[Defunct] Kranji Bus Depot

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.

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

• MAN A22
• Mercedes-Benz OC500LE 
• Linkker LM312
• ST Engineering Retrofitted Electric Bus
• Volvo B5LH

Articulated Buses

• MAN NG363F (A24)

Double Decker Buses

• Alexander Dennis Enviro500
• MAN A95
• MAN A95 (3-Door)
• Volvo B9TL

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