041 Opp Globalfoundries Woodlands Rd
46051 Bef BKE Woodlands Rd
46101 W'Lands Checkpt Woodlands Crossing
46211 Johor Bahru Checkpt Johor Bahru
47711 JB Sentral Bus Ter Jln Jim Quee
47711 JB Sentral Bus Ter Jln Jim Quee
46219 Johor Bahru Checkpt Johor Bahru
46109 W'Lands Checkpt Woodlands Crossing
46059 Globalfoundries/Aft Bke Woodlands Rd
46049 Globalfoundries Woodlands Rd
46039 Opp Kranji Lodge 1 Woodlands Rd
46029 Aft W'Lands Ind Pk D St 2 Woodlands Rd
45139 Kranji Stn NS7 Woodlands Rd
Route Overview
Route WAB_logo_20px Woodlands Road (Kranji MRT Station) ↔ JB Sentral Bus Terminal
Passes Through W’lands Crossing
Route Length Towards JB Sentral: 10.9 km Towards Kranji MRT: 11.4 km
Travelling Time 45 mins (subject to traffic conditions)
Operator Information
BCM Route Package Bukit Merah Bus Package
Current Operator SBS Transit Ltd
Current Depot Ulu Pandan Bus Depot (UPDEP)
Current Fleet Single-deck buses
APAD Registered for Cross Border Bus Services
Operating Hours
Departure Times from Woodlands Rd (Opp Kranji Stn)
Weekdays Saturdays Sundays / Public Holidays
05:37 – 23:37 05:37 – 00:07 05:37 – 23:37
Departure Times from JB Sentral Ter
Weekdays
(Mon – Thu)
Weekdays
(Fri)
Saturdays Sundays / Public Holidays
08:28 – 16:35 &
20:10 – 00:00
08:28 – 00:00 06:11 – 00:00 06:16 – 00:00
Departure Times from JB CIQ → Kranji
Weekdays Saturdays Sundays / Public Holidays
05:00 – 00:19 05:30 – 00:17 05:30 – 00:14
Operating Frequency
From Kranji MRT
6:30am–8.30am 8.31am–4.59pm 5.00pm–7.00pm After 7.00pm
Mondays Thursdays 2 9 mins 3 9 mins 5 8 mins 2 11 mins
Fridays 2 9 mins 5 14 mins 5 8 mins 6 13 mins
Saturdays 3 11 mins 5 10 mins 6 7 mins 5 8 mins
Sundays / Public Holidays 7 9 mins 5 9 mins 7 9 mins 6 9 mins
From JB Sentral
6:30am–8.30am 8.31am–4.59pm 5.00pm–7.00pm After 7.00pm
Mondays Thursdays N.A. 4 9 mins N.A. 8 11 mins
Fridays N.A. 5 14 mins 5 8 mins 4 10 mins
Saturdays 9 13 mins 6 9 mins 5 7 mins 6 8 mins
Sundays / Public Holidays 7 9 mins 5 8 mins 6 9 mins 7 9 mins
Fare Information
Fare Charges regular distance fares

 

Service 170X is a cross-border route connecting Kranji MRT and Woodlands Centre to JB Sentral in Johor Bahru, supplementing the cross-border demand for Bus Services 160 and 170. Travelling via the Causeway, this route stops at Woodlands Checkpoint and Sultan Iskandar CIQ, where all passengers must alight and go through customs before re-boarding the bus.

Although the route officially starts from Bus Stop 45131 – Opp Kranji Stn, Woodlands Road, most passengers board at Bus Stop 45139 – Kranji Stn, Woodlands Road in practice, where Johor-bound trips start from.

Due to varying traffic conditions at the Causeway, travel times and frequencies may increase significantly when jams occur.

Bus Services 170 & 170X towards Johor Bahru are often diverted away from Woodlands Road due to traffic congestion, skipping Bus Stops 46021 – Bef W’Lands Ind Pk D St 2, 46031 – Kranji Lodge 1, 46041 – Opp Globalfoundries, and 46051 – Bef BKE due to traffic congestion. Buses would instead ply Woodlands Ave 3 and Woodlands Centre Rd towards Woodlands Checkpoint. Refer to SBS Transit’s Twitter account for updates.

