Cross-Border Public Bus Services 160, 170 and 170X have been deployed with new buses. These buses have been operating on cross-border operations since 1 May 2022.
Previously solely operated with Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses, the new cross-border fleet for Services 160 / 170 / 170X include the Mercedes-Benz Citaro, MAN A22 (Euro V) and MAN A22 (Euro VI).
In January 2022, SBS Transit retired 97 single-deck Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses early. These included the vast majority of its existing cross border fleet; comprising 73 out of 80 buses registered with the Malaysia Land Public Transport Agency (Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD)) for use on its cross border services 160, 170 and 170X.
As a result, operators such as SBS Transit did not have enough buses to operate these cross-border services upon the reopening of the border crossing. The existing registrations also had expired after a prolonged period of border closure due to the Malaysia Movement Control Order since 18 March 2020.
Buses from Singapore-based cross-border bus operators have to undergo maintenance and inspections at Puspakom in Malaysia to be certified fit for cross-border operations.
Some of the requirements from APAD include:
- Vehicle information sticker on both sides of the bus (adjacent to front axle)
- Speed limit sticker (80km/h on roads; 90 km/h on Highways)
- Installation of third brake lights
- Sticker with the complaint hotline (Hotline SPAD)
- Fare information on deployed cross-border bus service displayed inside the bus
First spotted in April 2022, several new buses from Ulu Pandan Bus Depot were equipped with identification markings for cross-border bus operations. These were the same bus models leased by SBS Transit to replace early-retired Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses in January 2022. SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were also spotted in Johor Bahru by Zaobao undergoing training duties on 1 April 2022.
The Singapore-Malaysia land border was fully reopened on 1 April 2022. However, public bus services did not resume immediately as Public Transport Operators worked to fully restore the cross-border bus services. Interim measures were put in place to help commuters travel between the two countries.
- The Vaccinated Travel Bus Services (VTBS) and a special Causeway Link Cross-Border Shuttle Service provided commuters with transport between the Singapore & Malaysia checkpoints.
- Service 170A was reinstated to replace Service 170’s local sectors between Queen Street and Woodlands Train Checkpoint. Return trips towards Queen Street were also renumbered 170A.
- Electronic Display Signs onboard Service 160 buses were updated to reflect “> Marsiling Park” as its destination (previously JB Sentral)
- Commuter notices on the front windscreen of buses deployed on Services 160 & 170A to inform that bus services do not head into Johor Bahru.
Bus 170A – SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SG1045C) 
Bus 170A – SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SG1037B) 
Bus 160 – SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SG1029A) 
Bus 160 – SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SG1210S) 
Bus 170A – SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SG1213J) 
Bus 170A – SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SG1213J)
Revised Operator Information Sticker (SMRT Buses)
In April 2022, existing cross-border registered MAN A22 (Euro V) buses from SMRT Buses had their operator information sticker updated with the new address for SMRT Buses Ltd at “60 Woodlands Industrial Park E4, Singapore 757705” (address of Woodlands Bus Depot) following the closure of the former SMRT Buses headquarters at Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot.
However, as per the ACRA business registry, SMRT Buses Ltd’s official registered business address is at 2 Tanjong Katong Road, #08-01, PLQ3, Singapore 437161.
References
- Malaysia-Singapore stage buses fully operational by May 1 – New Straits Times
- 我国公共巴士试跑 准备恢复跨境服务 – Zaobao
It would be great if SMRT can use 10 units of SMB Citaros to supplement 950 A22.Maybe can extend to Larkin Terminal.
I dont think so…if they did, then the Oc500le would still be on 950. SMRT replace them with the Newer MAN A22 Euro V back in 2013. Besides the SMB Citaros came around the same time as Batch 2 Oc500le so they wouldnt have much time left. As they are one of the few buses that only smrt have, they might get retired early, also since they already been refurbished. Their likely de registration period is 2025/2026, their older than the MAN A22 Euro 5, Euro 6 as well as the SG Citaros. I doubt smrt would deploy a bus with a few years left and besides theres only 50 smb citaros excluding smb136c which is a permanent training bus. 950 basically will stay with their pre covid MAN A22 Euro V although more MAN A22 E5 might get registered though. Why smb citaros wont get chosen, likely lta have taken control of 160,170,950. Lta prefers newer buses for cross border services now. If sbs was in charge of 160,170 they would likely choose a mix of Euro V KUB & Batch 3 SBS Citaros.
Btw
160: MAN A22 Euro V, MAN A22 Euro VI
170: SG SBS Spec Citaros
950: Likely pre covid MAN A22 Euro V although they could choose the newer Euro V batch tbh
I hope those buses still with SMRT livery gets repainted to green. It will be one heck of a mess and confusion seeing SBST logos on SMRT livery. Might as well just paint to green.
Agreed,TTS lost identity jive now passed to SBST.
I forsee many A22 body will be badly dented compared to Citaro
What i guessing is probably LTA/SBST will deploy
55 Citaro,25 Euro6 A22 & 10 Euro5 A22.
SMRT can also request to use SMB Citaro as supplement if possible..Probably 10 units.
I dont think so. Bcoz if can lta would let sbs use batch 1 citaros or Euro 5 KUBS. Remember, the lifespan, that bus like the OC500LE dont have much lifespan left thats why SMRT replace them with the New MAN A22 E5 back in 2013. It seems like LTA want to use the newer buses likely not to keep changing buses so often.
SMB upgraded 950 to WAB by deploying A22 in 2013 while SBST switched to Mk IVs for 160 and 170 not long before. KUBs began serving on these 2 routes in late 2014. Although not officially designated WAB, their fleets were using WAB vehicles.
Gd idea smb citrao can do 950 wit a mix of its usual man A22.
Doubt smrt will deploy a bus with only a few years left and only 50 units excluding smb136c which is a permanent training bus…
They should have just used all the storage E6 MAN, newer and longer lifespan. Instead of having to use the citaros, period. More than enough…
Not to mention having that 3rd brake light built in (coz assembled in Malaysia) rather than hastily and crudely sticking it on the engine cover
If they deploy 80 Euro6 A22,Then local service left with only 20 units.
But then what to do with all those excess citaro buses in storage, let them rot till their lifespan expires…