Kranji Bus Depot was a bus depot owned and operated by SMRT Buses. Located along Kranji Road, it served as a parking and maintenance facility for bus operations mainly around Woodlands, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Batok, and Marina Centre.
Bus operations at Kranji Bus Depot ceased on 4 October 2025, and shifted to Gali Batu Bus Depot on the same day.
| General Information | |
| Name | Kranji Bus Depot / 克兰芝巴士车厂 |
| Address | 209 Kranji Road, Singapore 739484 |
| Depot Information | |
| BCM Route Package | Choa Chu Kang–Bukit Panjang Bus Package |
| Former Operator | SMRT Buses |
| Years In Operation | 1989 – 3 Oct 2025 |
| Catchment | Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Gali Batu |
Kranji Depot was a bus depot serving the north-western part of Singapore. Operated by SMRT Buses, it was commonly known by its code KJDEP and supported daily operations by providing maintenance, refuelling, and parking for buses. The open-air depot complex was situated within the Kranji Industrial Estate, and included an office-cum-canteen block, a maintenance workshop, a bus washing shed, and other ancillary facilities.
Development
Kranji Depot was one of two purpose-built depots commissioned by Trans-Island Bus Service (TIBS) during the 1980s, following its establishment on 31 May 1982. TIBS was created in response to the Government’s call for a second bus operator, with the intention of benchmarking and improving service standards through competition with Singapore Bus Service (SBS).
In its early years, TIBS operated from temporary facilities in Ang Mo Kio and Kranji, located near the eventual sites of the permanent depots. Ang Mo Kio Depot opened in 1985, while Kranji Depot was completed later in 1989, replacing a temporary facility at Kranji Loop.
Land and leasehold
According to Singapore Land Authority (SLA) records, Kranji Depot was located on lot MK11-00920W and was originally commissioned on 7 January 1972. While details of intermediate land-use amendments remain unclear, SMRT annual reports from the period show that the site’s original leasehold was due to expire in mid-2003. A further 10-year lease was subsequently granted with effect from 1 January 2005, and this has since lapsed.
Based on the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)’s Master Plan 2019, Kranji Depot’s land is rezoned for different uses, with the eastern portion facing Kranji Road zoned for Business use, and the western portion zoned for Civic and Community Institution use.
Operations
During the 2010s, the depot faced parking constraints, which led to overnight parking arrangements outside the depot. From August 2014, part of its fleet parked overnight at Bulim Bus Depot, an arrangement which continued until December 2024.
A similar arrangement was made at Ulu Pandan Bus Depot between April 2017 and September 2021. In both cases, the completed bus park was made available for SMRT use before the depot buildings finished construction.
Kranji Depot ceased operations on 4 October 2025, with the last day of bus operations on 3 October 2025. All operations and supporting functions were transferred to the new Gali Batu Bus Depot.
Depot Fleet
Kranji Depot housed the following models of buses (as of 3 October 2025):
Single-Deck Buses
Articulated Buses
- MAN NG363F (A24)
Double Decker Buses
Gallery (2025):
Gallery (2014):
External Links & References:
- NewspaperSG – Trans-Island expects $7.3m profit this year (nlb.gov.sg)
- NewspaperSG – Tibs to take over 17 SBS bus routes in the north (nlb.gov.sg)
Back to Bus Depots and Bus Parks
For a very long time, Kranji depot hosted SMRT bus in the entire western half of Singapore.
Especially service 187, 172, 180, 178 – all of which went all the way to Boon Lay in Jurong West.
The dead mileage was very significant.
Now, the Gali Batu depot, is much nearer to Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang bus interchange where 172 and 180 use as terminal point. It is also along route of 178 and 187. Gali Batu really much more economical location.
Anyway, Kranji bus depot, although just a small depot, was really that significant. It is really amazing that SMRT managed to pull off managing Boon Lay bus routes 172, 180, 178 and 187 all the way from Kranji depot, during that many years when Kranji depot was the only bus depot that SMRT had in the west.
And not to mention: Bukit Batok Bus Interchange services. This Kranji depot, one small depot, was really over utilised.
A few BPJ routes used to be WLDEP managed back in the 2000s shortly after Tibs took over all NW side bus routes in exchange for SBS getting SK and PGL ones. Basically, AMDEP took charge for SBW and YIS, WLDEP had WDL and BPJ while KJDEP oversaw BBT and CCK.
All SMRT bus depot is over utilised… Even Woodlands and current Soon Lee..
that was why they are willing to take Boon Lay, Joo Koon and Tuas (Soon Lee Depot), only after the retirement of non-WAB buses.
Kranji waiting for the days when all operations will be transfer to Gali Batu
Hi, out of curiosity I would like to know
1. The number of buses returning to the depot from revenue services at night (x number of buses out of 207).
1a. After shifting to Gali Batu BD, do you think the number will be increased? Any projection figure?
2. Are all buses required to refuel and wash before parked in the depot?
3. How efficient is the bus wash system in kranji BD e.g. 50 buses per hour?
4. How long to top up the fuel tank in average? Just wonder, what would be the fuel consumption after the revenue service e.g. 1/4, 1/2 etc. tank?
5. which is the most time consuming/difficult maintenance tasks?
tks
tks
Kranji with maximum parking can tank in around 210 buses… With minimal space for buses to go out for operation in the early morning.They got 61,983,985,975 and 172 Park at Soon Lee. Majority of BPJ svc like 176,180,188,920,922,970,972,973,979 all park at Woodlands Bus Park and even a small number of 75 and 184 also overnight parking at Gali Batu Terminal.The only svc that park at Kranji is 67,190,Portion of 300/302,307,927,976 and some CD/express svc.