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)
So actually is half half la, half Hougang half Ang Mo Kio. Remainder half of Ang Mo Kio potentially move to Braddel and maybe Hougang, remainder half of Hougang stay put at Hougang.
Really in preparation for Sengkang Hougang bus package tendering out. Sengkang West Depot such a prized procession, if really give foreign operator, it’s LTA being too generous already.
Have a feeling, it will be SBS Transit retain Sengkang Hougang bus package. Go Ahead can take Kim Chuan’s Serangoon-Eunos bus package, and/or East Coast’s Bedok or Tampines bus package. Still got three other packages really up for grabs.
Meanwhile, got another prized procession coming up: Gali Batu Depot. It’s either incumbent SBS and SMRT retain their respective packages, or somehow mutual package swap. Most probably only SBS and SMRT can get prized procession, cuz they local long brand, must respect the hierarchy.
East bound Toa Payoh package and Bishan service will be based here until LTA plans for new depot for Bishan-Toa Payoh package.Sengkang-Hougang package will be the anchor here.Serangoon-Eunos package service will be based at Hougang Depot until Kim Chuan Depot is operational.SLA need that Hougang Depot land.
Bishan and Toa Payoh East-bound services are likely to be garaged at Seletar Depot
I think by this year the depot will be operational and Sengkang-Hougang package will use this depot and Serangoon-Eunos package will continue to use Hougang Depot until Kim Chuan is ready.Service like 53,55,58,59 all will be based at Hgdep from Amdep.
I hope SMRT will get Sengkang-Hougang and lose Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang(Gali Batu) to Go-Ahead.SBST should just operate Bukit Merah,Clementi,Bishan-Toa Payoh,Serangoon-Eunos,Seletar,Bedok & Tampines.
Look like ready anytime can start operation.