With Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange opening to commuters on passenger service on 18 December 2016, there will be a slew of bus service enhancements introduced by LTA, SBS Transit and SMRT to improve connectivity to Tampines Concourse, benefiting new residential estates in the area.
This article sums up the changes to 3 bus services (18, 39, 969), as well as the introduction of two new bus services 127 and 129.
| Service | Existing route | New route |
| 18 | Tampines Int ↺ Bedok Int (Loop) | Extended to Tampines Concourse Int |
| 39 | Tampines Int ↔ Yishun Int | Extended to Tampines Concourse Int |
| 127 | New Bus Route: Tampines Int ↺ Tampines Industrial Avenue 5 (Loop) | |
| 129 | New Bus Route: Tampines Concourse Int ↔ St. Michael’s Ter | |
| 969 | Woodlands Regional Int ↔ Tampines Int | Amended to serve Tampines Concourse |
These amendments represent only a part of bus service amendments, with more bus services expected to be relocated or introduced to Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange in the future.
Background
Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange, initially referred to as the Tampines Bus Interchange Expansion, is located northwest of the Tampines Town Centre, in close proximity to commercial buildings and residential developments along Tampines Concourse.
Built to expand the capacity of Tampines Bus Interchange, Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange is connected to the existing interchange by a 250-metre barrier-free sheltered walkway.
The new interchange contains 1 alighting berth and 2 boarding berths with queue lines. The concourse is equipped with interchange offices, driver’s lounge, toilets, and provisions for a canteen, along with other ancillary rooms.
Service 18
| Service 18 | Tampines Concourse Int ↺ Bedok Int (Loop) | Route Amendment |
| Relocated from Tampines Bus Interchange to Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange. | ||
From 18 December 2016, SBS Transit Bus Service 18 between Tampines Bus Interchange and Bedok Bus Interchange will be extended to operate from Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange. As a result, the route will no longer serve the existing Tampines Bus Interchange.
From Tampines Central 1, Service 18 will turn right into Tampines Concourse and head north before entering Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange and terminating there. There are no changes to operating hours.
The route will also call at a new pair of bus stops along Tampines Central 1, outside the existing Tampines Bus Interchange.
Service 39
| Service 39 | Tampines Concourse Int ↔ Yishun Temp Int | Route Amendment |
| Relocated from Tampines Bus Interchange to Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange. | ||
From 18 December 2016, SBS Transit Bus Service 39 between Tampines Bus Interchange and Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange will be extended to operate from Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange. As a result, the route will no longer serve the existing Tampines Bus Interchange.
From Tampines Central 1, Service 39 will turn left into Tampines Concourse and head north before entering Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange and terminating there. There are no changes to operating hours.
From Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange, Service 39 will exit via Tampines Central 8 and turn left into Tampines Avenue 5.
Service 127
| Service 127 | Tampines Int ↺ Tampines Ind Ave 5 (Loop) | New Bus Route |
| New bus route plying from Tampines Bus Interchange and looping at Tampines Industrial Avenue 5, via Tampines Concourse, Tampines Avenue 9, Tampines Avenue 10 and Tampines Road. | ||
SBS Transit Bus Service 127 is a new bus route commencing operations on 18 December 2016, plying from Tampines Bus Interchange and looping at Tampines Industrial Avenue 5, via Tampines Concourse, Tampines Avenue 9, Tampines Avenue 10 and Tampines Road.
The new route is expected to benefit residents along Tampines Concourse and Tampines Avenue 9, as well as industries in Tampines Wafer Fabrication Park such as T5@Tampines, Siltronic Singapore, JTC Nanospace @ Tampines and GlobalFoundries Tampines, with direct bus connection to Tampines Central and MRT Station.
Service 127 will operate daily from 0530hrs to 2330hrs. From 2345hrs to 2445hrs, Shortworking Trip 127A will operate, plying from Tampines Bus Interchange to Tampines Avenue 9.
Service 129
| Service 129 | Tampines Concourse Int ↔ St. Michael’s Ter | New Bus Route |
| New bus route plying from Tampines Bus Interchange to St. Michael’s Bus Terminal, via Tampines Avenue 4 and Avenue 1, Bartley Road East and Bartley Road, Lorong 6 / 1 / 2 Toa Payoh, Jalan Toa Payoh, Balestier Road and Whampoa Estate. Semi-express along Bartley Road, only calling at selected bus stops. | ||
SBS Transit Bus Service 129 is a new bus route commencing operations on 18 December 2016, plying from Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange to St. Michael’s Bus Terminal, via Tampines Avenue 4 and Avenue 1, Bartley Road East and Bartley Road, Toa Payoh Estate, Balestier Road and Whampoa Estate.
Apart from benefitting residents in the Tampines, Bartley, Toa Payoh and Whampoa estates, Service 129 opens up a new corridor between Tampines and Toa Payoh / Bishan with a semi-express sector along the Bartley Road / Bartley Road East viaducts. It will also complement existing bus services for the heavily-utilized sector between Tampines Central and Temasek Polytechnic.
Service 129 will operate daily from 0545hrs to 2330hrs.
Service 969
| Service 969 | Woodlands Regional Int ↔ Tampines Int | Route Amendment |
| Amended to serve Tampines Avenue 9 and Tampines Concourse in both directions, calling at 3 additional pairs of bus stops. | ||
From 18 December 2016, SMRT Bus Service 969 between Tampines Bus Interchange and Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange will be amended to serve Tampines Avenue 9 and Tampines Concourse in both directions, thereby calling at 3 additional pairs of bus stops.
The amended route will benefit residents of Tampines Concourse with enhanced bus connections to Tampines Central and Northern Singapore, but at the expense of additionl travel time for the many commuters who rely on Service 969 as the fastest connection between Tampines Interchange and TPE / Yishun/ Woodlands.
There will be no changes to the operating hours of Service 969.
New Bus stops
Four new bus stops will be opened along Tampines Concourse to serve new housing developments.
In addition, a pair of new bus stops along Tampines Central 1 will be served by Service 18 and 129.
External Links & References:
- Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange to open on 18 December 2016 – LTA
- Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange – Land Transport Guru
All diagrams obtained from LTA Press Releases.