Adjustments to bus services as TEL ridership triples

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced changes to bus services serving segments of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) to reduce duplication of services and redistribute resources for better commutes. 

The changes come as latest figures show TEL ridership almost tripled since Stage 3 of the line - TEL3 - opened for passenger service in November 2022. Between October 2022 and October 2023, average weekday ridership on the TEL rose from 60,000 to 177,000.

From 10 December 2023, adjustments will be made to the following bus services:

1. Discontinuation of Service 167

Service 167 will be discontinued. To preserve connectivity along key sections of Service 167's route, Service 859 will be amended to ply Canberra Link and Sembawang Road. 

The frequency of Service 980, which serves a similar sector as Service 167 between Sembawang and Thomson Road, will also be increased. 

These three bus services are operated by Tower Transit Singapore. 

2. Combination of Service 162 / 162M and route amendment

Service 162 / 162M, operated by SBS Transit, will be combined into a single Service 162. 

Service 162 will loop Sin Ming Drive while maintaining the link between Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange and Sin Ming. This route amendment will enhance local connectivity within the Sin Ming area, and provide new connections to Upper Thomson Road.

3. Route amendments to Service 75 and Service 121

SMRT Buses will shorten the route of Service 75 so it terminates at Bukit Merah Bus Interchange instead of Marina Centre Bus Terminal. This creates new connections to Bukit Merah Town Centre and Havelock MRT station for residents living along Kim Tian Road. 

Service 121, operated by SBS Transit, will ply Cantonment Road enroute to Shenton Way Bus Terminal. This is to maintain the connectivity between Outram Park MRT and residential estates in the Cantonment area, originally provided by Service 75.

LTA said information on the service and route amendments will be made available at the relevant bus stops, bus interchanges, as well as on LTA and bus operators' websites. Commuters can also approach staff from the relevant bus operators for assistance.