History of Punggol Bus Services

Introduction:

Punggol is one of Singapore’s latest satellite towns developed since the early 2000s, located in the north-eastern region of the island. To cater to the increasing population in the developing public housing estate, SBS Transit gradually introduced new trunk services and amended the routes of existing trunk services to serve the town, as well as providing several feeder services that connected the town’s neighbourhoods with the town centre.

While there was no specific bus plan implemented by SBS Transit, Punggol Bus Interchange serves as the main transport hub for bus services and the MRT in the housing estate, opening its doors on 30th November 2003 along Punggol Place.

Pre-Interchange Opening (2001 – 2003):

Before the development of Punggol New Town, the area where the housing estate occupies today was mainly served by long distance trunk services along Punggol Road.

In December 2001, SBS Transit introduced its 1st new bus route in Punggol New Town, with the launch of Bus Service 83, connecting the newly constructed residential blocks along Punggol Field with the neighbouring Sengkang Town Centre. In addition, the route of Bus Service 82 cuts through the new housing estate along Punggol Road, part of which would be abolished in 2018.

Over the subsequent few years, more trunk services were added to Punggol New Town between 2001 and 2003, while the bus interchange was constructed in the Punggol Town Centre to serve as the primary transport node for the estate:

• Bus Service 83: New trunk service to Sengkang from 23 Dec 2001
• Bus Service 136: Extended from Upp Serangoon Rd on 17 Feb 2002
• Bus Service 84: New interim internal trunk service in Punggol East during weekday peak hours from 15 Sep 2003
• Bus Service 3: Extended from Pasir Ris St 71 on 19 Oct 2003

Besides the existing roadside bus terminus along Punggol Road End for Bus Service 82, the 4 new bus services added to Punggol New Town were subsequently amended to start/end service at a pair of bus stops along Punggol Central, shortly after the opening of Punggol MRT station on the North East Line (NEL), while the bus interchange remained under construction.

On 30th November 2003, the Punggol Bus Interchange was opened, offering a pleasant environment for bus passengers to transfer and wait for their buses. All bus services from Punggol Central were relocated to the new interchange. A week later, the final phase of the bus network rationalisation for the NEL was implemented, adding Bus Service 62 to the interchange, with a route amendment to Bus Service 82 to pass through Punggol Town Centre.

While the bus interchange was initially designated as an interim facility for Punggol, there has been no concrete development plans for an air-conditioned bus interchange in an integrated development to replace it as of now.

Summary of Post-Amendment Bus Routes in Punggol (as of 7 Dec 2003):

• 3: Punggol – Pasir Ris – Tampines
• 62: Punggol – Sengkang – Hougang – Upper Paya Lebar Road – Aljunied Road – Sims Avenue (Loop)
• 82: Serangoon – Hougang – Punggol Road – Punggol (Town Centre) – Punggol Road End (Loop)
• 83: Punggol – Sengkang (Loop)
• 84: Punggol – Punggol East (Loop)
• 136: Punggol – Rivervale Drive – Upper Serangoon Road – Serangoon Gardens – Ang Mo Kio

More detailed information for operational bus services can be found in the Historical Routes of Bus Services article.