History of Tampines Bus Services

Further Bus Service Developments in Tampines (2015 – Present)

Under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) built the new Changi Business Park Bus Terminal to accommodate new bus services under the scheme, which opened for service in 2015.

In 2016, Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange was opened as the secondary bus interchange for Tampines New Town, as the main Tampines Bus Interchange was becoming overcrowded with additional bus services implemented over the past 3 decades. 4 bus services were amended / introduced to operate from the new interchange, located at the junction of Tampines Concourse and Tampines Central 8.

As Tampines New Town continues to expand northwards, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) proposed the construction of a new bus interchange in Tampines North, specifically catering to new housing projects in the developing Neighbourhood 6 of the housing estate. After several years, the interim Tampines North Bus Interchange opened along the junction of Tampines North Drive 2 and Tampines Street 62 in 2022, partially displacing the role of Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange as it absorbed 3 of 4 existing bus routes operating from the 1st secondary bus interchange.

In 2026, Go-Ahead Singapore will take over as the anchor operator of Tampines Bus Interchange, Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange, Tampines North Bus Interchange and Changi Business Park Bus Terminal, after clinching the contract for the Tampines Bus Package a year prior. All but 3 bus services operating out of Tampines Bus Interchange will be transferred to the new operator in July of that year.

Gallery:

Chronological History of Tampines Bus Services:

