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 Checkpoint and Sultan Iskandar CIQ. It was formerly referred to as 170 (Blue Plate) or 170* to distinguish it from its parent Service 170. JB Sentral is only served on Weekdays (after 8am to 4.30pm) & additionally on Mondays – Thursdays from 8.10pm till the last bus timing, except public holidays.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
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 |
Mondays – Thursdays | Fridays | Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays | |||||||||
| 08:28 – 16:30 & 20:10 – 00:00 |
08:28 – 16:30 | No Service | ||||||||||
| 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 – 8 mins | 3 – 9 mins | 5 – 8 mins | 3 – 11 mins | ||||||||
| Fridays | 2 – 8 mins | 3 – 9 mins | 4 – 7 mins | 4 – 11 mins | ||||||||
| Saturdays | 4 mins | 4 mins | 4 mins | 4 – 6 mins | ||||||||
| Sundays / Public Holidays | 4 mins | 3 – 5 mins | 3 – 4 mins | 3 – 4 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. | 4 – 9 mins | 5 – 8 mins | 4 – 10 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.
Omission of JB Sentral
Bus Service 170X will terminate at Johor Bahru Checkpoint and omit JB Sentral Bus Terminal during these periods:
- Weekdays (Mon – Thurs) Morning Peak Hours before 08:28, evening peak hours between 16:31 and 20:09
- Fridays before 08:28 and after 16:30
- Saturdays
- Sundays / Singapore Public Holidays
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.
Further changes were updated in March 2024, where Service 170X does not serve JB Sentral on Fridays after 4.30pm, and full day on Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays as well.
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 immigration before boarding the bus again. When different bus services are used when arriving at/departing from a checkpoint, this will constitute a transfer for card paying passengers. If the same bus service is used, the journey is resumed. Cash-paying passengers should retain their tickets as proof of payment, and produce them when re-boarding buses at checkpoints.
At Woodlands Checkpoint towards Johor Bahru, a single queue is formed for Bus Services 160/170/170X/950. Passengers will be directed to board whichever bus comes first. This arrangement has been in place since 20 May 2022.
At JB CIQ (Johor Bahru Checkpoint) towards Singapore, a single queue is formed for Bus Services 160/170/170X. Passengers will be directed to board whichever bus comes first.
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 | 05:17 | 05:47 | 05:48 |
| Last Bus | 00:36 | 00:34 | 00:29 |
MRT Station Served:
- NS7 Kranji
Special Departures:
- Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru Checkpoint) → Kranji MRT Station
Daily; during operating hours when JB Sentral is omitted - Woodlands Road (Opp Kranji Stn) → Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru Checkpoint)
Omits JB Sentral during Weekdays (Mon – Fri) before 08:28, between 16:30 and 20:10 on Weekdays (Mon – Thu), Fridays after 16:30, Saturdays & Sundays / Singapore Public Holidays
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: Last bus from Woodlands Rd (Opp Kranji Stn) revised to 2310 hrs on Saturdays
- 2008 (16 Dec): Serves additional bus stop outside JB Sentral along Jln Tun Abdul Razak towards Kotaraya II Ter
- 2009 (11 May): Last bus from Woodlands Rd (Opp Kranji Stn) revised to 2330 hrs on weekdays and 2400 hrs on Saturdays
- 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 service (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)
- 2024 (Mar): Official schedule update to omit JB Sentral on Weekdays before 8.28am, Mondays – Thursdays between 4.30pm to 8.10pm, Fridays after 4.30pm and Full day on Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays
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
In Mar 2024, the schedule was further updated to omit JB Sentral entirely on Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays and on Fridays after 4.30pm.
Back to Bus Services
Back to Bus Articles
Bus 170X and 160 skips JB Sentral Ter throughout the day from first bus to last bus on Friday evenings, weekends and P.H.. Just ask the bus captain or visit transitlink website (https://www.transitlink.com.sg/eservice/eguide/service_route.php?service=170X)
on the first/last bus timings and you’ll find that there is no first/last bus from JB Sentral Ter as it is skipped.