SBS Transit Launches New Bus Service 168A That Goes from Woodlands to Tampines in 14 Stops

By
Kimi Tan
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In two weeks, there will be another bus that can get you from Malaysia to Tampines in just a few stops.

Okay, not actually Malaysia. The bus connects Woodlands and Tampines, but Woodlands is basically Malaysia already.

Bus 168A That Connects Woodlands and Tampines

From Monday, 13 May 2024, SBS Transit’s new bus service 168A will operate from Woodlands Interchange and terminate at the bus stop along Tampines Avenue, opposite Tampines Station/Interchange.

This short-trip service will operate only on weekdays and Saturdays (excluding public holidays) during the morning and evening peak periods, so don’t wait for 168A on a Sunday because you’ll be waiting there for 24 hours.

With a route length of 25.1km, this bus service will serve 14 stops along Woodlands Square, Jalan Kayu, and Tampines Expressway.

Here is the route the bus will take:

  1. Woodlands Int
  2. W’lands Stn Exit 5
  3. Blk 511
  4. Opp Casablanca
  5. Bef Seletar Camp G
  6. Aft Punggol Rd
  7. IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE
  8. Bef Tampines Lk
  9. Aft Tampines Lk
  10. Bef Tampines Ave 9
  11. Opp Blks 741/742
  12. Opp Blk 721
  13. Opp Citylife@Tampines
  14. Blk 401
  15. Opp Tampines Stn/Int

Short Trip Service 168A Complements Bus Service 168

Wonder why there’s an “A” behind “168”? This is because the Short Trip Service 168A will complement the current Bus Service 168 during peak hours.

Bus Service 168 also connects Woodlands and Tampines, but it extends beyond Tampines to Bedok.

168 and 168A travel along the same route before 168A terminates at Opp Tampines Stn/Int. 168 will carry on to the following stops:

  • Opp Century Sq
  • Blk 147
  • Bef Tampines West Stn
  • Blk 960A
  • The Clearwater Condo
  • Bedok Resvr Stn Exit B
  • Blk 109
  • Bef Blks 139/140
  • Bedok Ctrl PO
  • Aft Heartbeat @ Bedok
  • Bedok Int

Because of the new bus service, workers who commute from Tampines to Woodlands for work, or vice versa, won’t have to worry about squeezing and fighting with others for a place on buses.

168A will help to serve more commuters during peak periods (like the bus stops that connect a row of condos to Woodlands MRT Station), and may even save some from being late on several occasions since they won’t “miss the bus because it was packed”.

Connectivity

Short Trip Service 168A serves two MRT stations:

  • Woodlands (NS9/TE2)
  • Tampines (EW2/DT32)

For access to more MRT stations, take Bus Service 168, which serves these five:

  • Woodlands (NS9/TE2)
  • Tampines (EW2/DT32)
  • Tampines West (DT31)
  • Bedok Reservoir (DT30)
  • Bedok (EW5)

Travelling From The South To The East

East siders are notorious for always saying “east side best side”, so much so that there are more ways for people to get to the “best side” of Singapore now.

Other than the additional 168A service that will connect the north and east of Singapore, the fourth-stage of the Thomson East Coast Line (TEL) will connect the south and east regions.

From 23 June 2024, passengers will be able to commute from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore, making it easier to get to the east from the south.

Image: LTA

Technically, you could also take the TEL from Woodlands North to the east, but that’s only if you have all the time in the world or hate taking bus.

The seven stations from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore will be connected to the first three stages of the TEL, from Woodlands North to Gardens by the Bay.

The seven stations will be available for free use by the public as part of a preview on 21 June between 10am and 9pm.

The Bedok South and Sungei Bedok stations are slated to be completed in 2026, extending the TEL a little further east.

Founders’ Memorial, the TEL station between Gardens by the Bay and Tanjong Rhu, is slated to be open when the memorial is ready in 2028, but this won’t affect your TEL journey from Gardens by the Bay to Tanjong Rhu.

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Kimi Tan