In addition, Service 170X will not serve JB Sentral at the following weekday times, except Public Holidays.:

  • Weekdays (Mon–Fri) Morning Peak Hours before 08:28
  • Weekdays (Mon–Thurs) between 16:36 & 20:09

The route may also skip JB Sentral at other times on an ad-hoc basis, without informing commuters. As of 2023, this has been observed frequently on Sunday evenings.

Omission of JB Sentral from July 2023:
Omission of JB Sentral from July 2023 (Click to expand)

In July 2023, the schedule for Service 170X was updated by the Land Transport Authority & SBS Transit unannounced.

Changes in operating hours observed were as follows:

  • From Opp Kranji Stn:
    Weekdays — 05:36–23:30 to 05:37–23:37
    Saturdays — 05:40–00:00 to 05:37–00:07
    Sundays / Public Holidays – 05:40–23:30 to 05:37–23:37
  • From JB Sentral:
    Weekdays — 06:10–00:00 to 08:28–00:00
    Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays – no change (06:11–00:00)

A scheduling change was also included to allow buses from Kranji MRT Station to terminate at Johor Bahru Checkpoint and turn around back towards Singapore, omitting JB Sentral during morning peak hours on Weekdays & evening peak hours on Mondays – Thursdays, excluding public holidays.

In addition, the first bus timing from Johor Bahru Checkpoint towards Kranji MRT Station was brought forward on Weekdays (except Public Holidays) from 05:25 to 05:00.

Route Limitations:

Buses deployed on cross-border routes must be registered with the Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD), also known as the Land Public Transport Agency (Malaysia).

Currently, several SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro & MAN A22 buses are registered for cross-border operations. Under Malaysian regulations, buses must carry relevant documents, be fitted with a third brake light at the rear, and be attached with Malaysian stickers dictating the legal speed limit.

Cross-Border Procedures

At each checkpoint, passengers have to alight and clear customs before boarding the bus again. When crossing the causeway between Woodlands Checkpoint and Johore Bahru Checkpoint in either direction, commuters may board any Singapore public bus (either 160, 170, 170X or 950). However, when leaving from a checkpoint, commuters must re-board Service 170 or 170X after clearing customs if they wish to continue their journey and not constitute a transfer.

Tapping out from the bus at each checkpoint will suspend a journey, and can be resumed when a passenger taps back onboard the bus. Cash-paying passengers should retain their tickets as proof of payment, and produce it when re-boarding buses at checkpoints.

Approximate Operating Hours at Woodlands Checkpoint
46101 – Woodlands Checkpoint (Towards JB Sentral)
Weekdays Saturdays Sundays / Public Holidays
First Bus 05:47 05:44 05:47
Last Bus 23:51 00:19 23:49
46109 – Woodlands Checkpoint (Towards Kranji MRT Station)
Weekdays Saturdays Sundays / Public Holidays
First Bus 05:29 05:51 05:49
Last Bus 00:36 00:36 00:14
MRT Station Served:
Special Departures:
  • Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru Checkpoint) Kranji MRT Station
    Weekdays (Mon – Thu): Morning Peak hours from 05:00 & Evening Peak Hours
    Weekdays (Fri): Morning Peak hours from 05:00
    Saturdays: 05:30, 05:39, 05:47, 05:55, 06:04, 06:13 & 06:22
    Sundays / Public Holidays: 05:30, 05:39, 05:48, 05:56, 06:05, 06:14 & 06:22
  • Woodlands Road (Opp Kranji Stn) → Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru Checkpoint)
    Omits JB Sentral
    Weekday Morning Peak Hours except Public Holidays; Buses arriving Johor Bahru Checkpoint before 08:15
    Weekday (Monday – Thurdays) Evening Peak except Public Holidays; Buses arriving Johor Bahru Checkpoint between 16:20 – 19:55
Route Variant:
  • Service 170: Queen Street Terminal ↔ Larkin Terminal
    Daily

Gallery:
Poster Gallery:

Operator History:
  • 2000 – 2001: Singapore Bus Services Ltd
  • 2001 – Present: SBS Transit Ltd

The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2029 under the Bukit Merah Bus Package.

