SBS Transit Bus Service 38

Bus Service 38, operated by SBS Transit, is a trunk service plying between Tampines and Bedok, passing through Tampines East, Simei, Tanah Merah and Bedok South.

Route Overview
Route	Tampines Bus Interchange ↔ Bedok Bus Interchange
Passes Through	Tampines Ave 7, Simei St 3, New Upp Changi Rd, Bedok South Rd
Route Length	Towards Bedok: 11.3 km						Towards Tampines: 10.8 km
Travelling Time	55 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package	Tampines Bus Package
Current Operator	SBS Transit Ltd
Current Depot	Bedok North Bus Depot (BNDEP)
Current Fleet	Single-deck buses Includes electric buses (Linkker LM312)
Operating Hours
Departure Times from Tampines	Daily
	05:15 – 00:40
Departure Times from Bedok	Daily
	05:45 – 00:40
Operating Frequency
From Tampines	6:30am–8.30am			8.31am–4.59pm			5.00pm–7.00pm			After 7.00pm
Weekdays	10 mins			10 – 16 mins			10 – 16 mins			15 – 16 mins
Saturdays	14 – 15 mins			12 – 15 mins			13 – 14 mins			13 – 14 mins
Sundays / Public Holidays	11 mins			11 – 14 mins			12 – 13 mins			12 – 13 mins
From Bedok	6:30am–8.30am			8.31am–4.59pm			5.00pm–7.00pm			After 7.00pm
Weekdays	10 mins			10 – 15 mins			10 – 15 mins			14 – 15 mins
Saturdays	14 mins			12 – 15 mins			13 – 15 mins			12 – 15 mins
Sundays / Public Holidays	10 – 11 mins			11 – 14 mins			12 – 13 mins			12 – 13 mins
Fare Information
Fare	Charges regular distance fares

Service 38 connects Tampines and Bedok, serving residential estates and community amenities along its route via Tampines East, Simei, Tanah Merah, and Bedok South.

Within Simei, Service 38 duplicates Service 20, linking most parts of the Simei estate with Simei MRT station. For commuters from Bedok South, Service 38 provides a faster alternative to Bedok Interchange compared to Feeder Service 229. It also complements Services 12, 12e, and 47 by offering additional connections to Tanah Merah MRT, Simei, and Tampines East.

It is also one of two services to connect Tampines Int with Bedok Int, alongside Service 69. However, Service 69 loops at Bedok Int, while Service 38 is a bi-directional route.

Historical Background

Service 38 was introduced in April 2002 through the merger of two former feeder routes: Service 220 (Bedok ↺ Bedok South Avenue 3) and Service 290 (Tampines ↺ Simei St 4). The merger created an inter-town route linking Bedok South, Simei, and Tampines East for enhanced connectivity. This legacy also contributes to its long operating hours, from 5:15 am to 12:40 am daily.

Service 38 also operates Linkker LM312 electric buses, which are quick charged via overhead pantographs installed at Bedok Interchange.

MRT Stations Served:

• EW2–DT32 Tampines
• DT33 Tampines East
• EW3 Simei
• CG1DT35 Expo
• EW4CG Tanah Merah
• EW5 Bedok

Special Departures:

• New Upp Changi Rd (Tanah Merah Stn Exit B) → Tampines Int
  Weekdays: 05:20 & 05:28
  Saturday: 05:20
  Sundays / Public Holidays: 05:20, 05:29, 05:39 & 05:48
• Bedok South Rd (Blk 40) → Tampines Int
  Weekdays: 05:30 & 05:40
  Saturdays: 05:30 & 05:43
• New Upp Changi Rd (Tanah Merah Stn Exit A) → Bedok Int
  Daily: 05:30

Gallery:

Poster Gallery:

Operator History:

• 2002 – Present: SBS Transit Ltd

History:

• 2002 (07 Apr): Introduced between Tampines Int and Bedok Int with the integration of Services 220 and 290
• 2002: Serves new bus stop outside Blk 223 along Simei St 4
• 2011 (27 Jun): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus service (WAB)
• 2011 (19 Nov): Amended to Bedok Temp Int
• 2014 (30 Nov): Amended to Bedok Integrated Transport Hub
• 2017 (21 Oct): Serves a new pair of bus stops at Tampines East MRT Station along Tampines Ave 2
• 2018 (08 Apr): Serves new pair of bus stops after Somapah Rd and before Simei Rd along Upp Changi Rd East

Past Routings

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