(Defunct) Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange

Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange is a former bus interchange located at the Yishun Town Centre.

The interchange served commuters from 14 March 2015 to 7 September 2019, replacing the former Yishun Bus Interchange that was demolished to make way for Northpoint City’s South Wing, an integrated retail, housing and transport project that included the replacement bus interchange: Yishun Integrated Transport Hub.

The interchange was also used for the overnight parking of buses right up till 2021, relieving space constraints at SMRT Ang Mo Kio Depot.

Details:

Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange was a former bus interchange located in the residential town of Yishun. Connecting with Yishun MRT station along the North South MRT Line, the interchange was a transport node for commuters heading in and out of town, allowing for convenient transfers between the rail network and the many bus services at the interchange.

The pedestrian route from the interchange to Yishun MRT station was via a sheltered walkway across Yishun Central 1, connecting with Northpoint Shopping Centre, where an existing basement underpass connected to the MRT station. Nearby public amenities included Golden Village Yishun, Nee Soon Sports Centre, Yishun Polyclinic and Yishun Pond Park.

The interchange opened on 14 March 2015, intended as a temporary facility while the former Yishun Bus Interchange was demolished to make way for the Northpoint City integrated development. It houses an air-conditioned Integrated Transport Hub (ITH), comprising a shopping mall, offices and residential developments, hence combining residential, retail and commercial developments under one roof.

Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange has a single vehicular concourse area with two ingress/egress points: one along Yishun Central 1, and the other at the junction of Yishun Central / Yishun Avenue 9, both of which are signalised junctions.

Inside, the interchange features 27 rigid/double-decker bus parking bays and 21 bendy bus parking bays as specified by the original design by the Land Transport Authority. 33 more parking bays were added by SMRT to provide additional space for overnight bus parking at Yishun Temp Int in lieu of the lack of parking lots at Ang Mo Kio Depot (AMDEP).

The passenger concourse is a sheltered bus waiting area with commuter facilities such as queue lines at every berth, bus departure timing screens, and retail outlets. A sheltered linkway across Yishun Central 1 connects to Yishun MRT Station via Northpoint Shopping Centre.

Historical Background:

Before the construction of the Yishun Bus Interchange, Yishun had two roadside bus termini; one at Yishun Avenue 5 and the other at Yishun Central. The former handled feeder services like 800 and 801, while trunk routes like 850 and 851 called at the Yishun Central Terminal. In the 1980s, the rising development of Yishun New Town called for a more permanent facility for buses. HDB, who was in-charge of public works, designed and built a permanent facility between Yishun Avenue 2 and Yishun Central 1.

Yishun Bus Interchange opened on 18th January 1987 with five trunk and four feeder bus services, gradually expanding to around 20 services today. In 2003, SBS Transit introduced Service 39 to Yishun, followed by Service 85 in 2006. In December 2010, private operator Advance Coaches introduced AC7, a cross border bus route to Johor Bahru. Two SMRT bus services, 803 and 860, were also introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) in February 2014 and October 2012 respectively.

The shift to Yishun Temporary Interchange:

On 14 March 2015, Yishun Bus Interchange was relocated to a temporary facility along Yishun Central 1, while the former interchange was demolished to make way for a future integrated development. By 2019, Yishun will house an air-conditioned Integrated Public Transport Hub (ITH), comprising a shopping mall, offices and residential developments.

The temporary interchange was already used as a bus park to relieve the parking space crunch at AMDEP months before the opening of the temporary interchange. 4 parking lots were allocated to SBS Transit for Services 39 & 85, 1 lot to Advance Coach AC7 and 1 lot to the KTPH Shuttle. With the opening of the temporary interchange, height restrictions were lifted for bus services previously using the end-on berths (39, 85, 852, 855 & 857), allowing double-deck buses to be deployed.

Volunteer Service Ambassadors (from Friends Of SMRT) were stationed on 14 Mar 2015, from 8am to 5pm, at the temporary interchange and the vicinity to guide commuters. The metal berth queues, information panels, berth display signs in Yishun Temp Int were reused from Bedok Temp Int by the construction contractor.