History:
  • 2000 (03 Sep): Introduced between Woodlands Rd (Opp Kranji Stn) and Larkin Ter (Johor Bahru)
  • 2001 (Nov): Became fully air-conditioned with the Volvo B10M Mark IIIs
  • 2003 (10 Nov): Amended to Kotaraya II Ter via Jln Gertak Merah, skipping Jln Tun Abdul Razak
  • 2008 (16 Dec): Serves additional bus stop outside JB Sentral along Jln Tun Abdul Razak towards Kotaraya II Ter
  • 2011 (Aug): Retiring Volvo B10M Mark IIIs were replaced with Volvo B10M Mark IVs (DM3500 and Strider)
  • 2014 (Apr): Scania K230UBs deployed to replace Volvo B10M Mark IVs
  • 2014 (01 Nov): Amended to loop at Jln Tun Abdul Razak with the permanent closure of Kotaraya II Ter
  • 2015 (01 Mar): Amended to JB Sentral Ter, skipping Jln Tun Abdul Razak
  • 2017 (21 Aug): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
  • 2018 (18 Nov): Start of operations under Bukit Merah Bus Package (Tendered Contract)
  • 2020 (18 Mar) – 2022 (30 Apr): Temporarily suspended due to Malaysia Movement Control Order.
  • 2023 (between Aug-Nov): Unannounced change in operating hours: First bus from JB CIQ→ Kranji MRT on weekdays brought forward from 05:25 to 05:00; and buses to skip JB Sentral Ter during Mon–Fri AM peak and Mon–Thurs PM peak (except Public Holidays)
Unannounced change in operating hours + omission of JB Sentral Ter in 2H 2023 (Click to expand)

In the 2nd Half of 2023 (between Aug – Nov), the schedule for Service 170X was updated by the Land Transport Authority & SBS Transit unannounced.

Changes in operating hours observed were as follows:

  • From Opp Kranji Stn:
    Weekdays: 05:36 – 23:30 to 05:37 – 23:37
    Saturdays: 05:40 – 00:00 to 05:37 – 00:07
    Sundays / Public Holidays: 05:40 – 23:30 to 05:37 – 23:37
  • From JB Sentral:
    Weekdays: 06:10 – 00:00 to 08:28 – 00:00
    Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays: no change (06:11 – 00:00)

A scheduling change was also included to allow buses from Kranji MRT Station to terminate at Johor Bahru Checkpoint and turn around back towards Singapore, omitting JB Sentral during the following weekday hours (excluding public holidays):

  • Weekdays (Mon–Fri) Morning Peak Hours before 08:28
  • Weekdays (Mon–Thurs) between 16:36 & 20:09

Past Routings

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12 thoughts on “SBS Transit Bus Service 170X

  • 23 March 2024 at 9:23 AM
    Permalink

    Can consider merging with 925M. Then 925 can skip sungei buloh and operate daily. 170x and 925M then will become 404.

    Reply
  • 6 March 2024 at 1:02 PM
    Permalink

    I wish 170x has other fleet.and more buses

    Reply
  • 1 January 2024 at 11:37 AM
    Permalink

    LTA as per quoted:

    We would also like to share that since the resumption of cross-border bus services in May 2022, Services 160, 170X and 950 have been looping within JB Checkpoint, instead of going to JB Sentral Terminal from Friday, 5pm onwards till Sunday last bus, where demand for cross-border is highest.

    In July 2023, we have further implemented this looping within JB Checkpoint during weekday morning peak hours. Please be assured that we are monitoring the performance of the cross-border bus services closely and adjusting the services, where necessary and feasible.

    Reply
  • 7 December 2023 at 10:59 AM
    Permalink

    I know this won’t happen but what if 170X starts from jb sentral ter and loop at kranji loop. Then we can renumber it to bus 164

    Reply
  • 1 May 2023 at 7:46 PM
    Permalink

    This service will terminate at gali batu terminal

    Reply

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