• 1971 (11 Apr):
  • Launch of 4 new services in Tampines:
    • 1 between Changi Pt & Delta Circus via Upp Changi Rd
    • 2 between Changi Pt & C’wealth Ave via Upp Changi Rd
    • 80 between Upp Changi Rd & Prince Edward Rd via Tampines Rd
    • 81 between Upp Changi Rd & New Bridge Rd via Tampines Rd
• 1971 (1 Aug):
  • Launch of Bus Service 1A between Changi Pt & Delta Circus via Upp Changi Rd
  • Launch of Bus Service 2A between Changi Pt & C’wealth Ave via Upp Changi Rd
• 1974 (3 Feb):
  • Re-numbering of Bus Service 1A to 3
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 2A
• 1976 (2 Aug): Route cutback for Bus Service 3 to Bedok Sth Rd
• 1977 (3 Apr): Launch of special Bus Service 403 between Pasir Ris Rd & Tampines Rd on Sundays & Public Holidays
• 1979 (9 Apr): Launch of Bus Service 9 between Geylang & Changi Pt via Upp Changi Rd
• 1980 (16 Jun): Route amendment for Bus Services 10, 11, 12, 14, 135 & 155 to Somapah Depot
• 1980 (28 Dec): Route amendment for Bus Services 12, 135 & 155 to ply Upp Changi Rd East
• 1981 (22 Jun): Route cutback for Bus Service 135 to Marine Parade
• 1981 (28 Jun):
  • Route amendment for Bus Services 10, 11, 12, 14 & 155 to Somapah Bus Interchange
  • Launch of CAS Bus Service 392 between Somapah & Changi Airport PTB
• 1981 (29 Jun): Launch of CAS Bus Service 393 between Somapah & Changi Airport Cargo Cplx
• 1981 (2 Nov): Discontinuation of CAS Bus Service 393, with the route amendment for CAS Bus Service 395 to ply Upp Changi Rd and serve Somapah Bus Interchange in both directions
• 1981 (8 Nov):
  • Conversion of Bus Service 1 to day service on weekdays & Saturdays
  • Conversion of Bus Service 9 to daily service
• 1982 (2 May): Launch of Bus Service 18 between Bedok & Tampines Ave 2
• 1983 (20 Feb):
  • Launch of Bus Service 23 between Tampines & Orchard Rd
  • Launch of Feeder Bus Service 292
• 1983 (25 Jun):
  • Launch of Bus Service 24 between Ang Mo Kio & Changi Airport PTB via Upp Changi Rd East
  • Discontinuation of CAS Bus Services 392 & 395
• 1983 (4 Sep): Launch of Bus Service 28 between Tampines & New Bridge Rd
• 1984 (27 May): Route extension for Bus Service 10 to Tampines
• 1984 (12 Aug): Launch of Feeder Bus Services 293 & 294
• 1985 (7 Apr): Route extension for Bus Service 31 to Tampines
• 1985 (9 Jun): Launch of Bus Service 29 between Tampines & Changi Airport Cargo Cplx
• 1985 (23 Jun):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 80
  • Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 293 to loop at Tampines St 81
• 1985 (14 Jul): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 297
• 1985 (3 Nov): Route amendment for Bus Service 18 to loop at Tampines St 22 from Bedok
• 1987 (12 Apr): Route extension for Bus Service 65 to Tampines
• 1987 (21 Jun): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 290
• 1987 (29 Nov): Route amendment for Bus Services 10, 18, 23, 28, 29, 31, 65, 290, 292, 293, 294 & 297 to Tampines Bus Interchange
• 1988 (17 Jan): Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 290 to ply Simei St 4
• 1988 (24 Jan):
  • Launch of Bus Service 22 between Tampines & Ang Mo Kio
  • Launch of Bus Service 27 between Tampines & Changi Airport PTB
• 1988 (10 Apr): Route amendment for Bus Service 9 to ply Upp Changi Rd East, Simei Rd, Tampines St 31, Tampines Ave 2 & Tampines Ave 7
• 1988 (19 Jun):
  • Launch of Bus Service 19 between Bedok & Pasir Ris via Tampines Ave 1, Tampines Ave 5, Tampines Ave 4 & Tampines Ave 7
  • Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 292 to ply Tampines St 11
  • Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 293 to ply Tampines St 84
• 1988 (21 Aug): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 295
• 1988 (23 Oct):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 11
  • Route extension for Bus Service 12 to Pasir Ris via Simei Rd, Tampines St 31, Tampines Ave 2 & Tampines Ave 7
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 81 to Tampines
• 1989 (27 Aug): Route cutback for Bus Service 155 to Marine Parade
• 1989 (22 Oct): Route amendment for Bus Service 403 to loop at Pasir Ris Dr 1 from Pasir Ris Rd
• 1989 (5 Nov):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 1
  • Route extension for Bus Service 14 to Changi Village via Upp Changi Rd East
  • Launch of Bus Services SS4, SS5 & SS6 to Tanah Merah MRT
• 1989 (17 Dec):
  • Launch of Bus Service 66 to Jurong East
  • Discontinuation of Bus Services SS4, SS5 & SS6
• 1990 (1 Mar): Launch of Bus Service 8 between Pasir Ris & Toa Payoh via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 2 & Tampines Ave 1
• 1990 (11 Mar):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 19, following the route extension for Bus Service 4 to Pasir Ris via Tampines Ave 1, Tampines Ave 5, Tampines Ave 4 & Tampines Ave 7
  • Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 297 to ply Tampines St 45
• 1990 (16 Dec): Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 297 to ply Tampines St 41
• 1991 (20 Jan): Route cutback for Bus Service 14 to Bedok
• 1991 (21 Apr): Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 295 to ply Tampines Ave 3
• 1991 (26 May):
