Sengkang West Bus Depot is a new multi-storey bus depot along Seletar West Road 1. The five-storey bus depot is Singapore’s first depot outfitted to support the large-scale deployment of electric buses, and includes on-site staff quarters that provide accommodation for transport workers.
The depot was handed over to SBS Transit in August 2024. Bus operations based at Sengkang West are expected to begin in early 2025.
| General Information | |
| Name | Sengkang West Bus Depot |
| Address | 8 Seletar West Road 1, Singapore 798990 / 12 Seletar West Road 2, Singapore 798989 |
| Depot Information | |
| BCM Route Package | Sengkang–Hougang Bus Package |
| Anchor Operator | SBS Transit |
| Years In Operation | From 2025 |
| Catchment | Hougang, Sengkang, Compassvale |
Introduction
Sengkang West Bus Depot is the fifth bus depot (after Ulu Pandan Bus Depot) that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) developed and funded, as well as the second multi-storey bus depot commissioned by LTA under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), which sees the Government assuming ownership of all bus assets, including bus depots. East Coast Bus Depot, which commenced construction earlier, is still under construction.
When operations commence in early 2025, Sengkang West Bus Depot will be the first in Singapore to support the large-scale deployment of electric buses. It can accommodate a fleet of around 500 electric and diesel/hybrid buses, and is equipped with facilities such as:
- Parking spaces, with 360 kW EV chargers
- Refuelling and washing facilities
- Repair and maintenance facilities
- Administrative offices to support day-to-day bus operations
- Operations Control Centre
- Staff canteen
- Bus Captain Lounge
Construction and Planning
The location of Sengkang West Bus Depot was confirmed in April 2017 through the approval of changes to the URA Masterplan 2014. The depot is situated at the junction of Seletar West Road 1 and Seletar West Road 2.
Contract DE133 for the Design and Construction of Sengkang West Bus Depot was published on 3 May 2018. On 25 Jun 2019, the contract was awarded to Santarli Construction Pte Ltd–Zheng Keng Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd Joint Venture at a sum of SGD 202.12 million.
As part of the Ministry of Transport’s Financial Year 2019 Expenditure Estimates, an item for “Independent Multi-Storey Bus Depot-cum-Dormitory at Sengkang West” was listed, indicating an attached dormitory at Sengkang West Bus Depot. In response to a media query by Lianhe Zaobao in March 2019, an LTA spokesperson confirmed this, stating that a dormitory for Bus Captains would be built as part of the Sengkang West Bus Depot project, to maximise land use and reduce travelling time for Bus Captains commuting to and from the Bus Depot.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated delays, the completion of Sengkang West Bus Depot was delayed from 2023 to 2024. This was announced by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung in a written reply to a Parliamentary Question posed in October 2020.
Sengkang West Bus Depot was initially designed to accommodate around 600 buses, according to a Lianhe Zaobao article in 2019. The final figure was revised down to around 500 buses in October 2024, as per LTA’s press release. No reasons have been given for the reduced bus capacity, but the depot-wide installation of EV chargers could have been a factor.
Bus Captain Dormitory block
The eight-storey on-site staff quarters provide accommodation for transport workers, including bus captains. The block comprises 39 apartment units that can accommodate up to 350 beds. Each apartment has ensuite toilets, a kitchen, and a yard. Staff will also have access to recreational facilities such as a TV room and a multi-purpose hall within the premises.
The dormitory block has a separate entrance from the Bus Depot, and is connected to the Bus Depot building via internal access gates.
Charging Infrastructure
EV chargers were installed at Sengkang West Bus Depot to support LTA’s rapid bus electrification goals. 1 in 2 public buses will be electric by 2030, and LTA expects to procure more than 2,000 electric buses by 2029.
From December 2024, the depot’s charging infrastructure will be used to support the deployment of 10 BYD BC12A04 electric buses. These buses are part of an order for 420 new 3-door electric single-deck buses procured by LTA in November 2023.
The chargers at this depot were installed under Contract BD401A, awarded to a Busways Pte Ltd/Shell Singapore Pte Ltd consortium. 240 dual-gun CCS2 DC chargers were installed at Sengkang West Bus Depot, with each pile rated at 360 kW. With dual-gun charging, each charging pile allows for single-deck buses to be fully charged in less than 1.5 hours.
Bus Operations
The completed bus depot was handed over by LTA to SBS Transit in August 2024 for outfitting works, in preparation for bus depot operations to begin in early 2025.
An official handover ceremony was held on 23 October 2024, attended by Minister of State for Transport, Murali Pillai, and representatives from LTA and SBS Transit.
