SMRT Bus Service 976 is a trunk service operating between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang Interchange, supplementing the Bukit Panjang LRT and was launched on 10 November 2019.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange ↔ Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Choa Chu Kang Way, Senja Rd, Bt Panjang Ring Rd, Petir Rd | |||||||||||
| Route Length | Towards Bukit Panjang: 8.5 km | Towards Choa Chu Kang: 8.9 km | ||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 37 – 50 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 | Single-deck buses Includes electric buses (Linkker LM312) |
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| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Choa Chu Kang | Daily | |||||||||||
| 05:30 – 00:30 | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Bukit Panjang | Daily | |||||||||||
| 05:50 – 00:50 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
|  | 6:30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | ||||||||
| From Choa Chu Kang |
10 – 15 mins | 12 – 17 mins | 15 mins | 14 – 18 mins | ||||||||
| From Bukit Panjang | 10 – 15 mins | 13 – 17 mins | 15 mins | 15 – 16 mins | ||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges regular distance fares |
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Bus Service 976 was introduced as a full-day service to complement the Bukit Panjang LRT network. As part of the Bukit Panjang LRT Overhaul, train services would only be offered in a counter-clockwise loop (Service B via Petir) during off-peak hours on Weekdays and the entire day during Weekends & Public Holidays starting from 1 December 2019.
According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), full-day Bus Service 976 is upgraded from the withdrawn peak-hour Bus Parallel Service BPS1, which was introduced in 2011 as a measure to reduce peak hour crowding on the Bukit Panjang LRT network by providing an alternative travel route for residents at Segar, Jelapang and Senja to Choa Chu Kang. With the introduction of Bus Service 976, Service BPS1 was withdrawn on the same day.
Withdrawn Double Deck Deployment Plans
Plans were made to deploy double-deck buses on Service 976 in 2024 to improve capacity. To accommodate the larger turning radius of the 3-axle double-deck buses, a lane reduction was implemented along Segar Road, from three lanes to two, before the junction with Bukit Panjang Ring Road and Fajar Road. This change aimed to facilitate left turns from Segar Road onto Bukit Panjang Ring Road towards Bukit Panjang Interchange. However, this adjustment led to increased traffic congestion at the affected junction.
On 5 August 2024, Mr. Edward Chia Bing Hui, Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (Zhenghua), posted on Facebook about the feedback he received from residents concerning the congestion at the junction. He announced that the previous three-lane configuration would be reinstated before mid-August 2024, following discussions with LTA.
In an update on 12 August 2024, he mentioned that more trips were added to Service 976.
MRT / LRT Stations Served
- BP6–DT1Â Bukit Panjang
- BP7 Petir
- BP8 Pending
- BP9 Bangkit
- BP12 Jelapang
- BP13 Senja
- BP5Â Phoenix
- BP4 Teck Whye
- BP3Â Keat Hong
- BP2 South View
- BP1NS4Â Â Choa Chu Kang
Gallery (Buses):
Poster Gallery:
Operator History
- 2019 – 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
- 2019 (10 Nov): Introduced between Choa Chu Kang Int and Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub, replacing Service BPS1
- 2020 (01 Jan): Service Enhancement to operate at 15 minutes frequency daily throughout the day.
- 2022 (03 Apr): Amended to skip Senja Link towards Bukit Panjang due to the conversion of part of Senja Road and Senja Link to one-way traffic
External Links & References
Back to Bus Services
Back to Bus Articles
LTA should just demolished the BPLRT and decrease the amount of waiting time for this bus service by 5-10 mins. It is ok if demolished of BPLRT is unnecessary and like what Alan Lim had reply, BPLRT should only served in Peak Hours, while this bus service can still operate in both peak hours and Off Peak hours or just operate when BPLRT is not in operation.
From 10nov
Bukit Panjang Interchange
Berth 1 : 970 973 180
Berth 2: 975 972 922
Berth 3: 976 979 920 176
The waiting time was too long, 30mins interval. Children will be late for school.
Have feedback to SMRT to increase the bus frequency for both Peak hour and off-peak hour
30 min headway during off peak? Are LTA sure that that’s adequate? I’d say 10-15 min would be more appropriate!
Have feedback to LTA regards on this matter
MP die2 wan 976 after LTA suka2 say 30min frequency… election coming………….
really glad abt this service. will be convinent for students too.
Definitely will get it’s bus guide. But bad luck for BPS1…
How about express service from chua cho kang via bukit panjang towards ciq woodlands…
Dear all,
Do anyone agree to ease the operating hours for Weekends and Public Holidays on BPLRT Service and increase of frequency for Service 976.
As for Weekdays , BPLRT will serve during Weekdays AM and PM Peak Hours.
LTA could have done way better with this route imo. 30 mins off-peak frequency is pretty ridiculous. Who would even want to wait up to 30 mins for 976 when it’s much faster to take service B all the way to Senja and Jelapang?
Also, instead of merely duplicating BPLRT, LTA could have thought out of the box and perhaps considered extending 976 to loop at Sungei Kadut Industrial estate which is largely underserved by public buses.
Its suppose to replace BPS1 (morning and evening service).
Regulars of BPS1 are not too happy.
BPS1 is fastest way to travel from Bt Pnj to CCK mrt.
976 will is the scenic route not ideal to replace the service.
It goes through major junction likely to experience delays and 15 mins interval during peak hour will not be able to compensate the longer journey.
prepare for lrt increased ridership