SMRT Bus Service 972M

SMRT Bus Service 972M is a route variant of Service 972, operating from Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange and looping at Orchard Road, passing through Bukit Panjang Estate, Petir Road and Newton MRT. Following the controversy over Bus 700 withdrawal and Bus 171 & 972 amendment, Service 972M was introduced as a mitigation measure to retain connectivity along Dunearn Road and Scotts Road. The route was originally intended to be the amended route of Service 972 itself.

972M
Bt Panjang Int
↺ Orchard Rd via Newton MRT (Loop)
45009 Bt Panjang Int B2 DT1-BP6 Petir Rd
44641 Blk 602 BP13 Bt Panjang Ring Rd
44791 West View Pr Sch Senja Rd
44801 Opp Blk 628 Senja Rd
44861 Blk 636A Senja Rd
44811 Senja FC Senja Rd
44931 Blk 643 CP Senja Rd
44721 Opp Jelapang Stn BP12 Bt Panjang Ring Rd
44661 Blk 532 Jelapang Rd
44611 Blk 516 Jelapang Rd
44701 Blk 548B Segar Rd
44691 Blk 485 Segar Rd
44771 Fajar Stn BP10 Fajar Rd
44349 Bet Blks 443A/443B Fajar Rd
44339 Blk 442D Fajar Rd
44329 Bangkit Stn BP9 Bt Panjang Ring Rd
44229 Bef Pending Stn BP8 Pending Rd
44371 Blk 219 Petir Rd
44381 Blk 202 Petir Rd
44351 Aft Chestnut Ave Petir Rd
44361 Bef Dairy Farm Rd Petir Rd
40239 Bef Stevens Stn Exit 4 DT10TE11 Whitley Rd
40089 Aft Stevens Stn Exit 5 DT10TE11 Dunearn Rd
40079 Bef Swiss Cottage Est Dunearn Rd
40119 Bef Goldhill Ave Dunearn Rd
40069 Anglo-Chinese Sch Dunearn Rd
40059 Chancery Ct Dunearn Rd
40049 Opp Newton Stn Exit C NS21-DT11 Dunearn Rd
40189 Newton Stn Exit B NS21-DT11 Scotts Rd
40179 Env Bldg Scotts Rd
09219 Far East Plaza Scotts Rd
09047 Orchard Stn/Tang Plaza NS22TE14 Orchard Rd
09037 Bef Cairnhill Rd NS22TE14 Orchard Rd
08138 Concorde Hotel S'pore Orchard Rd
08057 Dhoby Ghaut Stn NS24NE6CC1 Orchard Rd
08041 YMCA Orchard Rd
08031 Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B NS24NE6CC1 Penang Rd
08111 Winsland Hse Penang Rd
08121 Somerset Stn NS23 Somerset Rd
09011 Opp Ngee Ann City Orchard Turn
09023 Opp Orchard Stn/ION NS22TE14 Orchard Turn
09212 Royal Plaza On Scotts Scotts Rd
40171 Opp Env Bldg Scotts Rd
40181 Newton Stn Exit A NS21-DT11 Scotts Rd
40041 Newton Stn Exit C NS21-DT11 Bt Timah Rd
40051 Balmoral Plaza Bt Timah Rd
40111 Ferrell Residences Bt Timah Rd
40071 Leng Kwang Baptist Ch Bt Timah Rd
40081 Stevens Stn Exit 1 DT10TE11 Bt Timah Rd
40231 Raffles Town Club DT10TE11 Whitley Rd
44369 Aft Dairy Farm Rd Petir Rd
44359 Bef Chestnut Ave Petir Rd
44389 Opp Blk 201 Petir Rd
44379 Opp Blk 219 Petir Rd
44221 Opp Pending Stn BP8 Pending Rd
44321 Opp Bangkit Stn BP9 Bt Panjang Ring Rd
44331 Blk 239 Fajar Rd
44341 Blk 401A CP Fajar Rd
44779 Opp Fajar Stn BP10 Fajar Rd
44699 Blk 457 Segar Rd
44709 Blk 547C Segar Rd
44619 Blk 506 Jelapang Rd
44669 Opp Blk 532 Jelapang Rd
44829 Opp Blk 650 Senja Link
44819 Opp West Spring Sec Sch Senja Rd
44869 Bef Blk 629A Cp Senja Rd
44809 Blk 628 Senja Rd
44799 Blk 610 Senja Rd
44649 Blk 541A CP BP13 Bt Panjang Ring Rd
44639 Bt Panjang Plaza DT1-BP6 Jelebu Rd
45009 Bt Panjang Int DT1-BP6 Petir Rd
Route Overview
Route WAB_logo_20px Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange ↺ Orchard Road (Loop)
Passes Through Senja Rd, Jelapang Rd, Segar Rd, Fajar Rd, Petir Rd, BKE/PIE, Dunearn Rd / Bukit Timah Rd, Scotts Rd, Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut
Route Length 42.8 km
Travelling Time 140 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package Choa Chu Kang–Bukit Panjang Bus Package
Current Operator SMRT Buses Ltd
Current Depot Kranji Bus Depot (KJDEP)
Buses park at: Woodlands Bus Park
Current Fleet Single Deck Bus:
Mercedes-Benz OC500LE
Double Deck Bus:
Alexander Dennis Enviro500
Volvo B9TL
Operating Hours
Departure Times from Bt Panjang
Daily
05:45 – 22:50
Operating Frequency
6:30am–8.30am 8.31am–4.59pm 5.00pm–7.00pm After 7.00pm
Loop Service 8 – 10 mins 12 – 18 mins 9 – 11 mins 24 – 25 mins
Fare Information
Fare Charges regular distance fares

