SMRT Feeder Service 944 is a Feeder service operating from Bukit Batok Bus Interchange and looping at Bukit Batok Road, serving new estates along Bukit Batok West Avenue 6.
The route commenced operations on Sunday, 27 August 2017. It is the seventy-sixth (76th) service to be introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP).
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
Bukit Batok Bus Interchange ↺ Bukit Batok Road (Loop) | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok West Ave 6 | |||||||||||
| Route Length | 4.9 km | |||||||||||
| Traveling Time | 20 – 30 mins | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Bulim Bus Package (Negotiated Contract) |
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| Current Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd | |||||||||||
| Current Depot | Kranji Bus Depot (KJDEP) Buses park at:Â Bulim Bus Depot (BUDEP) |
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| Current Fleet | 12-metre Single Deck Bus: – MAN A22 – Yutong E12 |
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| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Daily | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Bukit Batok |
05:30 – 01:00 | |||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| 6.30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | |||||||||
| Loop Service | 12 mins | 13 – 16 mins | 12 mins | 15 – 16 mins | ||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges regular distance fares capped at 3.2km for feeder services |
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Bus Service 944 is a feeder service from Bukit Batok Bus Interchange to Bukit Batok Road, mainly serving new residential estates northwest of Bukit Batok with direct links to NS2 Bukit Batok MRT Station,  as well as other amenities along the route. It is the fourth feeder bus service originating from Bukit Batok, alongside Services 941, 945 and 947, and commenced operations on Sunday, 27 August 2017.
In Bukit Batok, Service 944 serves new Build-To-Order (BTO) flat estates such as:
- West Quarry @ Bukit Batok
- West Plains @ Bukit Batok
- West Edge @ Bukit Batok
- West Rock @ Bukit Batok
- West Terra @ Bukit Batok
- West Valley @ Bukit Batok
- West Ridges @ Bukit Batok
Amenities served include:
- Club CSC @ Bukit Batok
- Bukit Batok Polyclinic
While Bukit Batok Bus Interchange is under the tendered Bulim Bus Package contract with Tower Transit being the anchor operator, the decision was made by LTA to award the operation of Service 944 to SMRT Buses instead, under the Negotiated Contract (NC) model. This is likely due to economic reasons, as the per-mileage operating cost for Tower Transit is higher than that of SMRT Buses, calculated based on the winning bid amount for the Bulim Bus Package. The route will be operated by the awarded tenderer under the Bulim Bus Package in 2021.
The route operates out of end-on berths A15 – A17 at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange. Service 941, which previously occupied these berths, was moved to sawtooth Berth B4.
Launch Day
Free rides were offered on Service 944 for all commuters.
MRT Stations Served:
- NS2Â Â Bukit Batok
Gallery:
Gallery (Posters):
Operator History:
- 27 August 2017 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd
- (~End May 2021) onwards: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
Operations for this route would be transferred to Tower Transit in 2021 as part of the Bulim Bus Package.
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Bulim Bus Package.
Route History:
- 2017 (27 Aug): Launched under the BSEP. Wheelchair accessible at launch.
External Links & References:
This bus service and premium 744 are the only existing “_44″s in Singapore (there is no bus 44 and 144!).