Trans-Island Bus Services (1983–2004)
In April 1981, Communications & Labour Minister Ong Teng Cheong announced the government would grant a license to an operator that was willing to compete with Singapore Bus Service (SBS), that had operated all services in Singapore since 1973, with the aim of improving service levels. In January 1982, City Shuttle Service operator Singapore Shuttle Bus (SSB) lodged applications with the Ministry of Communications to establish a second bus operator and the Registry Of Vehicles for four bus depots. The applications were approved on 12 March that year, with SSB to take over 11 services in Woodlands and Sembawang from SBS.
A new company, Trans-Island Bus Services, was founded on 31 May 1982, ordering a fleet of 250 buses including 90 Hinos. Operations commenced on 3 April 1983 with 40 buses.
On 12 March 1987, TIBS purchased its former parent company SSB. On 27 April, TIBS was listed on SESDAQ, although Ng Ser Miang retained a majority shareholding. By this stage it operated 361 buses.
As part of the government's plan to make the local bus system more competitive and to cushion TIBS from the impact of its bus services being axed or truncated due to the Woodlands MRT Line, 16 SBS services in Bukit Panjang and Jalan Kayu were handed over to TIBS in 1995. TIBS was also allocated to operate bus services in the then upcoming new towns of Sembawang, Simpang, Sengkang and Punggol.
In 1996, TIBS began operations at the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange, Singapore's first underground bus interchange. It was also the first bus interchange designed to accommodate articulated buses. some of which were designed by world-renowned designer, Pininfarina and was known as the Habit articulated buses, on a large scale in its fleet, in contrast to the double-deckers used by SBS.
In 1999, SBS Transit was awarded both bus and train services in the entire north-east corridor with the North East line, Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT by the Land Transport Authority, both based in Sengkang. Eight bus routes affected in the bus tender of Sengkang and Punggol were transferred to SBS Transit. In return, TIBS was awarded to operate 17 routes in the north-west corridor towns of Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok, where the handover was done in stages together with the opening of Bukit Panjang LRT. Buses 61, 106 and 173 were the last services to be handed over mainly due to extra time involved.
In February 2001, TIBS joined with RATP Group in an unsuccessful bid to operate the Marina MRT line (now known as Circle line).
SMRT Buses (2004–present)
In 1999, TIBS and SMRT engaged in merger talks which failed. In July 2001, SMRT launched a takeover bid for TIBS that was accepted. The transaction was completed in December 2001, with TIBS being operated as a wholly owned subsidiary. As part of a corporate rebranding programme, TIBS was rebranded as SMRT Buses in May 2004.
In 2008, SMRT's first new bus after rebranding, the Mercedes-Benz OC500LE, entered service. It is its first wheelchair-accessible bus and first in Southeast Asia to meet Euro V emission standard.
On 26 November 2012, 170 bus drivers (all of whom were foreign nationals from China), refused to leave their living quarters for work. This reduced bus services to 90% of normal levels. The Ministry of Manpower considered it an illegal strike since the group failed to give a 14 days notice prior to disrupting an essential public service, as is required by the local laws. As a result, five of the strikers were jailed for instigating the strike, and another 29 were deported.
On 26 December 2012, SMRT relocated Bukit Panjang Interchange to Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park.
In 2014, SMRT bought its first double-decker buses, the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC was made revenue service debut on bus 972. Fleet restrictions were gradually eased at -
- Hillview Road (2014, Service 176 & 963)
- Henderson Road (November 2014, Service 176)
- Bukit Timah Road (February 2015, Service 67 & 960)
- Yishun Bus Interchange (March 2015)
- Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot (October 2015, Service 854)
On 13 March 2016, SMRT relocated Woodlands Regional Interchange to Woodlands Temporary Interchange. On 29 May, SMRT handed over management of Bukit Batok Interchange and Bukit Batok services under Bulim package to Tower Transit Singapore.
On 4 September 2017, SMRT opened its first integrated transport hub, Bukit Panjang.
On 18 and 25 March 2018, SMRT handed over Yishun services under Seletar package to SBS Transit. On 16 December, SMRT relocated Choa Chu Kang Interchange.
On 8 September 2019, SMRT opened its second integrated transport hub, Yishun.
In November 2020, SMRT laid up its last non-wheelchair accessible bus, the Mercedes-Benz O405G Hispano Habit. 1 unit is currently preserved at Woodlands depot.
On 23 January 2021, SMRT relocated Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park to Gali Batu Terminal. On 13 June, SMRT opened its third and also largest integrated transport hub in Singapore, Woodlands. From 5 September to 3 October, SMRT handed over management of Yishun Integrated Transport Hub & Sembawang Interchange and Yishun, Woodlands & Sembawang / Yio Chu Kang services under Sembawang-Yishun package to Tower Transit Singapore in 3 separate tranches. As a result; SMRT discontinued NightRider NR1, NR2 and Express 963R at the expiry of Mandai Package contract on 3 October 2021 and in February 2022, SMRT closed its Ang Mo Kio depot.
SMRT discontinued three more NightRider (NR3, NR5, NR6 and NR8), Resorts World (188R) and Zoo (926) on 30 June 2022. These services were suspended since 8 April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.
On 18 August 2023, the Land Transport Authority announced that SMRT had won the bid for the Jurong West Bus Package.
On 1 and 15 September 2024, SMRT took over management of Soon Lee Depot, Boon Lay and Joo Koon Integrated Transport Hub and Tuas Terminal and Boon Lay, Joo Koon / Tuas / Soon Lee services under Jurong West package from SBS Transit.
On 12 and 13 January 2025, Bus 912M was withdrawn and Bus 967 from Woodlands Temp Interchange was introduced.
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