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 66 to Bedok
  • Launch of Bus Service 67 to Choa Chu Kang
• 1992 (29 Nov):
  • Route cutback for Bus Services 4 & 8 to Tampines
  • Launch of Bus Service 21 between Pasir Ris & Lor 1 Geylang via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 4, Tampines Ave 5 & Tampines Ave 1
  • Route extension for Bus Service 27 to Pasir Ris
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 28
• 1993 (24 Jan): Route amendment for Bus Service 27 to serve Tampines Bus Interchange in both directions
• 1993 (4 Apr): Launch of Bus Service 17 between Pasir Ris & Bedok via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 2 & Simei Ave
• 1993 (23 May): Discontinuation of Bus Service 4, following the route amendment for Bus Service 67 to ply Tampines Ave 1
• 1994 (23 Jan): Launch of Bus Service 19 to Changi Airport Cargo Cplx, following the route cutback for Bus Service 29 to Changi Village
• 1994 (11 Sep): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 291
• 1994 (2 Oct): Launch of Bus Service 28 to Bedok
• 1995 (24 Apr): Launch of Bus Service 34 between Bedok & Changi Airport via Upp Changi Rd East on weekdays & Saturdays
• 1995 (9 Jul): Launch of Bus Service 35 between Bedok & Tanah Merah Ferry Ter via Xilin Ave
• 1995 (10 Sep):
  • Route amendment for Bus Services 8 & 23 to ply Tampines Ave 1 & Tampines Ave 10
  • Launch of Bus Service 15 between Pasir Ris & Eunos via Tampines Ave 12, Tampines Ave 9, Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 4, Tampines Ave 5, Tampines Ave 1 & Tampines Ave 10
  • Route cutback for Bus Service 27 to Tampines
  • Launch of Bus Service 69 to Bedok
• 1995 (3 Dec): Route amendment for Bus Service 9 to ply Simei Ave & Simei St 3
• 1996 (6 Jul):
  • Route extension for Townlink Bus Service 291 to loop at Tampines Ave 8, following its integration with Feeder Bus Service 295
  • Route extension for Townlink Bus Service 293 to loop at Tampines St 45, following its route integration with Feeder Bus Service 297
• 1996 (15 Jul): Launch of peak hour Bus Service 37 to Changi Nth Cres daily
• 1996 (3 Sep): Launch of Bus Service 80 to Hougang Ctrl
• 1997 (5 May): Launch of peak hour Express Bus Service 503 to Suntec City on weekdays & Saturdays
• 1997 (14 Dec):
  • Route amendment for Townlink Bus Service 291 to loop at Tampines St 81
  • Route extension for Townlink Bus Service 293 to loop at Tampines St 71
• 1998 (30 Mar): Discontinuation of Bus Service 80, following the route extension for Bus Service 72 to Tampines
• 1999 (25 Jul): Route extension for Bus Service 27 to Sengkang via Tampines Ave 4, Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 9 & Tampines Ave 10
• 1999 (30 Aug):
  • Discontinuation of Express Bus Service 503
  • Launch of Express Bus Service 505 between Pasir Ris & World Trade Ctr via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 4, Tampines Ave 5 & Tampines Ave 10
• 1999 (26 Dec): Transfer of operations for Bus Service 67 to TIBS
• 2000 (10 Sep):
  • Discontinuation of Express Bus Service 505
  • Route extension for Express Bus Service 506 to Changi Airport via Upp Changi Rd East
  • Launch of Express Bus Service 518 between Pasir Ris & Suntec City via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 2, Tampines Ave 1 & Tampines Ave 10
• 2001 (14 Apr): Launch of Bus Service 168 between Bedok & Woodlands via Tampines Ave 1, Tampines Ave 5, Tampines Ave 4, Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 9 & Tampines Ave 10
• 2001 (15 Apr): Launch of Bus Service 969 to Woodlands via Yishun
• 2002 (7 Apr):
  • Launch of Bus Service 3 to Pasir Ris St 71, following the merger of Feeder Bus Service 294 & Townlink Bus Service 357
  • Launch of Bus Service 38 to Bedok, following the merger of Feeder Bus Services 220 & 290
• 2002 (15 Sep):
  • Discontinuation of Bus Service 34
  • Route cutback for Express Bus Service 506 to Bedok
• 2003 (23 Mar):
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 28 to ply Tampines St 45, Tampines St 34 & Tampines St 32
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 29 to ply Tampines St 41 & Tampines Ave 9
• 2003 (16 Jun): Launch of peak hour Bus Service 68 to Tampines Ind Pk A on weekdays
• 2003 (17 Aug): Launch of Bus Service 39 to Yishun via Pasir Ris
• 2003 (30 Nov): Route amendment for Townlink Bus Service 291 to ply Tampines Ave 3, Tampines Ave 8 & Tampines St 84
• 2005 (31 Jul):
  • Launch of Bus Service 34 between Punggol & Changi Airport via Tampines Ave 10, Tampines Ave 5, Tampines Ave 2 & Tampines Ave 7
  • Launch of Bus Service 58 between Pasir Ris & Bishan via Tampines Ave 10
• 2005 (23 Oct): Launch of Bus Service 59 between Changi Village & Bishan via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 2 & Tampines Ave 1
• 2007 (22 Jan): Conversion of Bus Service 37 to day service daily
• 2007 (11 Mar): Launch of Bus Service 5 between Pasir Ris & Bukit Merah via Upp Changi Rd East, Simei Rd, Simei St 3, Simei Ave & Tampines Ave 1
• 2007 (15 Dec):
  • Launch of CityShopper Bus Service 576 between Tampines Ave 7 & Suntec City
  • Launch of CityShopper Bus Service 579 between Tampines St 41 & Suntec City