Prior to the official opening in March 2015, the temporary interchange was used as a bus park to relieve the parking space crunch at Ang Mo Kio Depot (AMDEP).

Post-closure:

Shifting to Yishun Integrated Transport Hub

The temporary interchange ceased operations on 8 September 2019 with the opening of Yishun Integrated Transport Hub located within Northpoint City. SMRT Buses commemorated the last day of operations from Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange with a Last SMRT Bus Ride from Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange at 2349hrs on Bus Service 859 (SG3000T).

After closing to the public, the sheltered pedestrian crossing across Yishun Central 1 was later removed, but the concourse and bus park areas remained intact. SMRT Buses would continue to use the temporary interchange for the overnight parking of buses until 5 September 2021, relieving space constraints at SMRT Ang Mo Kio Depot.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the interchange concourse was used as a testing centre. It started off as a quick test centre (QTC) in June 2021, but was later upgraded to a Regional Screening Centre.

Premise Upkeep

Upkeep of the premises (including the provision of cleaners in the facility) is undertaken by Tower Transit as part of the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package from 5 Sep 2021, although no bus services are being operated from Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange.

Interchange facilities:

• Interchange offices (SMRT & SBS Transit)
• Drivers lounge
• NTWU Canteen
• Boarding and alighting berths
• Information boards
• Bus arrival displays
• Retail outlets
• Toilets

Bus Services:

Berth Allocation:

Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange has 8 sawtooth berths (B-suffixed).
* Berths B3, B4, B5, B7 & B8 are bendy-friendly berths with longer boarding area suitable for bendy buses as well as rigid and double decker buses.

Gallery: 

Route Amendments from Yishun Bus Interchange to Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange————————————————————————————————————————————

Click on the following services below to view the individual route poster to Yishun Temp Int

Services	Old Route	New Route
39, 85, 811 (Ave 1), 811P, 851, 852, 854	Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Central > Yishun Temp Int
855, 857	Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Central 1 > Yishun Temp Int
171, 856, 859	Yishun Ave 5 > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Ave 5 > Yishun Central > Yishun Temp Int
800, 803, 860	Yishun Ave 9 > Yishun Ctrl > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Ave 9 > Yishun Temp Int
811 (Ave 2)	Yishun Ave 9 > Yishun Ctrl > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Ave 9 > Yishun Central > Yishun Ave 2 * Board at BS59161
806	Yishun Central > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Central > Yishun Temp Int
812 (Ave 4)	Yishun Central > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Central > Yishun Ave 2 * Board at BS59161
804, 812 (Ave 3), 812P	Yishun Ring Rd > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Ring Rd > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Central > Yishun Temp Int
853, 853#	Yishun Central 1 > Yishun Central > Yishun Ave 2 > Yishun Int	Yishun Central 1 > Yishun Temp Int

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Bus Stop changes to facilitate Yishun Temporary Interchange

To cater the bus services shifting from the old Interchange to the Temporary Interchange, 4 new bus stops have been constructed, one at Yishun Ave 2 (G), one at Yishun Central (H) and two at Yishun Central 1 (F1 & F2)

Bus stops along Yishun Ave 2, (A1) Northpoint Shopping Ctr and (A2) Aft Northpoint Shopping Ctr, were once final bus stops before Yishun Bus Interchange for many bus services. These two bus stops connected passengers closer to Northpoint Shopping Centre, saving walking time and distance from the bus interchange to the shopping mall.

Intratown Services 811 (To Yishun Ave 1), 812 (To Yishun Ave 3) & Peak Period Short Services 811P & 812P will not call at Yishun Temp Int. Instead, the first stop will be at bus stop B2, BS59161 directly outside the Temp Int.

Bus stop (A1) now serves as an intermediate stop for the Yishun Ave 1 loop for service 811, as well as for trunk services 851 and 852.

(A1) Yishun Ave 2 – BS59072 Northpoint Shopping Ctr
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
171	Marina Centre Ter	Yishun Int	811	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 1
800	↺ Sembawang Road	Yishun Int	811P	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 1
803	↺ Yishun Street 31	Yishun Int	851	Yishun Temp Int	Bukit Merah Int
811	↺ Yishun Avenue 2	Yishun Int	852	Yishun Temp Int	Bukit Batok Int
812	↺ Yishun Avenue 4	Yishun Int	—	—	—
860	↺ Yishun Avenue 3	Yishun Int	—	—	—

Bus stop (A2) continues to serve its purpose as an major interchange bus stop for passing bus services from Woodlands. It is joined by services 39, 85, 854, 854E, which will use this bus stop as an intermediate stop.

