Woodlands Bus Interchange

Woodlands Bus Interchange
兀兰巴士转换站
Pusat Pertukaran Bas Woodlands
Interior of Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub.
General information
LocationIntegrated Transport Hub:
(Level B1) 30 Woodlands Avenue 2, Singapore 738343[1]
Temporary:
3A Woodlands Square, Singapore 737735[2]
SystemPublic Bus Interchange
OwnerLand Transport Authority
OperatorSMRT Buses
Bus routesIntegrated Transport Hub:
14 (SMRT Buses)
7 (Tower Transit Singapore)
2 (SBS Transit)
Temporary:
4 (SMRT Buses)
1 (Tower Transit Singapore)
Bus standsIntegrated Transport Hub:
14 Boarding Berths
2 Alighting Berths
Temporary:
3 Sawtooth Boarding Berths
2 Sawtooth Alighting Berths
Bus operatorsIntegrated Transport Hub:
SMRT Buses
Tower Transit Singapore
SBS Transit[3][4]
Temporary:
SMRT Buses
Tower Transit Singapore
Connections NS9  TE2  Woodlands
Construction
Structure type
Underground (Integrated Transport Hub)
At-grade (Temporary)
AccessibleAccessible alighting/boarding points
Accessible public toilets
Graduated kerb edges
Tactile guidance system
History
Opened4 February 1996 (1996-02-04) (Old)
12 March 2016 (2016-03-12) (Temporary)
13 June 2021 (2021-06-13) (Integrated Transport Hub)
Closed11 March 2016 (2016-03-11) (Old)
Key dates
4 February 1996Commenced operations
12 March 2016Operations transferred to Temporary bus interchange
13 June 2021Most operations transferred to new and air-conditioned bus interchange as Integrated Transport Hub
Location

Woodlands Bus Interchange (formerly Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange) is an air-conditioned bus interchange located at Woodlands Town Centre, serving the Woodlands, Marsiling, and Admiralty regions. Nearby amenities include the Causeway Point Shopping Mall, Woods Square, Woodlands Civic Centre, and Woodlands Regional Library. It is the eleventh Integrated Transport Hub (ITH) which is the largest and among the busiest bus interchange in Singapore; referring to air-conditioned bus interchanges integrated with MRT stations and commercial developments.

Although the interchange first opened in 1996 as Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange, it was closed between 2016-2021 for extensive upgrading works, during which it was replaced by Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange. Rail connections are offered via Woodlands MRT station along the North South Line (NSL) and Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). It opened on 13 June 2021. All bus services at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange shifted over to the new interchange which is also known as Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub, except Bus Services 925, 950, 961 and 965 and their respective route variants, which remained at the old interchange.

History

Original interchange (1996-2016)

In 1991, as part of efforts to improve connectivity in the area, the Singapore government announced plans to build a new bus interchange in Woodlands.[5] Built by the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (known today as SMRT Corporation) at a cost of S$34 million, the interchange was built under Woodlands MRT station, to facilitate connections between the station and the bus interchange, and leave more land available for other uses.[6]

The bus interchange commenced operations in February 1996, replacing the previous Woodlands interchange near Woodlands Checkpoint, and the Marsiling bus terminal. Covering an area the size of three and a half football pitches and with 11 bus bays, Woodlands interchange featured an integrated taxi stand, and a bus parking area located away from the passenger concourse.[7]

Temporary and upgraded interchange (from 2016)

The Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange in June 2021

Contract PT247 to carry out alteration works to upgrade the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange to an air-conditioned one and constructing a link to the new Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) was awarded to CCECC Singapore Pte Ltd.[8][9]

On 4 February 2016, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that the interchange would be relocated to a temporary interchange beside Woodlands MRT station from 12 March to facilitate upgrading of the interchange and construction of a new link to the TEL station, with operations of all bus services serving the interchange shifted. The upgrading works would feature enhanced facilities for both commuters and bus captains, and were initially planned to be completed by 2019.[10][11][12]

The upgraded bus interchange reopened on 13 June 2021, with many commuters saying that the new interchange brings greater comfort from better shelter from the rain or heat, air-conditioning, and lighting, allowing the interchange to feel more modern. To ease possible congestion in the interchange, four bus services remained at the temporary interchange.[13][14]

On 24 November, the Prime Minister's Office announced that the temporary bus interchange would be used for a land vaccinated travel lane (VTL-Land) bus service operated by Transtar between Woodlands and Larkin Sentral, with 16 trips per direction, from 29 November.[15][16] This service allowed many families to reunite with those who were stuck at the land border due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [17]

On 12 December, roadworks on the east entrance of the ITH caused 15 bus services to be diverted to either the temporary bus interchange or to the west entrance of the ITH, resulting in longer journey times, and brought back the inconveniences getting to the temporary interchange had. Normal services reinstated on 26 December, with many commuters and businesses at the MRT station glad that the road works were over.[18]