Service 972M was introduced to retain connectivity for commuters along Dunearn Road and Scotts Road, following the withdrawal of Services 700 & 700A in August 2020.

The routing for Service 972M was originally presented as a route amendment for Service 972 that took effect from 16 August 2020. However, these plans were met with strong negative feedback from Bukit Panjang residents who relied heavily on Service 972 as a direct bus service to the city via the Expressway, citing higher fares (due to the longer distance travelled via Newton MRT), and resulting in longer travelling time, partly contributed by known congestion issues around Dunearn Rd / Bukit Timah Rd and Newton Circus. (Main article: Controversy over Bus 700 withdrawal and Bus 171 & 972 amendment)

Following discussions with the Members of Parliament for Bukit Panjang, the Land Transport Authority as well as the Ministry of Transport, Service 972M was introduced as a mitigation measure, while the route of Service 972 remains unchanged.

In April 2022, Service 972M was amended to serve Petir Road, skipping Bukit Panjang Road with the withdrawal of Service 971.

MRT / LRT Stations Served:
Special Departures:
  • Whitley Rd (Bef Stevens Stn Exit 4) → Bukit Panjang Int via Orchard Road
    Weekdays: 07:33 & 08:03
  • Penang Rd (Dhoby Ghaut Stn Exit B) → Bukit Panjang Int
    Weekdays: 18:28 & 18:41
  • Petir Rd (Aft Dairy Farm Rd) → Bukit Panjang Int
    Weekdays: Between 06:45 – 07:25
Route Variant:
  • Service 972: Bukit Panjang Int ↺ Orchard Road (Loop)
    Daily, via Bukit Panjang Road & Stevens Road

Gallery:
Poster Gallery:

Operator History:
  • 30 Aug 2020 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd

The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Choa Chu Kang–Bukit Panjang Bus Package.

History:
  • 2020 (30 Aug): Introduced from Bukit Panjang to Orchard Road (Loop) via Newton MRT as part of the mitigation measures in response to planned bus route changes along the Downtown Line 2 Corridor. Wheelchair-accessible at launch.
  • 2022 (03 Apr): Amended to Bukit Panjang Ring Rd & skipping Senja Link towards Orchard Road due to the conversion of part of Senja Road and Senja Link to one-way traffic; Amended to ply Pending Road & Petir Road, skipping Bukit Panjang Road.
  • 2023 (08 Jan): Temporarily skips the bus stop outside Newton Stn Exit B along Scotts Rd due to upgrading works
  • 2023 (27 Aug): Resumes serving the bus stop outside Newton Stn Exit B along Scotts Rd after completion of upgrading works

Past Routings


Reference

Back to Bus Services
Back to Bus Articles

20 thoughts on “SMRT Bus Service 972M

  • 21 April 2022 at 6:51 AM
    Permalink

    Svc 972M
    AM Peak: 6-19mins
    AM Off-Peak: 11-18mins
    PM Peak: 10-13mins
    PM Off-Peak: 18-25mins

    Reply
  • 16 March 2022 at 4:42 PM
    Permalink

    I am curious, why didn’t they just amend 700/700A to follow the new 972M road instead of removing it totally? Are there more demand from Pending/Peitr to city now as compared to when 700/A was removed (given the new 972m follows 700/A route to Douby Ghaut)?

    Reply
    • 18 March 2022 at 2:33 PM
      Permalink

      If you amend 700, it will duplicate 972 right away. That’s why to prevent this, 972M is designed to Petir Road after 19 months of withdrawal. Mind you, it’s more profitable & resourceful using 972 taxes.

      And not to forget, “700” numbering isn’t meaningful anymore. 972 is more better demand than 700 when it was launched.

      Reply
      • 19 March 2022 at 12:12 AM
        Permalink

        Oh yes I totally forgot 972 and 972M uses the same tax. That makes more sense now. I was initially confused if they removed 700 due to poor demand, and 972M duplicates it entirely from Pending to Dhoby Ghaut, wouldn’t 972M suffer from low demand too, but now it makes more sense.

        Reply

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