(A2) Yishun Ave 2 – BS59073 Aft Northpoint Shopping Ctr
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
169	Woodlands Reg Int	Ang Mo Kio Int	169	Woodlands Reg Int	Ang Mo Kio Int
804	↺ Yishun Street 41	Yishun Int	—	—	—
806	↺ Yishun Ring Road	Yishun Int	39	Yishun Temp Int	Tampines Int
853	Lor 1 Geylang Ter	Yishun Int	85	Yishun Temp Int	Punggol Temp Int
853C	Upp East Coast Ter	Yishun Int	854	Yishun Temp Int	Bedok Int
856	Woodlands Reg Int	Yishun Int	854E	Yishun Temp Int	Bedok Int
858	Woodlands Reg Int	↺ Changi Airport PTB 2	858	Woodlands Reg Int	↺ Changi Airport PTB 2
859	Sembawang Int	Yishun Int	—	—	—
965	Woodlands Reg Int	Sengkang Int	965	Woodlands Reg Int	Sengkang Int
969	Woodlands Reg Int	Tampines Int	969	Woodlands Reg Int	Tampines Int

Bus stop (B1) was once an intermediate bus stop for Yishun feeder and intratown bus services. With the shifted position of the bus interchange, the bus services’ original route from Yishun Central 1 is truncated and no longer call at this bus stop. This bus stop will remain unused until the interchange shifts back to its original position in 2019.

(B1) Yishun Central – BS59169 Bet Blks 201/202
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
800	Yishun Int	↺ Sembawang Road	—	—	—
803	Yishun Int	↺ Yishun Street 31	—	—	—
806	Yishun Int	↺ Yishun Ring Rd	—	—	—
811	Yishun Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 2	—	—	—
812	Yishun Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 4	—	—	—
860	Yishun Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 3	—	—	—

Bus stop (B2), which is opposite the road from (B1), is also part of the truncated sector for Yishun feeder and intratown bus services. This bus stop serves as an intermediate stop for the Yishun Ave 1 loop of Yishun Intratown 811 and Peak Period Short Service 811P. The Yishun Ave 5 loop of service 811 will not stop at this bus stop.

(B2) Yishun Central – BS59161 Opp Blk 201
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
800	↺ Sembawang Road	Yishun Int	811	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 1
803	↺ Yishun Street 31	Yishun Int	811P	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 1
806	↺ Yishun Ring Rd	Yishun Int	812	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 3
811	↺ Yishun Avenue 2	Yishun Int	812P	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Yishun Avenue 3
812	↺ Yishun Avenue 4	Yishun Int	—	—	—
860	↺ Yishun Avenue 3	Yishun Int	—	—	—

Bus stop (C) was the looping point bus stop of the Yishun Ave 5 loop of Intratown service 811. It is joined by services 171, 856 and 859, which formerly skipped this bus stop to facilitate the right turn into Yishun Ave 2. These three bus services now travel straight from Yishun Ave 5 to Yishun Central.

(C) Yishun Ave 5 – BS59159 Blk 151
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
811	↺ Yishun Avenue 5	Yishun Int	811	↺ Yishun Avenue 5	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	171	Marina Centre Ter	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	856	Woodlands Reg Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	859	Sembawang Int	Yishun Temp Int

Bus stop (D) sees no changes and is used as an interchange bus stop for passing services travelling to Woodlands.

