History of Bukit Batok Bus Services

Operations Transfer to Trans-Island Bus Services (2000):

In exchange for bus services in Sengkang, Punggol and Jalan Kayu after Singapore Bus Service (SBS) clinched the operating license for the North East Line (NEL), the Singapore government had requested the operator to transfer its bus services in Bukit Batok to Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) in 2000.

A total of 8 bus services were transferred in 3 phases, starting with Bus Services 77, 189, 361, 365 & 367 on 18th June 2000. The remaining 3 Bukit Batok services would follow suit in the subsequent months, until the completion of the handover exercise in Dec 2000 with the offcial transfer of Bus Services 106 & 173. 2 other existing bus services from the interchange were already operated by TIBS prior to the transfer of interchange operations from SBS.

In 2003, Feeder Bus Services 361, 365 & 367 were re-numbered to 941, 945 & 947 respectively, reflecting the service number range used for TIBS bus services.

Operations Transfer under Bus Contracting Model (2016):

In 2016, Tower Transit Singapore took over as the anchor operator of Bukit Batok Bus Interchange, after clinching the contract for the Bulim Bus Package a year prior. All but 2 bus services operating out of the interchange are transferred to the new operator in May of that year.

Gallery:

Chronological History of Bukit Batok Bus Services:

• 1971 (11 Apr):
  • Launch of 7 new services in Bukit Batok:
    • 170 between Queen St & Johore Bahru via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 171 between Queen St & Sembawang Rd via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 172 between Prince Edward Rd & Lim Chu Kang Rd via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 173 between Princess Elizabeth & New Bridge Rd via Upp Bt Timah Rd
    • 174 between Nanyang University & New Bridge Rd via Jurong Rd
    • 175 between Upp Jurong Rd & Prince Edward Rd via Jurong Rd
    • 176 between Corporation Dr & Prince Edward Rd via Jurong Rd
• 1971 (22 Jun): Launch of Bus Service 157 between Jln Samulun & Toa Payoh via Jurong Rd
• 1971 (8 Nov): Route extension for Bus Service 181 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1971: Route extension for Bus Service 200 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1974 (3 Feb):
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 176 to ply Upp Ayer Rajah Rd & Jln Ahmad Ibrahim, skipping Jurong Rd
  • Launch of Bus Service 178 between Corporation Dr & Upp Bt Timah Rd via Jurong Rd
  • Launch of Bus Service 179 between Lim Chu Kang Rd & Bukit Timah
  • Route extension for Bus Service 180 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1975 (9 Nov): Route amendment for Bus Services 157, 174, 175 & 178 to new carriageway along Jurong Rd
• 1976 (6 Jun): Route extension for Bus Service 182 to Marsiling via Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1976: Route extension for Bus Service 193 to Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1978 (27 Nov): Launch of Bus Service 177 between Bukit Timah & Choa Chu Kang Rd via Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1980 (14 Dec): Route cutback for Bus Service 193 to Princess Elizabeth via Jurong Rd & Hillview Ave
• 1981 (15 Nov): Route cutback for Bus Service 200 to loop at Jln Anak Bt from Kent Ridge
• 1983 (27 Nov): Discontinuation of Bus Service 179
• 1984 (20 Oct): Interim route amendment for Bus Services 157, 174, 175 & 178 to Bt Batok East Ave 3, Bt Batok St 24 & Bt Batok St 23 with the partial closure of Jurong Rd for redevelopment
• 1985 (6 Jan):
  • Route extension for Bus Service 122 to Bukit Batok
  • Launch of Feeder Bus Service 361
• 1985 (3 Feb): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 366
• 1985 (17 Mar): Route amendment for Bus Services 157, 174, 175 & 178 to Bt Batok East Ave 3, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok West Ave 3 & Bt Batok Rd with the partial closure of Jurong Rd for redevelopment
• 1985 (7 Apr): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 367
• 1985 (18 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 179 to New Bridge Rd
• 1985 (28 Oct): Route extension for Bus Service 106 to Bukit Batok
• 1985 (24 Nov): Route extension for Bus Service 189 to Bukit Batok
• 1985 (8 Dec): Launch of Bus Service 852 between Jurong & Yishun via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok East Ave 3 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 1986 (6 Apr): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 365
• 1986 (1 Jun): Route extension for Bus Service 5 to Bukit Panjang via Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1986 (10 Aug): Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 367 to loop at Bt Batok Rd instead of Bt Batok St 32
• 1987 (19 Apr): Route extension for Bus Service 61 to Bukit Batok
• 1987 (27 Sep): Route amendment for Bus Services 61, 106, 122, 179, 189, 361, 365, 366 & 367 to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange
• 1988 (24 Jan): Launch of Bus Service 176 between Jurong East & Bukit Panjang via Bt Batok Ave 1, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok East Ave 3, Bt Batok East Ave 4, Hillview Ave & Hillview Rd
• 1988 (28 Feb): Launch of alternate Bus Service 181# between Woodlands & Crawford St via Upp Bt Timah Rd & Marina Ctr on Sundays & Public Holidays
• 1988 (13 Mar): Launch of Bus Service SS3 between Clementi & Bt Batok West Ave 7
• 1988 (10 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 187 between Jurong & Bukit Panjang via Bt Batok Ave 1, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 5 & Bt Batok Rd
• 1988 (31 Jul):
  • Route extension for Bus Service 75 to Choa Chu Kang via Upp Bt Timah Rd
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 177
  • Launch of Bus Service 185 between Choa Chu Kang & Shenton Way via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok East Ave 3 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 1988 (18 Dec): Route extension for Bus Service 179 to Choa Chu Kang via Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 5 & Bt Batok Rd
• 1989 (5 Mar): Route amendment for Bus Service 176 to ply Bt Batok West Ave 6 & Bt Batok West Ave 3
• 1989 (26 Apr): Launch of peak hour Bus Service 177 between MINDEF CP & Hillview Rd on weekdays & Saturdays
• 1989 (6 Nov): Route cutback for Bus Service 175 to Bukit Batok
• 1989 (17 Dec): Launch of Bus Service 66 between Jurong East & Tampines via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok East Ave 3 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 1990 (11 Mar):
  • Route extension for Bus Service 173 to Bukit Batok
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service SS3
• 1990 (12 Mar): Route extension for Bus Service 177 to Bukit Batok
• 1990 (10 Jun): Launch of Bus Service 951 between Jurong & Marsiling via Bt Batok Rd
• 1990 (16 Dec): Discontinuation of Bus Service 179, following the route extension for Bus Service 190 to Choa Chu Kang
• 1991 (6 Jan): Discontinuation of Bus Service 180
• 1991 (20 Jan): Discontinuation of Bus Service 175
• 1991 (28 Apr):
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 122 to Buona Vista
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 185 to ply Bt Batok East Ave 2
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 193
  • Discontinuation of Feeder Bus Service 366, following the route amendment for Bus Service 189 to Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok Ave 1, Bt Batok East Ave 6 & Bt Batok St 23
• 1991 (26 May): Launch of Bus Service 67 between Tampines & Choa Chu Kang via Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1992 (3 May): Route amendment for Bus Service 173 to ply Bt Batok Ctrl & Bt Batok St 21
• 1994 (3 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 184 between Bukit Panjang & Clementi via Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1995 (30 Apr): Route amendment for Bus Service 176 to ply Bt Batok East Ave 2
• 1995 (2 Jul): Transfer of operations for Bus Service 177 to TIBS
• 1996 (10 Mar):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Services 182 & 951
  • Launch of Bus Service 180 between Bukit Panjang & Boon Lay via Bt Batok Rd
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 852 to Bukit Batok
• 1996: Route extension for Bus Service 77 to Bukit Batok
• 1998 (27 Dec):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 181/181#
  • Launch of Bus Service 961/961# between Woodlands & Lor 1 Geylang via Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 1999 (7 Mar): Launch of Bus Service 188 between Choa Chu Kang & World Trade Ctr via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 5, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok West Ave 6 & Bt Batok Ave 1
• 1999 (30 Aug): Launch of Express Bus Service 506 between Jurong East & Bedok via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok Ctrl & Bt Batok East Ave 3
• 1999 (1 Sep): Launch of Express Bus Service 521 between Bukit Panjang & World Trade Ctr via Hillview Ave, Bt Batok East Ave 2, Bt Batok East Ave 6 & Bt Batok East Ave 3
• 1999 (26 Dec):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 5
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 172 to Choa Chu Kang
• 2000 (18 Jun): Transfer of operations for Bus Services 77, 189, 361, 365 & 367 to TIBS
• 2000 (20 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 970 between Bukit Panjang & Shenton Way via Hillview Rd, Hillview Ave, Bt Batok East Ave 2 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 2000 (3 Sep): Transfer of operations for Bus Service 61 to TIBS
• 2000 (24 Dec): Transfer of operations for Bus Services 106 & 173 to TIBS
• 2001 (15 Apr): Launch of alternate Bus Service 189A to West Coast Ferry Ter
• 2001 (5 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 989 between Choa Chu Kang & Changi Airport via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 5, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok Ave 1 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 2002 (29 Sep):
  • Discontinuation of Express Bus Service 521
  • Launch of Bus Service 963 between Woodlands & World Trade Ctr via Hillview Rd, Hillview Ave, Bt Batok East Ave 4 & Bt Batok East Ave 3