Operations for the Sengkang–Hougang Bus Package will likely be moved from the existing Hougang Bus Depot to the new Sengkang West Bus Depot. According to the LTA, the new 3-door single-deck electric buses will be deployed on bus services 86, 107, and 159, which are part of the Sengkang–Hougang Bus Package.
Come January 2025, Sengkang West Bus Depot could also be absorbing a portion of bus operations from Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot (as part of the Bishan-Toa Payoh Bus Package), which is slated for demolition.
Based on an October 2024 job posting by SBS Transit recruiting for a Human Resource Officer, the role would be “based at Ang Mo Kio Depot until the end of December 2024. After that, it will be split between two locations: Braddell Headquarters and Sengkang West Bus Depot.”
Operational History:
- Aug 2024 – Present: SBS Transit Ltd
Gallery:
Construction Progress:
Gallery (Artists Impression / Planning)
External Links & References:
- Tender information | Land Transport Authority
- Ministry of Transport FY 2019 Expenditure Estimates – Singapore Budget 2019
- 方便外籍车长上下班 盛港西多层巴士车厂将附员工宿舍 – Lianhe Zaobao
- Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Progress of Construction of New Bus Depot Near Seletar West Farmway and Plans to Improve Bus Services in Fernvale – Ministry of Transport
- Jury still out on Singapore’s bus contracting model, five years on – The Straits Times
- More Electric Buses to be Deployed from December 2024 – Land Transport Authority
- Shell on LinkedIn Post
- New Electric Bus Features for Safer and Inclusive Journeys – Land Transport Authority
- Land Transport Authority Facebook Post (23 Oct)
- Murali Pillai Facebook Post (23 Oct)
Contrary to popular opinion, Sengkang West Depot can potentially seat warmer by SBST for about one to two years, then after that handover to the next operator under Bus Contracting Model, if the Sengkang-Hougang Bus Package change operator.
I mean, someone has to initialize the bus depot first, to commission it for bus operations.
Previously, ten years ago, SMRT helped to initialize the Bulim bus depot in August 2014, before handing over to Tower Transit at around September 2015, in time for the commencement of the Bulim bus package tender period since September 2016. It could be the same thing at Sengkang West Bus Depot, and likewise the upcoming Gali Batu Bus Depot.
With that, it’s possible that SBST’s extension only for about one to two years, and thereafter tender out the Sengkang-Hougang Bus Package and potentially change operator already.
Hopefully this would clarify matters.
Once Kim Chuan Depot is operational then maybe LTA will tender out the contract and again part of Bishan-Toa Payoh has to move to Either KC or stay at HG until the lease expires. But again LTA might extend or award SK to SBST instead.
Looks like SBST’s Sengkang-Hougang package contract has been extended indefinitely when it should have been out for tender by now. Won’t be surprised if its for a full term. Doesn’t make sense to put out Sengkang-Hougang for tender now if SWDEP is being handed to SBST in 2025.
When will tender for SKDEP start?
Tender for?Sengkang-Hougang contract has been extended to undisclosed information…Can be 2,3 or 5 years.Else why SBST still the operator when the contract is already due this year?
As part of NRFF2, 5 bus packages were extended between 2-5 years. Hougang wasn’t one of them.
Most probably extend to 2 years till early 2026 until Kim Chuan Depot ready then the partial Bishan-Toa Payoh service can transfer there.
Likely arrangement from December 2024:
Sengkang West Depot:
27, 51, 80, 86, 87, 89, 89e, 102, 107/107M, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117/117M, 132, 151, 153, 159, 161, 163, 165, 324, 325, 329, 371, 372, 374, 654, 660, 671 & 672
According to current tally, HGDEP has 395 buses allocated to them, while the remaining dual control 61 of them.
Service 110 will likely be transferred over to SBST once Buangkok interchange opens.
Based on the above, seems like the current sengkang west can only support sengkang-hougang bus package considering the article states capacity is around 500 rather than the planned 600.
If so, the bulk of AMDEP services should be moving over to HGDEP, highly likely with the exception of:
13, 50, 72, 73 considering their topography to Sengkang west being nearer rather than HGDEP.
Am surprised SBST demolishing AMDEP… Not as if the current HGDEP is already overcrowded enough being the sole catchment for the northeast area. Thought Sengkang west would help free up the space but seems like all the space are taken up immediately.
13 contract is under Bedok package.
13 72 168 may partially move to BNDEP for Bedok/Tampines pack
13 and 72 heard going seletar. For 50, it might go HGDEP