Woodlands Bus Interchange

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 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. 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. 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. Integrated Transport Hub 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. On 12 March 2016, to facilitate upgrading of the interchange and construction of a new link to the MRT station, operations of all bus services serving Woodlands interchange were shifted to a temporary interchange beside Woodlands MRT station. The upgraded bus interchange reopened on 13 June 2021, and incorporated a heritage gallery showcasing SMRT and Trans-Island bus history over the years. Due to insufficient parking spaces in the interchange, service 925/925M, 950, 961/961M, and 965 remained at the temporary interchange. When a land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land) between Singapore and Malaysia was announced, Berth B5 of the temporary bus interchange was used for the VTL-Land bus service operated by Transtar from 29 November 2021. The service was renamed to Vaccinated Travel Bus Service (VTBS) when the Singapore government scrapped all of her VTL schemes for the reopening of borders to all Vaccinated persons on 1 April 2022. VTBS ceased on 1 May 2022 as cross-border public bus services resumed. 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. Services from Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange are divided into two Bus Packages operated by two bus operators. List of bus services Woodlands Bus Interchange Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange References External links Interchanges and Terminals (SBS Transit) Interchange/Terminal (SMRT Buses) Woodlands Town Map & Services Guide