SMRT Bus Service 179A is a morning peak hour route variant of Bus Service 179 that operates only during the NTU school term. It connects Boon Lay MRT/Interchange with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) campus with no intermediate stops.
↺ Nanyang Dr (Loop)
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
Boon Lay Bus Interchange ↺ Nanyang Drive (Loop) | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Lien Ying Chow Dr | |||||||||||
| Route Length | 9.7 km | |||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 35 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 | NTU School Term Weekdays (except Public Holidays) | |||||||||||
| 07:30 – 09:30 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| Loop Service | 6 – 7 mins | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
||||||||||||
| Fare | Charges regular distance fares | |||||||||||
Bus Service 179A is route variant of Bus Service 179, operating during morning peak hours on weekdays within the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) school term.
By skipping stops along Jurong West Street 63 and Pioneer Road North, it provides a direct connection between Boon Lay MRT/Bus Interchange and NTU, offering faster journeys for commuters. This express service helps ease demand on Bus Service 179, which often sees heavy ridership from NTU passengers heading to and from Pioneer MRT instead of Boon Lay.
Former Afternoon Variant
In the 2025/2026 Academic Term which started on 4 August 2025, Service 179A had operational changes as the afternoon and evening peak variant was replaced by a new supplementary service, Service 179B. Service 179B starts from Lien Ying Chow Drive and terminates at Pioneer MRT Station, skipping all stops along Pioneer Road North.
Service 179A previously operated in two distinct patterns:
- Morning Peak: Boon Lay Interchange ↺ Nanyang Drive (Loop)
- Afternoon & Evening Peak: Lien Ying Chow Drive (Hall 1) → Boon Lay Interchange
During afternoon operating hours, some trips started from Lien Ying Chow Drive (Hall 1), while others started from Nanyang Dr (Wee Kim Wee Sch of C&I) to meet demand along the route.
The introduction of Service 179B replaced these afternoon and evening peak services, with 179A continuing its morning operations only.
MRT Station Served
- EW27 Boon Lay
Departure Timings:
Weekdays (NTU School Term):
- From Boon Lay Int:
07:30, 07:37, 07:44, 07:51, 07:58, 08:05, 08:12, 08:19, 08:26, 08:33, 08:40, 08:47, 08:53, 08:59, 09:05, 09:11, 09:17, 09:23 & 09:30
Gallery (SMRT Buses):
Poster Gallery (SMRT Buses):
Operator History:
- 1 Oct 2007 – 31 Aug 2024: SBS Transit Ltd
- 1 Sep 2024 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd
Route History:
- 2007 (01 Oct): Introduced from Boon Lay Temp Int to Nanyang Dr (Hall 4) during morning peak hours and from Nanyang Dr (Hall 1) to Boon Lay Temp Int during evening peak hours on weekdays, plying express sectors along Jurong West St 63 and Pioneer Rd North
- 2010 (08 May): Amended to Boon Lay Integrated Transport Hub.
- 2014 (07 Dec): Serves new bus stop opposite Blk 41 along Nanyang Dr.
- 2024 (01 Sep): Operations transferred to SMRT Buses under the Jurong West Bus Package.
- 2025 (04 Aug): Change in operating hours to only operate during morning peak hours within the NTU School Term; Afternoon & evening peak operating hours replaced by Service 179B.
Back to Bus Service 179
Back to Bus Services
Back to Buses
Continued on Page 2
- Gallery (SBS Transit)
I can tell you that Tawas MRT Station will be packed like sardines.
Actually bus services 179A and 199 will be withdrawn when Jurong Region Line Stage One opens.
Because Nanyang Technological University is located near to Tawas MRT Station.
Just no, absolutely no.
At best 179A will receive frequency cuts to ard 15 mins, and 179/199 should still remain intact with slightly reduced frequencies, alongside running single deck buses
Having these bus services can help complement JRL once it opens and alleviate pressure off JRL. It would be insane to solely rely on JRL to serve NTU / NIE, more so in the event that JRL breaks down. What will happen to those that still need to go to NTU / NIE during a potential breakdown?
Can be renumbered as Express 179e (since it skips straight to ntu) or as Service 179M
I am suggesting this to make way for transfers to SMRT Buses from 1st Sept 2024.
Svc 179
Boon Lay – Pioneer Stn – Nanyang (NIE/NTU) – Jalan Bahar/Boon Lay Avenue – Choa Chu Kang Stn – Bt Panjang Stn (Loop)
Boon Lay via
– Jurong West St 63
– Pioneer Rd North
– Nanyang Drive / Avenue
– Jalan Bahar / Jalan Boon Lay
– Boon Lay Avenue
– Corporation Road
– PIE / KJE (Express)
– Choa Chu Kang Drive
– Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4
– Choa Chu Kang Way / Road
– Upper Bt Timah Road (Loop)
Svc 179M (Formerly Svc 179A)
Boon Lay – Pioneer Stn – Lien Ying Chow Drive – Nanyang Drive (Loop)
Boon Lay via
– Jurong West St 63
– Pioneer Rd North (Pioneer Stn Exit A/B, Block 840 & Block 949)
– Lien Ying Chow Drive
– Nanyang Avenue / Crescent
– Nanyang Drive (Loop)
*Service 199 will be withdraw and transferred ownership to Service 179 and 179M*
It will only be done when JRL Stage 3 opens.
No shld renumber as 179X as it is similar to an express feeder