(D) Yishun Ave 2 – BS59079 Yishun Stn
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
169	Ang Mo Kio Int	Woodlands Reg Int	169	Ang Mo Kio Int	Woodlands Reg Int
858	↺ Changi Airport PTB 2	Woodlands Reg Int	858	↺ Changi Airport PTB 2	Woodlands Reg Int
965	Sengkang Int	Woodlands Reg Int	965	Sengkang Int	Woodlands Reg Int
969	Tampines Int	Woodlands Reg Int	969	Tampines Int	Woodlands Reg Int

(E1) Yishun Central 1 – BS59661 Opp Yishun Polyclinic
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
853	Lor 1 Geylang Ter	Yishun Int	853	Lor 1 Geylang Ter	Yishun Temp Int
853C	Upp East Coast Ter	Yishun Int	853C	Upp East Coast Ter	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	855	Harbourfront Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	857	↺ Temasek Avenue	Yishun Temp Int

(E2) Yishun Central 1 – BS59669 Yishun Polyclinic
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
853	Yishun Int	Lor 1 Geylang Ter	853	Yishun Temp Int	Lor 1 Geylang Ter
853C	Yishun Int	Upp East Coast Ter	853C	Yishun Temp Int	Upp East Coast Ter
—	—	—	855	Yishun Temp Int	Harbourfront Int
—	—	—	857	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Temasek Avenue

Bus services that travel from Lentor Ave through Yishun Ave 2 and terminate at Yishun Bus Interchange stop at three new bus stops, (F1), (F2) and (G), which were built to facilitate the route changes for Yishun Temporary Interchange. Services 855 and 857 deviate from the rest of the bus services as they will enter Yishun Temporary Interchange through Yishun Central 1 instead of Yishun Central, serving bus stops (F1) and (F2). This arrangement will ease bus traffic flow entering the bus interchange from Yishun Central.

(F1) Yishun Central 1 – BS59691 Bef Blk 935
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
—	—	—	855	Harbourfront Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	857	↺ Temasek Avenue	Yishun Temp Int

(F2) Yishun Central 1 – BS59699 Opp Blk 935
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
—	—	—	855	Yishun Temp Int	Harbourfront Int
—	—	—	857	Yishun Temp Int	↺ Temasek Avenue

Bus stop (G) serves as an alighting bus stop for bus services turning into Yishun Temporary Interchange, allowing for a quicker connection to the MRT Station.

(G) Yishun Ave 2 – BS59671 Bef Yishun Stn
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
—	—	—	39	Tampines Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	85	Punggol Temp Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	811	↺ Yishun Avenue 1	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	811P	↺ Yishun Avenue 1	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	851	Bukit Merah Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	852	Bukit Batok Int	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	854	Bedok Int	Yishun Temp Int

(H) Yishun Central – BS59689 Blk 203
Before Yishun Temp Int Amendment			After Yishun Temp Int Amendment
Service	Origin	Destination	Service	Origin	Destination
—	—	—	804	↺ Yishun Street 41	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	812	↺ Yishun Avenue 3	Yishun Temp Int
—	—	—	812P	↺ Yishun Avenue 3	Yishun Temp Int

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Intratown Services 811, 812 & Peak Period Short Services 811P & 812P

With the temporary interchange, the 2nd loops of Intratown 811 & 812 will not pick up passengers from the interchange boarding berths. Instead, this will be done at Bus Stop (B2) 59161 Yishun Central – Opp Blk 201, which is connected via shelter to the temporary interchange near Berth 7. Commuters taking 811 to Yishun Ave 1, Yishun Ave 3, Yishun Ave 4 & Yishun St 81 as well as 812 to Yishun Ave 2, Yishun Ave 3, Yishun Ring Rd (Khatib Stn loop) should board the respective buses there. This is similar to the concept of Intratown 307, where commuters to the 2nd loop board from the bus stop outside Choa Chu Kang Interchange and commuters from the 1st loop who wish to go to the Interchange will alight.

Peak Period Short Services 811P & 812P will also pick passengers from this bus stop as the first stop.

Services 811, 811P, 812 & 812P will alight passengers at the Temporary Interchange alighting berth after completing the 2nd loop.

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Gallery:

External Links & References:

• SMRT – Yishun Temp Int Guide
• http://www.smrt.com.sg/Portals/0/PDFs/Buses/Town%20Maps/Yishun%20Guide%20online%202013.pdf
• http://www.smrt.com.sg/Buses/BusInterchanges.aspx
• SMRT Press Release – Yishun Temp Int Poster
• SBS Transit Press Release – Service 39 & 85

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