• 2008 (21 Apr):
  • Launch of Premium Bus Service 552 from Tampines St 45 to Fullerton Rd during weekday peak hours
  • Launch of Premium Bus Service 553 from Tampines Ave 9 to Fullerton Rd during weekday peak hours
  • Launch of Premium Bus Service 554 from Tampines Ave 4 to Fullerton Rd during weekday peak hours
• 2008 (11 Aug): Discontinuation of Bus Service 68
• 2008 (28 Oct): Discontinuation of CityShopper Bus Service 576
• 2009 (27 Jul): Discontinuation of CityShopper Bus Service 579
• 2012 (17 Dec): Launch of Express Bus Service 513 to Shenton Way during weekday peak hours under BSEP
• 2013 (17 Mar): Launch of Bus Service 4 to Changi Nth Way under BSEP
• 2013 (9 Jun): Launch of Bus Service 20 to Changi Business Pk under BSEP
• 2014 (15 Dec): Launch of alternate Bus Service 35M to Tanah Merah Ferry Ter during off peak hours daily, following the route extension for Bus Service 35 to Alps Ave on weekdays & Saturdays under BSEP
• 2015 (6 Oct): Launch of City Direct Bus Service 664 to Marina Blvd during weekday peak hours under BSEP
• 2015 (20 Dec):
  • Launch of Bus Service 47 between Changi Business Pk & Marine Parade under BSEP
  • Launch of Bus Service 118 between Changi Business Pk & Punggol via Tampines Ave 1, Tampines Ave 8, Tampines Ave 5 & Tampines Ave 10 under BSEP
• 2016 (12 Jun): Launch of Bus Service 46 between Tampines & Upp East Coast under BSEP
• 2016 (29 Aug): Transfer of operations for Premium Bus Service 554 to Tan Bus Transport
• 2016 (4 Sep): Transfer of operations for Bus Services 3 & 118 to Go-Ahead Singapore under Loyang Bus Package (Tranche 1)
• 2016 (18 Dec):
  • Route extension for Bus Services 18 & 39 to Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange
  • Launch of Bus Service 127 between Tampines & Tampines Ind Ave 5 under BSEP
  • Launch of Bus Service 129 between Tampines Concourse & St. Michael’s under BSEP
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 969 to ply Tampines Ave 9 & Tampines Concourse
• 2017 (3 Jan):
  • Transfer of operations for Premium Bus Service 552 to Commute Solutions
  • Transfer of operations for Premium Bus Service 553 to APT Travel
• 2017 (21 Oct):
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 18 to ply Tampines St 32, Tampines St 33, Tampines St 34 & Tampines Ave 7
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 20 to ply Somapah Rd & Changi Sth Ave 1 (Expo MRT)
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 118 to ply Changi Sth Ave 1 (Expo MRT) & Changi Business Pk Ave 1
  • Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 293 to loop at Tampines East MRT
  • Launch of Feeder Bus Service 298 from Tampines Concourse under BSEP
• 2018 (28 Jan): Launch of Express Bus Service 12e between Pasir Ris & New Bridge Rd via Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 2, Tampines St 31 & Simei Rd
• 2018 (1 Apr): Launch of Bus Service 68 to Pasir Ris
• 2018 (17 Dec): Discontinuation of City Direct Bus Service 664
• 2020 (11 Oct): Route amendment for Bus Service 127 to ply Tampines Nth Dr 1 & Tampines Ave 11
• 2021 (19 Sep): Transfer of operations for Bus Service 969 to Tower Transit Singapore under Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package (Tranche 2)
• 2022 (30 Oct): Route extension for Bus Service 46 to Pasir Ris via Tampines Ave 6, Tampines Nth Dr 2 & Tampines Ave 12
• 2022 (27 Nov):
  • Route amendment for Bus Service 18 to Tampines North Bus Interchange via Tampines Ave 9, Tampines Nth Dr 1 & Tampines Ave 6
  • Route extension for Bus Service 129 to Tampines North Bus Interchange via Tampines Concourse, Tampines Ave 9, Tampines Ave 12 & Tampines Nth Dr 2
• 2023 (8 Jan): Route extension for Feeder Bus Service 298 to Tampines North Bus Interchange via Tampines Concourse, Tampines Ave 9, Tampines Ave 12, Tampines Nth Dr 2 & Tampines St 62
• 2023 (23 Feb): Launch of Bus Service LCS1 between Tampines Ave 9 & Loyang/Changi Ind Est during weekday peak hours
• 2024 (28 Apr): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 296 between Tampines & Tampines Nth Dr 2
• 2024 (9 Dec): Launch of supplementary Feeder Bus Service 298X between Tampines Nth & Tampines St 86 during weekday peak hours under BCEP
• 2025 (27 Apr): Launch of Feeder Bus Service 299 between Tampines Nth & Tampines St 96 under BCEP
• 2025 (11 May): Route amendment for Feeder Bus Service 292 to ply Tampines Lane & Tampines St 11
• 2025 (24 Nov): Re-numbering of Bus Service 298X as 454 and route amendment to serve Tampines West MRT station
• 2026 (Jul): Transfer of operations for Bus Services 4, 10, 18, 19, 20, 23, 28, 29, 31, 37, 38, 39, 47, 65, 69, 72, 81, 127, 129, 291, 292, 293, 296, 298/298X, 299 & 513 to Go-Ahead Singapore under Tampines Bus Package

External Links & References:

• Lianhe Zaobao: Costing S$5 million, Tampines Bus Interchange starts operations from the 29th this month (15 Nov 1987)
• TODAYonline: Tampines Concourse bus interchange to open Dec 18 (28 Nov 2016)
• Channel NewsAsia: Tampines North bus interchange to open on Nov 27 with family-friendly and inclusive facilities (31 Oct 2022)

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