• 2003 (4 May):
  • Discontinuation of alternate Bus Service 189A
  • Re-numbering of Feeder Bus Services 361, 365 & 367 to 941, 945 & 947
  • Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 945 to ply Bt Batok St 52
• 2003 (27 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 985 between Choa Chu Kang & Lor 1 Geylang via Bt Batok Rd, Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok East Ave 2 & Bt Batok East Ave 6, following the integration of Bus Services 185 & 989
• 2004 (5 Sep): Launch of cross-border Bus Service 160 between Jurong East & Johor Bahru, Malaysia via Bt Batok Rd
• 2005 (28 Mar): Launch of peak hour Fast Forward Bus Service 174e between Boon Lay & Nth Bridge Rd via Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok Ctrl, Bt Batok East Ave 3 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 2006 (20 Feb): Launch of peak hour Express Bus Service 963E from Woodlands to HarbourFront via Hillview Ave, Bt Batok East Ave 4 & Bt Batok East Ave 3
• 2006 (30 Apr): Route amendment for Bus Service 985 to ply Bt Batok West Ave 5
• 2006 (16 Jul): Route amendment for Bus Service 173 to ply Bt Batok Ave 1, Bt Batok East Ave 6 & Hume Ave
• 2006 (27 Aug): Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 945 to ply Bt Batok West Ave 4 & Bt Batok St 33
• 2006 (15 Oct): Launch of alternate Bus Service 985W between Choa Chu Kang & Lor 1 Geylang via Bt Batok Rd & Bt Batok West Ave 7
• 2007 (25 Jun): Launch of peak hour Express Bus Service 188E from Choa Chu Kang to HarbourFront via Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok West Ave 6 & Bt Batok Ave 1
• 2007 (14 Oct): Discontinuation of alternate Bus Service 985W
• 2009 (11 May): Implementation of evening peak trips for Express Bus Service 963E from HarbourFront to Woodlands via Bt Batok East Ave 3, Bt Batok East Ave 4 & Hillview Ave
• 2010 (30 Jan): Launch of Express Bus Service 963R between Woodlands & Resorts World Sentosa via Hillview Ave, Bt Batok East Ave 4 & Bt Batok East Ave 3 on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays
• 2010 (1 May): Launch of Express Bus Service 188R between Choa Chu Kang & Resorts World Sentosa via Bt Batok West Ave 7, Bt Batok West Ave 4, Bt Batok West Ave 2, Bt Batok West Ave 3, Bt Batok West Ave 6 & Bt Batok Ave 1
• 2010 (28 Sep): Launch of peak hour Express Bus Service 868 from Bt Batok West Ave 5 to Temasek Ave
• 2014 (13 Jan): Launch of City Direct Bus Service 653 to Marina Blvd during weekday peak hours under BSEP
• 2014 (15 Nov): Launch of Bus Service 990 to Jurong East under BSEP
• 2016 (29 May): Transfer of operations for Bukit Batok (Bus Services 77, 106, 173, 177, 189, 941, 945, 947 & 990) to Tower Transit Singapore under Bulim Bus Package (Tranche 1)
• 2017 (26 Feb): Launch of Bus Service 973 between Bukit Panjang & Hume Ave
• 2017 (27 Aug): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 944 under BSEP
• 2018 (25 Mar): Transfer of operations for Bus Service 852 to SBS Transit under Seletar Bus Package (Tranche 3)
• 2018 (8 Jul):
  • Route extension for Feeder Bus Service 941 to loop at Bt Batok West Ave 9
  • Launch of Bus Service 991 to Bt Batok West Ave 5
• 2018 (13 Aug): Re-numbering of Express Bus Services 188E, 868 & 963E to 188e, 868E & 963e respectively
• 2018 (30 Sep): Route extension for Bus Service 991 to Choa Chu Kang via Bt Batok West Ave 5
• 2019 (23 Jun): Route amendment for Bus Service 66 to ply Bt Batok West Ave 8, Bt Batok West Ave 6 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 2019 (8 Sep): Re-numbering of alternate Bus Service 961# to 961M
• 2020 (26 Jul): Launch of supplementary Bus Service 160M between Jurong East & Bt Batok Rd
• 2020 (30 Aug): Route cutback for Bus Service 171 to loop at Bukit Panjang MRT from Yishun
• 2021 (29 May): Transfer of operations for Feeder Bus Service 944 to Tower Transit
• 2022 (30 Jun): Discontinuation of Express Bus Services 188R & 963R
• 2023 (24 Sep):
  • Route extension for Bus Service 160M to loop at Bt Batok West Ave 8 & re-numbering to Bus Service 993
  • Route extension for Feeder Bus Service 944 to Tengah & re-numbering to Bus Service 992
• 2023 (26 Nov): Launch of Bus Service 870 between Jurong Town Hall & Tengah via Bt Batok Ave 1, Bt Batok West Ave 6, Bt Batok West Ave 3 & Bt Batok Rd
• 2024 (21 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 871 between Tengah & Beauty World via Bt Batok West Ave 5, Bt Batok East Ave 5, Bt Batok St 52, Bt Batok East Ave 5, Bt Batok East Ave 2, Bt Batok East Ave 3 & Bt Batok East Ave 6
• 2025 (10 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 872 between Tengah & Jurong East St 32 via Bt Batok Rd under BCEP
• 2025 (26 Oct): Launch of Bus Service 984 between Jurong Town Hall & W’lands Rd via Bt Batok Rd under BCEP
• 2025 (17 Nov):
  • Launch of peak hour Bus Service 451 between Keat Hong Lk & Bt Gombak Stn under BCEP
  • Launch of peak hour Bus Service 453 to Tengah under BCEP

External Links & References:

• Lianhe Zaobao: Consisting of a multi-storey car park, Bukit Batok Interchange officially opens on Sunday (24 Sep 1987)

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