Not to be confused with SMRT NightRider bus services.
SMRT NightBus services have since been withdrawn. For the currently operating NR-prefixed routes, please visit the NightRider service article.
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Introduction:
SMRT NightBus services were a series of SN services introduced on 1 July 2000 by SMRT Corporation Ltd. These services intended to provide affordable and convenient travel during the after-hours, when the MRT network was closed for regular maintenance. As such, these routes largely duplicated the existing rail network.
Three SN services were introduced, namely SN10, SN20 and SN30. Operated by Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS), these unidirectional, fully-air-conditioned bus services link the Downtown areas of Orchard Road, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Bugis with the housing areas in the East, West and North. These services would operate daily, at intervals between 30 and 60 minutes.
- SN10: Tomlinson Rd – Pasir Ris Central
- SN20: North Canal Rd – Woodlands Avenue 3
- SN30: Tomlinson Rd – Boon Lay Way
The emergence of SN services were an addition to the overnight bus scene, with TIBS already operating seven NightRider bus services (NR1 – NR8). However, NightRider services only operated on Fridays, Saturdays and eves of Public Holidays. In addition, SN services charged a flat fare of $3.00, similar to the NR flat fare of $3.00 at the time.
It is worth noting that SN services were introduced before the merger of SMRT Corporation Ltd and TIBS Holdings, which then occurred in December 2001.
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Route information:
Introduced on 1 July 2000, SN services would subsequently undergo route amendments on 15 December 2000, to provide a free transfer point to another SN service at Boat Quay. For detailed route information, please refer to this page.
Prior to their withdrawal on 1st July 2003, their routing were as such:
| SN10 | Tomlinson Rd (Regent S’pore) → Pasir Ris Central (opp Pasir Ris Town Pk) |
| City areas: Tomlinson Rd, Orchard Rd, Paterson Rd, Kim Seng Rd, Outram Rd, Cantonment Rd, Keppel Rd (express), Tg Pagar Rd, Neil Rd (express), Kreta Ayer Rd, Eu Tong Sen St, unknown route to South Bridge Rd (Boat Quay) transfer point, North Canal Rd (express), Eu Tong Sen St, Hill St, Victoria St. Last stop: Victoria St (opp Bugis Stn). Heartland areas: First stop: Victoria St (os Stamford Pri Sch), Victoria St, Kallang Rd, Sims Ave, Sims Ave East, New Upp Changi Rd, Upp Changi Rd East, Simei Ave, Simei St 3, Simei Rd, Tampines St 31 (express), Tampines Ave 2, Tampines Ave 5 (express), Tampines Ave 4, Tampines Ave 7, Tampines Ave 9 (express), Tampines Ave 12 (express), Pasir Ris Dr 8 (express), Pasir Ris Dr 1, Pasir Ris Central |
|
| Notes: – Express sector between Tampines Ave 2 (The Holy Trinity Ch) and Tampines Ave 4 (Tampines Stn/Int) via Tampines Ave 5. – Express sector between Tampines Ave 7 (Tampines Reg Lib) and Pasir Ris Dr 1 (Bef Pasir Ris Ctrl) |
|
| SN20 | Victoria St (Bugis Stn) → Woodlands Ave 3 (Opp Marsiling Stn) |
| City areas: Victoria St, Middle Rd (express), North Bridge Rd,South Bridge Rd (Boat Quay) transfer point, North Canal Rd (express), Eu Tong Sen St, River Valley Rd, Killney Rd (express), Somerset Rd, Grange Rd (express), Orchard Turn, Orchard Boulevard, Paterson Rd (express), Scotts Rd. Last stop: Scotts Rd (Newton Stn). Heartland areas: First stop: Newton Rd (Opp Newton Life Ch), Newton Rd, Thomson Rd, Jln Toa Payoh, Lor 2 Toa Payoh, Lor 1, Lor 6, Braddell Rd, Bishan St 11, Bishan Rd, Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Ave 5, Ave 6, Lentor Ave, Yishun Ave 2, unknown route to Canberra Rd (Blk 311), unknown route to Gambas Ave (Opp 3M Bldg), Woodlands Ave 7, Ave 2, Ave 5, Woodlands Ave 3 |
|
| SN30 | Tomlinson Rd (Regent S’pore) → Boon Lay Way (Boon Lay Stn) |
| City areas: Tomlinson Rd, Orchard Rd, Clemenceau Ave, River Valley Rd, Mohd Sultan Rd, unknown rotue to Clemenceau Ave (Shell Hse), River Valley Rd, unknown route to North Bridge Rd (High St Ctr), South Bridge Rd (Boat Quay) transfer point, continuing along South Bridge Rd to Neil Rd, Cantonment Rd (express), Outram Rd. Last stop: Outram Rd (Outram Pk Stn) Heartland areas: First Stop: Tiong Bahru Rd (Blk 55), Tiong Bahru Rd, Hoy Fatt Rd, Jln Bt Merah, Queensway, Commonwealth Ave, Commonwealth Ave West, Boon Lay Way, Toh Guan Rd, Jurong East Ave 1, Jurong West Ave 1, Corporation Rd (express), Boon Lay Ave, Jurong West Ctrl 1 (express), Jurong West St 64, St 75, Ave 5, St 71 (express), St 61, St 63, St 64 (express), Boon Lay Way |
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| Notes: – Express sector between Boon Lay Ave (Blk 185) and Jurong West St 64 (Blk 669) via Jurong West Ctrl 1 |
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Boarding of SN services is allowed only within the CBD and City areas as indicated in the route details above.
Fares:
SMRT NightBus services charge a flat fare of $3.00 for farecard-paying passengers, and $3.50 for cash-paying passengers.
Operating Hours:
| At Introduction | After 15 Dec 2000 |
All SN services:
|
Slightly more complicated.Will be elaborated in detail at the Historical Routes of SMRT NightBus page |
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Subsequent withdrawal:
Services SN10, SN20 and SN30 were absorbed into NightRider services and withdrawn on 1st July 2003. Minor route changes were made to NR1, NR5 and NR7 to replace these withdrawn routes. Route amendments to these services took effect on the same day.
Under the integrated network, there were a total of seven NR services – NR 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8; three of which will operate daily – NR 1, 5, and 7. The remaining four NR services will operate on Fridays, Saturdays and eves of Public Holidays.
The integration of the NR and SN services further enhanced the NightRider network coverage, serving residents of Woodlands, Sembawang, Choa Chu Kang, Bedok North, Simei, and Sengkang better. Existing commuters now pay a flat fare of $3.00 on NR services instead of the $3.50 prior to integration.
Commuters paying by ez-link card can enjoy free transfer to another NR service within 45 minutes of alighting from the first. These transfer points are along South Bridge Rd, River Valley Rd, Clarke Quay, Orchard Rd, and Somerset Road
Modified NR1/5/7 operating details:
Hours of operation
- 11.30pm – 4.30am
(Fri, Sat, eve of Public Holidays; Two directions) - 11.30pm – 3.30am
(Sun – Thu; One-directional service)
| NightRider Service | Frequency | From | To | Via |
| NR 1 (Sun – Thu) | 30 mins | Marina Centre | Woodlands | Toa Payoh, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Yishun |
| NR 1 (Fri, Sat & eve of PH) | 15 mins | Yishun | Yishun | Toa Payoh, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio |
| NR 5 (Sun – Thu) | 30 mins | Marina Centre | Jurong West | Orchard Road, Tiong Bharu, Commonwealth Ave West, Boon Lay |
| NR 5 (Fri, Sat & eve of PH) | 30 mins | Marina Centre | Jurong West | Orchard Road, Tiong Bharu, Commonwealth Ave West, Boon Lay |
| NR 7 (Sun – Thu) | 30 mins | Marina Centre | Pasir Ris | Bedok North, Simei Ave, Tampines Ave 5 |
| NR 7 (Fri, Sat & eve of PH) | 20 mins | Marina Centre | Pasir Ris | Bedok North, Simei Ave, Tampines Ave 5 |
The Legacy:
Daily operations of NR1, NR5 and NR7 did not last long. Overnight operations from Sunday to Thursday were withdrawn on 23 May 2004, most likely due to low demand. During this period, minibuses were frequently deployed.
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External Links & References:
- TransitLink Guide 2001 & 2002
- SMRT NightBus – SGWiki
- SMRT NightRider – SGWiki
- Integration of SN NightBus and NR NightRider services – Trans-Island website
- Historical Routes of SMRT NightBus Services – PTSG
Back to Bus Articles
Correction: refer to the brochures scanned and shared at Wikipedia. SMRT kinda charted private operators to use private 45 seater buses to operate the night bus services initially. Then, at the second year, they changed to use their own bus plus buses, which are mini buses.
Then, the SMRT night bus services got replaced by the TIBS/SMRT night rider bus services.