Four new bus services to be introduced in Hougang, Boon Lay, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, and Mayflower

Four new bus services will be introduced in the coming weeks to improve transport connectivity in Hougang, Boon Lay, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, and Mayflower, according to announcements from public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT. These services include both supplementary and short-trip bus routes aimed at easing passenger loads and enhancing convenience. From 24 March, a new "short trip" service, 112B, will begin operations to serve commuters travelling between Hougang Central Bus Interchange and Hougang Avenue 7. Operated by SBS Transit, this service will run only on weekdays during evening peak hours, from 5.38 pm to 7.13 pm. It will not be available on weekends or public holidays. Short trip services operate on selected sections of existing routes, catering to high-demand areas such as MRT stations or schools. Bus 112B will start at Hougang Central Interchange and call at five stops, including The Midtown and Block 465A in Upper Serangoon Road, before heading to Rio Vista and Riverfront Residences in Hougang Avenue 7, and terminating opposite Block 321. Hougang SMC MP Dennis Tan welcomed the move but expressed hopes for further enhancements. In a Facebook post, he noted that he had raised concerns in Parliament about increasing bus frequencies in the area. He acknowledged the introduction of Bus 112B but urged the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to continue reviewing commuter needs and consider a second full-day service for Hougang Avenue 7.

In Boon Lay, Service 258M will be introduced on 23 March to improve access to key amenities such as Boon Lay Shopping Centre. Operated by SMRT, this supplementary service follows the existing route of Service 258 but extends to loop around Boon Lay Place, serving seven new bus stops. These include locations near Boon Lay Community Centre, Block 191 Boon Lay Drive, and Block 662D Jurong West Street 64. Service 258M will operate only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 6.30 am to 12.30 pm, with a frequency of 11 to 13 minutes. During its operation, Service 258 will be suspended. In the Mayflower and Bishan areas, SBS Transit will launch Service 71A on 17 March to connect Mayflower MRT station to Bishan MRT station. This short trip service will operate on weekday mornings from 6.53 am to 8.30 am, excluding public holidays. It will serve 17 bus stops along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Bishan Road, Braddell Road, and Bishan Street 11. Key stops include those near Mayflower Secondary School, opposite Raffles Institution, and Bishan MRT station. Additionally, from 15 March, SBS Transit will introduce Service 138M, a supplementary loop service operating from Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange. This service will improve accessibility to Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic by stopping at four key locations: before Ang Mo Kio Library, Courts Ang Mo Kio, before Al-Muttaqin Mosque, and Block 700B in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. SBS Transit noted that the bus will stop at the Courts Ang Mo Kio bus stop, which is closest to Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic, allowing passengers to reach their destination without crossing the road. Service 138M will operate on weekdays from 7.30 am to 5.00 pm and on Saturdays from 7.30 am to 1.00 pm. It will not run on Sundays and public holidays.