SMRT Bus Service 190

SMRT Bus Service 190 operates between Choa Chu Kang and Kampong Bahru Terminal, passing through Teck Whye, Bukit Panjang, Stevens, Orchard Road, Clarke Quay and Chinatown. It utilizes the expressway between Bukit Panjang and Whitley Road, making it a popular route between Choa Chu Kang and the City.

Technical Information
Route	Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange ↔ Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal
Passes Through	Teck Whye Ave, Bukit Panjang, Stevens, Orchard Road, Clarke Quay, Chinatown
Route Length	23.1 km (D1) | 22.4 km (D2)
Travelling Time	80 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package	Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang Bus Package
Current Operator	SMRT Buses Ltd
Current Depot	Kranji Bus Depot (KJDEP)
Current Fleet	12-metre Double Deck Bus: – Alexander Dennis Enviro500 – Volvo B9TL – MAN A95 12-metre Single Deck Bus: – MAN A22 – Mercedes-Benz OC500LE
Departure Times from Choa Chu Kang	0550 – 2330 (Daily)
Departure Times from Kampong Bahru	0555 – 2330 (Weekdays, Saturdays) 0625 – 2330 (Sundays/PHs)
Frequency	Direction 1	Direction 2
	0630-0830: 02 – 05 mins 0831-1659: 04 – 07 mins 1700-1900: 06 – 07 mins After 1900: 07 – 11 mins	0630-0830: 08 – 11 mins 0831-1659: 04 – 07 mins 1700-1900: 04 – 06 mins After 1900: 05 – 08 mins

Service 190 is a major trunk route linking Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang with the City areas of Orchard Road, Clarke Quay and Chinatown. The express nature of the route provides a highly convenient connection between housing estates and the City areas, leading to frequent overcrowding along the route prior to the commencement of Downtown Line Stage 2.

SMRT Service 190 was among the most patronized bus services in Singapore, experiencing high demand throughout the day, and even more so during the peak hours. This is partially due to the lack existing bus routes between CCK / Teck Whye and the City before end-2015. Also, the inconvenience of multiple transfers on the MRT (before the Downtown Line Stage 2 opened) led to more commuters preferring the direct bus route over a train ride. Difficulty boarding Service 190 during weekday and weekend peak hours are commonplace. Commuters may consider alternative bus services to the city, such as 972. Bunching of buses is common owing to the short headway between buses. With the opening of the Downtown Line Stage 2 in Dec 2015, demand for this bus service has been reduced.

Formerly a Singapore Bus Service (SBS) route since 1988, the route was transferred to Trans-Island Bus Service (TIBS) in 1999 and has been operated by SMRT ever since. High capacity articulated / double-deck buses are deployed on a regular basis. SMRT’s Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-deck buses appeared on the route since Aug 2014, marking a comeback since SBS transferred Service 190 to TIBS in 1999 (then operating with double-decks).

MRT/LRT Stations Served:

• NS4BP1 Choa Chu Kang
• BP5 Phoenix
• DT1–BP6 Bukit Panjang
• DT10  Stevens
• NS22 Orchard
• NS23 Somerset
• NS24NE6CC1 Dhoby Ghaut
• CC2 Bras Basah
• DT21  Bencoolen
• NE5 Clarke Quay
• NE4DT19 Chinatown
• NE3EW16 Outram Park

Special Departures:

• Bukit Panjang Road (Bt Panjang Stn/Blk 604) → Kampong Bahru Ter
  0545 (Weekdays), 0600 (Sat, Sun) & Weekdays AM Peak
  Majority of morning downroutes start here; buses are usually full with passengers from Teck Whye, and downroutes help with the passenger loads at Bukit Panjang
• Bukit Panjang Road (Blk 223) → Choa Chu Kang Int
  0600 (Daily) onwards, Weekday afternoons
  Morning downroutes from this stop until the first bus arrives from New Bridge Road.
• Orchard Road (YMCA) → Choa Chu Kang Int
  Weekdays PM Peak & Weekend nights
  Majority of weekday evening peak downroutes are from this stop, notably split-shift buses which perform 190A in the morning. Additional downroutes from this stop also operated during weekend nights.
• Somerset Road (Somerset Stn) → Choa Chu Kang Int
  Weekdays PM Peak & Weekend nights. The minority of downroutes.

Due to the exceptionally high demand of Service 190, many downroutes are used to better cater to demand and ensure that passengers throughout the route have a chance of boarding a bus.

Short Trip Service:

• Service 190A: Choa Chu Kang Int → Orchard Rd (Dhoby Ghaut Stn)
  Weekdays, Except Public Holidays: 0555hrs–0746hrs
  04 – 24 mins frequency
  

Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares.