Withdrawal of Night and Leisure Bus Services

Night and leisure public bus services across Singapore will formally be withdrawn from 30 June 2022. These are:

These services, which primarily cater to recreational demand, have already been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This announcement also marks the formal withdrawal of all Chinatown Direct, NightRider services and Nite Owl services in Singapore.


Withdrawn Bus Services

The following bus services were withdrawn:

Bus Service Route Suspended From Status
Trunk Bus Services / Others
926 Woodlands ↺ Mandai Lake Road 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
Express Bus Services
188R
Choa Chu Kang ↔ Resorts World Sentosa 15 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
963R Woodlands ↔ Resorts World Sentosa 15 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
Night Bus Services
1N Marina Centre → Yishun Ring Road (Opp Khatib Stn Exit D) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
2N Marina Centre → Tampines Avenue 3 (Blk 888) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
3N Marina Centre → Choa Chu Kang North 5 (Blk 708) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
4N Marina Centre → Pasir Ris Drive 1 (Blk 210) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
5N Marina Centre → Jurong West Street 92 (Blk 924) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
6N Marina Centre → Punggol Field (Opp Blk 201A) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
NR1 Resorts World Sentosa → Yishun Ring Road (Opp Khatib Stn Exit D) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
NR2 Marina Centre → Sembawang Drive (Blk 317) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
NR3 South Bridge Road (Boat Quay) → Choa Chu Kang 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
NR5 Marina Centre → Jurong West Street 64 (Blk 685B) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
NR6 Resorts World Sentosa → Compassvale Drive (Blk 225A) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
NR8 Marina Centre → Bukit Batok West Ave 5 (Blk 531) 8 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
Chinatown Direct Bus Services
CT8 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9 ↔ Kampong Bahru 15 Apr 2020 Withdrawn
CT18 Bedok North Avenue 3 ↔ Kampong Bahru 15 Apr 2020 Withdrawn

Services suspended since April 2020

Main Articles: Transport Arrangements for the Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures & Suspension of Bus Services Post-Circuit Breaker

All affected bus services were first suspended in April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, alongside City Direct and Express bus services.

After the Circuit Breaker ended in June 2020, City Direct and Express bus services were reinstated (with the exception of Service 128), but eighteen bus services which cater to recreational demand continued to be suspended until further notice, comprising all NightRider, Nite Owl and City Direct services, and Bus Services 188e, 963e, 401 & 926.

On 16 June 2022, LTA and PTOs announced the formal withdrawal of these recreational bus routes. Only Bus Service 401 resumed service on 4 June 2022, serving East Coast Park.

Rationalisation of bus services

Main article: Rationalisation of Bus Service Operations (2019 – 2022) – Land Transport Guru

The recent withdrawal of recreational bus routes is part of LTA’s ongoing efforts to optimize (i.e. reduce) service levels offered by Singapore’s public bus network. These efforts include the reduction of operating frequency or operating hours of certain bus services, or the merger and withdrawal of certain bus services that suffer from low demand.

Plans for Services N1 and N2

In September 2020, Bus Services NR1 and NR2 were transferred to Tower Transit under the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package. These were to be replaced by Bus Services N1 and N2, both of which were indicated in Tower Transit media releases leading up to the handover, but yet to be announced by the LTA.

The withdrawal of all night bus services in Singapore may indicate that plans for Bus Services N1 and N2 have been shelved, unless plans for a reorganised bus network are announced by LTA in the future.

Reasons for withdrawal

As reported by The Straits Times, a spokesperson for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the decision to discontinue the NightRider and Nite Owl bus services was made after a careful evaluation of various factors, including ridership, availability of alternative options, financial considerations, and the need to allocate resources effectively. The spokesperson added that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for these bus services had been low, and there were other options available to commuters. The LTA will continue to closely monitor the usage of alternative transportation options and make adjustments as needed to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for commuters.


Alternative Bus Routes

For daytime-operating services, LTA posters have advised commuters to rely on alternative modes of public transport.

No alternative public transport options will be offered for the withdrawal of NightRider services and Nite Owl services, which formerly operated up till 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights. However, the regular extension of public transport operating hours on the eves of Public Holidays is set to continue.

Defunct Bus Stops

The withdrawal of Night will see the abolishing of bus stops that were formerly only served by Night services, such as those along South Canal Rd, Mohd Sultan Rd, Yishun St 61, Choa Chu Kang North 7, and Choa Chu Kang Cres.

Bus Stop Code Road Name Description Bus Service 
67581 Anchorvale Link Blk 319A NR6
22571 Boon Lay Way Opp Boon Lay Stn NR5 (still used by EWL Bridging Bus)
45431 Choa Chu Kang Crescent Blk 661 NR3
45429 Choa Chu Kang Crescent Blk 666 NR3
45419 Choa Chu Kang Crescent Blk 669 NR3
45409 Choa Chu Kang Crescent Blk 675 NR3
45479 Choa Chu Kang Drive Kranji Pr Sch NR3
45381 Choa Chu Kang North 7 Blk 673A NR3
45391 Choa Chu Kang North 7 Blk 657 NR3
45341 Choa Chu Kang Street 62 Blk 604A NR3
45331 Choa Chu Kang Street 62 Blk 621 NR3
13211 Mohammad Sultan Road Aft Unity St NR3, 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N
05009 North Canal Road Opp OCBC Ctr NR1, NR3
65219 Punggol Place Aft Punggol Ctrl 6N
59371 Yishun Street 61 Chung Cheng High Sch NR1, 1N
59361 Yishun Street 61 Blk 602 NR1, 1N

Operator Posters:
Gallery:

See Also:
External Links:

24 thoughts on “Withdrawal of Night and Leisure Bus Services

  • 27 June 2022 at 9:56 PM
    Permalink

    Sad to see Night buses and other buses go. I am wondering if the defunct bus stops will be abolished (I guess the bus stops without shelter will be gone which are like the majority of them). It’s quite interesting to find bus stops without shelter.

    Reply
    • 3 July 2022 at 11:19 AM
      Permalink

      I went to check the bus stops in Yishun, Mohammad Sultan Road and North Canal Road and they are all gone. Although they left the board for bus service information at Mohammad Sultan Road behind which I think it’s quite cool.

      Reply

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