SMRT Bus Service 179 is a high-frequency trunk route connecting Boon Lay Interchange to Nanyang Technological University (NTU), via Pioneer MRT and Pioneer Road North.
↺ Nanyang Dr (Loop)
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
Boon Lay Bus Interchange ↺ Nanyang Drive (Loop) | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Jurong West St 63, Pioneer Road North, Lien Ying Chow Dr, Nanyang Dr | |||||||||||
| Route Length | 9.7 km | |||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 35 – 48 mins | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Jurong West Bus Package | |||||||||||
| Current Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd | |||||||||||
| Current Depot | Soon Lee Bus Depot | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | Double-deck buses | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Boon Lay |
Weekdays & Saturdays | Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
| 06:00 – 00:00 | 06:30 – 00:20 | |||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| Loop Service | 6:30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | ||||||||
| Weekdays | 5 – 6 mins | 4 – 5 mins | 5 – 6 mins | 6 – 7 mins | ||||||||
| Saturdays | 5 – 10 mins | 5 – 11 mins | 6 – 9 mins | 9 – 15 mins | ||||||||
| Sundays / Public Holidays | 11 mins | 8 – 13 mins | 12 – 13 mins | 8 – 11 mins | ||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges regular distance fares |
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Bus Service 179 is the main public bus route connecting the NTU campus with Pioneer MRT and Boon Lay MRT/Bus Interchange. The service also caters to residents of Jurong West Street 63 and Pioneer North.
Within the NTU campus, Service 179 runs along Nanyang Drive, serving key academic buildings such as those around the North Spine, South Spine, The Arc/Learning Hub North, and The Hive/Learning Hub South. This coverage, along with stops at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Yunnan Garden, and various Halls of Residence along Nanyang Drive and Lien Ying Chow Drive, contributes to the service’s high passenger demand.
As a vital route for NTU, Service 179 operates at a high frequency, with buses arriving every five minutes or less during most of the day. This frequency is further enhanced during morning & evening peak hours by supplementary Services 179A & 179B respectively. These services skips stops as compared to the regular Service 179.
While Bus Service 199 also connects Boon Lay Interchange with NTU, it primarily serves the northern halls of residence, whereas Service 179 focuses on the southern academic areas. Additionally, the free NTU Campus Rider, operated by private buses, helps complement demand between NTU and Pioneer MRT.
MRT Stations Served
Special Departures
- Jurong West St 63 (Pioneer Stn Exit A) → Boon Lay Int via Nanyang Drive
Weekdays (except NTU School Holidays): 07:26, 07:46, 08:06, 08:17, 08:36, 08:50, 08:58, 09:05 & 09:16 - Lien Ying Chow Dr (Hall 1) → Boon Lay Int
Weekdays (except NTU School Holidays): 17:00, 17:11, 17:23, 17:31, 17:40, 17:54, 18:05, 18:15, 18:30, 21:40 & 22:17
- Pioneer Rd North (Blk 840) → Boon Lay Int
Weekdays: 05:16, 05:26, 05:37, 05:48, 05:59, 06:09 & 06:19
Weekdays (NTU School Holidays): 05:15, 05:28, 05:41, 05:53, 06:05 & 06:17
Saturdays: 05:15, 05:30, 05:45, 06:00 & 06:14
Sundays / Public Holidays: 05:15, 05:29, 05:43, 05:58, 06:13, 06:28 & 06:42
Route Variants
- Service 179A: Boon Lay Int ↺ Nanyang Drive (Loop)
Weekdays (Except Public Holidays & NTU School Holidays): 07:30 – 09:30
Skips stops along Jurong West Street 63 & Pioneer Rd North - Service 179B: Lien Ying Chow Drive (Hall 1) → Jurong West Street 63 (Pioneer Stn Exit B)
Weekdays (Except Public Holidays & NTU School Holidays): 15:05 – 20:00
Skips stops along Pioneer Rd North
Gallery (SMRT):
Poster Gallery:
Operator History
- 07 Jan 2001 – 31 Oct 2001: Singapore Bus Services Ltd
- 01 Nov 2001 – 31 Aug 2024: SBS Transit Ltd
- 01 Sep 2024 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd
Route History
- 2001 (07 Jan): Introduced between Boon Lay Int and Nanyang Dr (Loop)
- 2006 (18 Jun): Amended to Boon Lay Temp Int
- 2010 (08 May): Amended to Boon Lay Integrated Transport Hub
- 2010 (01 Aug): Amended to loop at Nanyang Ave temporarily with the partial closure of Nanyang Ave and Nanyang Dr to facilitate Youth Olympic Games 2010
- 2010 (29 Aug): Amended back to loop at Nanyang Dr
- 2014 (07 Dec): Serves new bus stop opposite Blk 41 along Nanyang Dr
- 2015 (03 Dec): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus service (WAB)
- 2024 (01 Sep): Operations transferred to SMRT Buses under the Jurong West Bus Package
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Back to Buses
Continued on Page 2 – Gallery
- Gallery (SBS Transit)
I live near Blk 840 bus stop. I take this bus to Pioneer MRT station during weekday morning, at around 7:30am to 8am.
Unlike the other bus stops along Pioneer Road North (Blk 705 bus stop and Blk 643 bus stop), which have 241 and 179 connecting to Pioneer MRT station,
The Blk 840 bus stop only have 179. And somemore 179 the priority is on NTU students. Even at weekday 7:30am to 8am, the waiting time can be around 10 minutes if miss the bus.
Meanwhile the 2 other bus stops down the road, if miss a bus, the next bus is within 3 minutes wait, just because they got 2 bus services.
This is the 苦衷 of the people staying near to the Blk 840 bus stop during weekday morning.
Other than very long waiting time, the other issue is bus brunching. At around the 7:50am slot, will tend to have two 179 buses come at the same time.
Therefore, honestly, we really sincerely hope that the LTA can at least create a Short-Working Trip of 179 that operates during weekday morning peak hours (like 241A), to only serve the Pioneer Road North bus stops, to connect Pioneer Road North residents to Pioneer MRT station.
Hopefully the LTA can hear our 苦衷 and really consider launching at least a Short-Working Trip of 179 to connect Pioneer Road North residents to Pioneer MRT station.
Because especially those people staying near Blk 840 bus stop. We only have 179. And yet, the weekday morning frequency of 179 is around 10 minutes per bus, which is not convenient to us, and it’s so unlike many other people whose connecting bus to MRT station is only about 2 to 3 minutes per bus during morning peak hour.
Therefore, hopefully the LTA can consider this recommendation.
Thank you.