On 1 April 2022, the VTL service was renamed to Vaccinated Travel Bus Service (VTBS) when the borders were reopened to all vaccinated persons. The VTBS ceased operations on 1 May 2022 as cross-border public bus services resumed.[19]

Bus contracting model

Under the bus contracting model, all bus services operating from Woodlands Bus Interchange are divided into four Bus Packages operated by three bus operators.[20] Services from Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange are divided into two Bus Packages operated by two bus operators.[21][22]

List of bus services

Woodlands Bus Interchange
Operator Package Service Berth Destination
SBS Transit Bedok 168 B10 Bedok
168A Tampines Avenue 4 (Opp Tampines Station/Tampines Interchange)
Sengkang–Hougang 161 Hougang Central
SMRT Buses Woodlands 178 B13 Boon Lay
178A Woodlands Road (Kranji Station)
187 B9 Boon Lay
900 B4 ↺ Woodlands Avenue 1
901 B5 ↺ Woodlands Avenue 6
901M ↺ Woodlands Avenue 7
902 B2 Woodlands Avenue 9 (Republic Poly)
903 B4 ↺ Woodlands Centre Road
903M ↺ Marsiling Lane
904 B5 ↺ Woodlands Crescent
911/911T B6 ↺ Woodlands Avenue 2
B12 ↺ Woodlands Centre Road
911A Woodlands Street 13 (Blk 146)
912/912A B7 ↺ Woodlands Avenue 7
912/912B B12 ↺ Woodlands Centre Road
913/913T B3 ↺ Woodlands Circle
B13 ↺ Woodlands Avenue 3
913M ↺ Woodlands Street 13
960 B14 Marina Centre
960e
962 B6 ↺ Admiralty Street
964 B3 ↺ Woodlands Link
Tower Transit Singapore Sembawang–Yishun 169 B2 Ang Mo Kio
169A Yishun Avenue 2 (Opp Yishun Station)
169B Woodlands Avenue 8 (Bef W’lands Ind Pk E3)
856 B11 Yishun
856A Woodlands Centre Road (Woodlands Train Checkpoint)
856B Canberra Road (Aft Admiral Hill)
858 B1 ↺ Changi Airport
858A Yishun Avenue 2 (Opp Yishun Station)
963 B9 HarbourFront
963e
966 B11 ↺ Marine Parade Road
966A Marine Parade Road (Marine Parade Station Exit 2)
969 B2 Tampines
Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange
Operator Package Service Berth Destination
SMRT Buses Woodlands 925 B1 Choa Chu Kang
925A Kranji Way (Kranji Resvr Pk B)
925M ↺ Neo Tiew Crescent
950 B2 ↺ JB Sentral
961 B1 Lorong 1 Geylang
961M
967 B3 ↺ Woodlands Drive 17
Tower Transit Singapore Sembawang–Yishun 965 Buangkok
965A Yishun Avenue 2 (Opp Yishun Station)

References

  1. ↑ "Bus Interchanges – SMRT". Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "Bus Interchanges – SMRT". Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Bus Service 161". Transit Link. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Bus Service 168". Transit Link. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  5. ↑ Tan, Cephah (23 April 1991). "Govt acts to woo people to Woodlands". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 1. Retrieved 14 August 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ↑ Goh, Julia (14 February 1992). "Underground bus station to be built in Woodlands". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ↑ "Woodlands interchange will be state-of-the-art". The Straits Times. Singapore. 27 January 1996. p. 32. Retrieved 14 August 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ↑ "Contract PT247 – Upgrading of Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange". CCECC Singapore Pte Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Land Transport Authority Annual Report 2017/18" (PDF). Land Transport Authority (Singapore). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange to be Upgraded Temporary Relocation from 12 March 2016". Land Transport Authority (Singapore). 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange to be upgraded, temporary interchange to open March 12". CNA. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange to be relocated to temporary site". The Straits Times. 4 February 2016. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub to Open on 13 June 2021". Land Transport Authority (Singapore). 17 May 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "Largest integrated transport hub to open in Woodlands on June 13". The Straits Times. 17 May 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to be launched on Nov 29, travellers must use designated bus services". CNA. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to open on Nov 29, up to 2,880 travellers each day". The Straits Times. 24 November 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "'I couldn't sleep last night': First bus passengers from S'pore head to Johor Baru for family reunions". The Straits Times. 29 November 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Commuters glad bus services return to Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub". The Straits Times. 26 December 2021. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Kok, Yufeng (22 April 2022). "S'pore-Malaysia cross-border public bus and taxi services to resume from May 1". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Bus Industry to Complete Transition to Bus Contracting Model on 1 September 2016". Land Transport Authority (Singapore). 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "LTA Awards Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages to Tower Transit". Land Transport Authority (Singapore). 30 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  22. ↑ Clement Yong (2 October 2020). "Tower Transit edges out SMRT to win $1.03b Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun bus packages". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.