Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced a major expansion of bus services for the north-east region (including Punggol, Sengkang, Serangoon) and the rapidly developing towns of Tengah and Brickland. The changes aim to improve connectivity, especially for residents living far from MRT stations, and to ease travel times as new estates mature.
Key upgrades coming by end-2025
| Service | What’s new / extension | Effective Date* | Areas served |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Services | Service 104: Punggol Coast ↔ Woodleigh, via Sengkang, Buangkok, Serangoon | 26 Oct 2025 | North-east estates |
| Service 44: Punggol ↔ Changi Airport (peak periods only) | 10 Nov 2025 | North-east ↔ Changi Airport commuters | |
| Service 984: Bukit Panjang ↔ Jurong East, via Teck Whye and Brickland | 26 Oct 2025 | Tengah / Brickland ↔ Jurong East & Bukit Panjang | |
| Services 451, 452, 453: Fast limited-stop routes, better direct links to MRT stations | 17 Nov 2025 | Tengah / Brickland to Beauty World, Bukit Batok, Bukit Gombak MRT stations | |
| Route Extensions | Service 114 extended from Buangkok to Yio Chu Kang Interchange / MRT | by end-2025 | improving north-east connectivity |
| Service 146 extended from Bartley to Kovan MRT | by end-2025 | — ditto | |
| “City-Direct” / peak express services | Five new City Direct services will be introduced in the north-east region — express buses during weekday peaks directly linking estates to the CBD | by end-2025 | North-east residents with long commutes |
*Dates for some services are confirmed; others will roll out closer to the end of the year.
Additional efforts & context
- These enhancements are under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), launched in July 2024. The programme has a S$900 million budget and aims over eight years to add new routes, enhance existing ones, and better connect new housing estates to MRT stations and amenities.
- LTA is also exploring where additional bus lanes can be added to make journeys smoother and faster, especially in estates farther from transport nodes.
- Since BCEP began, about 200,000 commuters are said to benefit daily from improved connectivity.
What this means for commuters
- Reduced reliance on feeder buses: direct or limited-stop services cut down on stopovers or transfers, especially for those living in outlying estates of Tengah, Brickland, etc.
- Shorter travel times: with more express or “City-Direct” options plus route extensions, many commuters will have fewer hops between home and MRT / business districts.
- Supporting estate growth: Tengah and Brickland are developing fast; improved bus access is essential for livability as more housing, schools and amenities come online.