A new multi-storey bus depot will be built in the Simpang area near Yishun, as revealed in an LTA tender published on 2 February 2024.
The new bus depot is situated along Yishun Avenue 8, opposite Yishun Industrial Park. The official name of the depot will be confirmed at a later date.
In February 2024, a tender was called by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), titled Contract BD202 – Proposed Multi-Storey bus depot at Simpang. Construction of the depot is expected to commence in 2024 and be completed by 2029.
| General Information | |
| Name | Final name TBC |
| Address | Yishun Avenue 8 |
| Depot Information | |
| BCMÂ Route Package | To be confirmed |
| Incumbent Operator | To be confirmed |
| Years In Operation | To be confirmed |
| Catchment | To be confirmed |
Location
Simpang Bus Depot (final name TBC) is a multi-storey bus depot in Yishun, intended to support bus operations in the northern region of Singapore. It comprises a four-storey main building, multi-storey quarters for transport workers, and other ancillary buildings, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The depot will be built along the north edge of Yishun Avenue 8, between Yishun Industrial Park A and Yishun Avenue 7. This plot of land was formerly occupied by Simpang Lodge 1 & 2, (since demolished), and also covers part of the existing Yishun Avenue 7 Heavy Vehicle Park.
In August 2022, under a gazetted Proposed Amendment to Master Plan 2019 (Amendment No. 28/22), the depot site was rezoned from Reserve Site to Transport Facilities Zone / Road Zone, paving the way for planning and construction of the bus depot. The site occupies approximately 5.6 ha.
The main depot building will include facilities for daily bus operations, bus repair and maintenance, bus parking and electric bus charging. Solar panels will be fitted on the roof. The bus depot would house about 500 buses.
Simpang Depot is the third depot that LTA plans to build by 2029, alongside two others in Pasir Panjang and Lorong Halus.
Route Package Assignment
Under Singapore’s Bus Contracting Model (BCM) implemented in 2016, ownership of all bus assets falls under the LTA, which includes the construction of new bus depots, and their subsequent tendering as part of a route package.
The new bus depot at Simpang will be one of many bus depots commissioned by the LTA under the BCM, alongside Bulim, Loyang, Seletar, Ulu Pandan, Mandai, Sengkang West, Gali Batu, East Coast, Kim Chuan, Tengah, Pasir Panjang and Lorong Halus.
LTA has not disclosed the specific Route Package to which the Simpang Bus Depot will be assigned. LTA described to The Straits Times that the new depot in Simpang is a replacement depot, but did not specify which existing bus depot it will replace. The URA Masterplan indicates that Woodlands Bus Park sits on land zoned for business use, while Seletar Depot occupies a reserved site. Therefore, both sites are not zoned for transport use in the long term and may be requisitioned in future.
Construction
In February 2024, LTA called for a tender under Contract BD202 – Proposed Multi-Storey bus depot at Simpang.
Depot Site (2024):
References
- Amendments To Master Plan 2019 – Urban Redevelopment Authority [Accessed 02 Feb 2024]
- New bus depot to be built in Yishun by 2029 – The Straits Times [Accessed 12 Feb 2024]
I was hoping LTA would built a new depot at Bedok.
East Coast Bus Depot is being built for that reason
Likely for Sembawang-Yishun and Woodlands will be using Mandai.
Better if Woodlands bus Package becomes Woodlands-Simpang Bus Package in case simpang Int Opens
Woodlands Bus Package does not have a proper depot like Kranji, Mandai, Seletar or even Sengkang West
Is the current WLDEP being demolished?
Most likely reserved for either Seletar Package or Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package
Most probably for the Woodlands Bus Package.
Depot swap unlikely. Unless got time to temporarily vacate Mandai Bus Depot, relocate Yishun-Sembawang Bus Package to Simpang Depot, and then relocate Woodlands Bus Package to Mandai Bus Depot.
Possible. Once simpang is ready, the buses from Mandai can use it first. Then Mandai depot can be hand over to the operator for Woodland package.
Yes. The lease for Woodlands Bus Depot ends around 2027.
So it’s for that.