New Tengah bus interchange opens, residents hope for more transport options

SINGAPORE: Residents of Tengah are set to benefit from a new bus interchange, which officially commenced operations on 21 July 2024.

Despite this development, residents still hope for more transport options in the future. In response, netizens have advised patience, noting that Tengah is a new estate.

Managed by Tower Transit, the new facility currently serves three bus routes: 870, 871, and 992.

In a news release on 5 July, the Land Transport Authority announced the launch of the Tengah Bus Interchange and detailed several route changes to enhance connectivity in the area.

As part of the changes, Service 992 has been extended to cover Tengah Garden Walk, Tengah Drive, and Tengah Boulevard before terminating at the new interchange.

Similarly, Service 870 now includes a stop at the interchange via Tengah Boulevard.

The introduction of Service 871 marks a significant addition, connecting Tengah to Bukit Batok West, Bukit Gombak, and Beauty World.

This new route provides residents with access to the North-South Line at Bukit Gombak station and the Downtown Line at Beauty World station.

Furthermore, Service 871 links residents to nearby schools, including Dazhong, Lianhua, and Keming Primary Schools, as well as Hillgrove Secondary School.

Other key amenities accessible via this route include the neighborhood centers at Bukit Gombak and Bukit Batok East, and Bukit Gombak Stadium.

Despite this, residents still hope for more transport options in the future. Several of them visited the new bus interchange and shared their thoughts.

One resident, a 40-year-old man, expressed his appreciation for the clean and well-maintained interchange.

Despite the connectivity provided by the new Service 871, he hopes for more transport options in the future, as he commutes to Ang Mo Kio for work.

A 54-year-old general manager living in Plantation Grange, noted that residents were unaware of the new boarding location for Service 992.

Despite this, he acknowledged the benefits of the new interchange but highlighted the need for a bus service to Jurong East, as many children from Tengah attend school there.

Netizens urge patience as Tengah residents seek more transport options

In response to residents’ hopes for more transport options in the future, netizens shared their thoughts on The Straits Times’ Facebook post.

Many emphasized patience, noting that Tengah is a new estate and it is unrealistic to expect everything to be operational immediately.

One netizen mentioned that new estates typically take time to establish all necessary amenities and transportation services.

They cited Punggol and Sengkang as examples where residents had to wait years for full development, adding that a five-year wait is considered quite good.

Another netizen explained that most new estates initially operate only a few bus services, with more services and increased traffic arriving as the area develops.

They stressed the importance of patience, pointing out that bus companies need time to study the population and gradually improve services.

A suggestion was made for a bus service linking Tengah to the eastern part of Singapore, advocating for the return of a long trunk service.

Netizens’ sarcasm highlights ongoing CCS issues in Tengah

In a sarcastic comment, one netizen expressed hope that there wouldn’t be any air conditioning leaks on the buses.

This remark underscores the ongoing frustrations among some Tengah residents regarding the Centralised Cooling System (CCS) in their new flats.

In early 2024, many Tengah residents experienced delays in the installation of the CCS, with keys being handed over despite the incomplete setup.

Months later, numerous residents continue to grapple with persistent issues related to the CCS, particularly water leakage and condensation.