SMRT Bus Service 974 is a trunk service plying between Joo Koon and looping at Bukit Panjang, passing through Pioneer, Bon Lay, Jln Bahar, KJE and Choa Chu Kang. Service 974 was launched on Sunday, 8th April 2018. It was the fifth new route to be introduced under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) after Service 68.
Bus Service 974 is a trunk service from Joo Koon, looping at Bukit Panjang MRT. The route enhances inter-town connectivity and provides Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang residents with access to existing bus services plying Nanyang Technological University and Jurong Industrial Estate. It will also enhance connectivity in the west by linking Bukit Panjang Station (Downtown Line) and Choa Chu Kang Station (North-South Line) to Boon Lay, Pioneer and Joo Koon Stations (East-West Line).
The route relieves end-to-end demand on Service 172 by providing an express bus corridor along the Kranji Expressway (KJE), offering faster journeys between Choa Chu Kang and Boon Lay, as well as complementing existing bus connections between Boon Lay and Joo Koon. Connecting directly to Joo Koon, the route will also benefit commuters travelling between the north of Singapore and industries at Joo Koon via train, reducing the need to transfer between the North South Line and East West Line at Jurong East.
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2029 under the Jurong West Bus Package.
Route History:
2018 (08 Apr): Introduced between Upp Bt Timah Rd (Bukit Panjang MRT) and Joo Koon Int. Operated by Tower Transit under the Bulim Bus Package. Wheelchair accessible at launch.
2019 (05 Oct): Last bus timing from Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 (Opp Choa Chu Kang Stn) extended from 01:00 to 01:05
2021 (23 Jan): Amended to start from Joo Koon Int and loop at Upp Bt Timah Rd (Bukit Panjang MRT) with the closure of Bt Panjang Temp Bus Pk
2021 (29 May): Operations transferred to SBS Transit Ltd under the Jurong West Bus Package
2022 (13 Feb): Serves a new pair of bus stops Aft Blk 503 and Opp Blk 502 along Kranji Expressway
2024 (15 Sep): Operations transferred to SMRT Buses under the Jurong West Bus Package
Single decker scania buses resume operations daily. However, as a result, difficulty boarding during morning peak hours. Single deck filled to the brim. Which genius from SMRT thought it was a great idea for single deck deployment on weekdays
This bus (974) always full and waiting time is very long at bus stop 27101.
appreciate if SMRT could increase the bus and frequency during morning and evening peak hours.
Single decker scania buses resume operations daily. However, as a result, difficulty boarding during morning peak hours. Single deck filled to the brim. Which genius from SMRT thought it was a great idea for single deck deployment on weekdays