On 3 April 2020, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on COVID-19 announced an elevated set of safe distancing measures, as a circuit breaker to pre-empt the trend of increasing local transmission of COVID-19. These would take effect for 4 weeks from Tuesday, 7 April 2020 till Monday, 4 May 2020.
Some of the measures taken are:
- Closure of most physical workplace premises, except services that are required to remain open to support daily needs
- Full Home-Based Learning for Schools
- Closure of Recreation Venues, Attractions and Places of Worship
These measures would significantly reduce demand for public transport. In view of this, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would be reducing service levels and suspending selected bus services.
Suspension of Bus Services
From Wednesday, 8 April 2020 till Monday, 4 May 2020, the following bus services operated by Public Transport Operators will be temporarily suspended.
| Bus Service | Route |
| Trunk Bus Services | |
| 128 | Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot ⇄ Shenton Way |
| City Direct Bus Services | |
| 651 | Jurong West Avenue 3 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 652 | Upper Thomson Road ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 653 | Hume Avenue / Hillview Avenue ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 654 | Anchorvale Street ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 655 | West Coast Road ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 656 | Canberra Road ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 657 | Jurong West Avenue 1 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 660 | Buangkok Green ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 661 |
Pasir Ris Drive 3 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 663 |
Yishun Avenue 6 ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 665 |
Marsiling Drive ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 666 |
Punggol Drive ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 667 | Clementi Avenue 4 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 670 | Yishun Avenue 7 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 671 | Punggol Road ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| 672 | Hougang Street 51 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| Express Bus Services | |
| 10e |
Bedok Road ⇆ Shenton Way / Anson Rd |
| 97e | Jurong East ⇄ Marina Centre |
| 167e | Sembawang  Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 174e | Boon Lay ⇆ Kampong Bahru |
| 196e |
Marine Parade Road ⇆ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 502 | Soon Lee Depot ↺ Central Boulevard |
| 502A |
Soon Lee Depot → Central Boulevard (Downtown Stn) |
| 513 | Tampines Avenue 5 ⇆ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 518 |
Pasir Ris ↺ Bayfront Avenue |
| 518A | Pasir Ris → Bayfront Avenue (Bayfront Stn Exit A) |
| 850E |
Yishun Streeet 41 / Yishun Ring Rd ⇆ Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 851e | Yishun ⇆ New Bridge Road / Eu Tong Sen Street |
| 868E | Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 (Blk 347) → Temasek Avenue (Promenade Stn) |
| 951E | Woodlands Street 82 Shenton Way / Anson Road |
| 971E | Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park ⇄ Cecil Street / Anson Road |
| 982E | Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard |
| Night Bus Services | |
| 1N | Marina Centre → Yishun Ring Road (Opp Khatib Stn Exit D) |
| 2N | Marina Centre → Tampines Avenue 3 (Blk 888) |
| 3N | Marina Centre → Choa Chu Kang North 5 (Blk 708) |
| 4N | Marina Centre → Pasir Ris Drive 1 (Blk 210) |
| 5N | Marina Centre → Jurong West Street 92 (Blk 924) |
| 6N | Marina Centre → Punggol Field (Opp Blk 201A) |
| NR1 | Resorts World Sentosa → Yishun Ring Road (Opp Khatib Stn Exit D) |
| NR2 | Marina Centre → Sembawang Drive (Blk 317) |
| NR3 | South Bridge Road (Boat Quay) → Choa Chu Kang |
| NR5 | Marina Centre → Jurong West Street 64 (Blk 685B) |
| NR6 | Resorts World Sentosa → Compassvale Drive (Blk 225A) |
| NR8 | Marina Centre → Bukit Batok West Ave 5 (Blk 531) |
| Others | |
| 926 | Woodlands ↺ Mandai Lake Road |
The suspension of these bus services may be extended should the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures remain in place.
Operator Posters
Premium Bus Services
In addition to these public bus services, various Premium Bus Services operated by private bus operators such as MyBus.com.sg (Loh Gim Chong Transport) will also suspend bus services from Tuesday, 7 April 2020 to Monday, 4 May 2020.
Public Transport during COVID-19
In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, authorities have urged commuters to avoid non-essential travel to reduce the number of commuters on public transport. Commuters who are feeling unwell should not use public transport. Commuters who are sick and must travel, do so during off-peak periods and wear a mask.
At the same time, Public Transport Operators have stepped up cleaning efforts on buses, trains and at MRT stations and bus interchanges.
References
- Circuit Breaker to Minimise Further Spread of Covid-19 – Ministry of Health
- Service Announcement – Temporary Suspension of Bus Services – SMRT Buses
- Tower Transit Facebook Post
- Go-Ahead Singapore Facebook Post
- Selected bus services to be temporarily suspended – SBS Transit
- Public Transport during COVID-19