Cross border fleet change for 170/170X from 29th August 2011

Following 160 and 950's fleet change from their respective predecessor buses, 170 and its shortworking cousin 170X recieved its fleet change on 29th August 2011.

Striders make an appearance on 170...

...and on its shortworking cousin 170X!

The DM3500s are now the mainstay for 170's fleet

This bus used to have a Transit Media electronic destination signage system.

Some of the new plates for 170

For 170

170X > Singapore - Kranji MRT

170X > JB -Kotaraya II

And farewell to the MK IIIs that served on 160/170

Cross border fleet change from 1st August 2011.

1st August 2011 marks a round of fleet renewal for the cross border services by SBS Transit and SMRT Buses, as their predecessors gets retired

SBS Transit's 170 and 160
There's older buses before this B57 model, but the B57 is the oldest model i remember. We start from the known retired B57 buses on 170

SBS's retired Volvo B57 (from SBS Transit Memory Lane website)

to 170 having B10M MK IIs

A retired Volvo B10M MK II.

to B10M MK IIIs were introduced when 170 became fully air-conditoned service. It was a welcome relief as commuters are spared from breathing in the vehicle exhausts during a jam, and also travel across the two countries in air-conditioned comfort)
 

A MK III (SBS787P) carrying an advertisment for Maybank. Cross border buses rarely has advertisments on it.

With its sister service 160 from Jurong East to Kotaraya II introduced in September 2004, it received the airconditioned MK IIIs.

SBS739D on 160, at Jurong East bound for Kotaraya II Terminal at Johore Bahru.

and now, part of 160's fleet has been replaced with B10M MK IV buses with DM3500 bodywork.

SBS2750G, one of the MK IV DM3500s deployed to 160.

170 has not yet received its deployment of DM3500s yet.

A blue-plate 170.

Currently, the MK IV DM3500s are making up part of the fleet for 160 only, and looks to be a gradual changover; with 160/170's entire fleet expected to be using MK IV DM3500 buses in the coming months.

SMRT Buses.

19 September 2004 saw the introduction of 950 as a competitor/alternative on the cross border services operating between Singapore and Malaysia. The fleet consisted of Hispano O405s since its introduction.

The route details were updated in July 2011 to scroll with route details instead of static "Kotaraya II/Johore Bahru" & "Woodlands Int/Singapore"

TIB968R on 950

The rear of TIB968R, with its Malaysia stickers for entering Malaysia as a revenue service bus.

It is supplemented by a fleet of OC500LEs.

SMB98D on 950

The Malaysian permit sticker.

And the black information sticker has been updated to a newer reflecting the accurate information for the OC500LE.

The old sticker.

The new sticker.

The rear showing the stickers.

The rear of the OC500LE with its Malaysia stickers for entering Malaysia as a revenue service bus.

The predecessor and successor for O405s for 950, the Hispano O405 in front, and the Volgren O405 at the back.

This also marks the first time where two models from each of the company is running on their respective service (exception of service 170 as it has not received MK IV DM3500s yet)

All info are as of 3rd August 2011.

Causeway Link's CW5

Causeway Link launched CW5 on 27 March 2011. It is a cross border service that plies between Newton, Singapore and Larkin, Johore Bahru. There are currently 10 buses in CW5's fleet, and Scania buses are expected to make up most of the CW5's fleet.

The flyer for CW5 by Causeway Link.

Showing the connectivity from Newton MRT to other parts of Singapore.

The pickup/drop off point is at Newton Circus' car park, beside Newton Food Centre. From here, commuters can take Newton MRT along the North South Line towards the heart of the city and the shopping belt.

At Larkin, commuters can transfer to various bus services to the shopping and entertainments in Johore Bahru.

The bus stop for CW5

A banner advertising CW5.

Newton Food Centre in the background

The bus shown as a cartoon version on CW5's promotional poster, and its design can capture the attention of anyone.

The Scania K310IB

The interior of the K310IB.

The exterior of this bus is reminisce of the trolley bus design. And the interior is comfortable and classy. The seats of the bus have the Causeway Link's trademark "smiles"  pattern on the bus. Every seat have its own individual seatbelt for safety.

The rear of the bus looks like a house (^^;). It is a nice design that breaks away from tradition.

Another bus that was spotted on CW5's first day happens to be a suprise -  a low entry Hino bus!

The Hino bus.

A Low-entry bus!

The interior of the Hino.

Causeway Link's CW5 allows for the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore to be enhanced, benefitting both the trades, industries and tourisms of Malaysia and Singapore. As more cross border services are introduced, travelling between the two countries will be a breeze in the future!

As announced by the Singapore and Malaysia's Prime Minister Joint Statement during the Singapore-Malaysia Leader's retreat on May 2010.

Cross-border scheduled bus services will be doubled with the introduction
of 8 new additional routes (4 from each side) between Pasar Bakti and
Larkin in Johor and the two Integrated Resorts, Boon Lay, Yishun, Newton
and Changi Airport in Singapore.

(Special thanks to Mr Johnny Low of Causeway Link for the information and photography permission for this article on CW5.) 

New cross border service AC7 by Advance Coach

Advance Coach has launched its first cross-border service AC7 on 17th Dec 2010, plying between Yishun Interchange in Singapore and Kota Raya II Terminal in Johore Bahru.

A poster and an arrow guiding you to the berth ^^

This is part of a Singapore & Malaysia agreement to increase transit links between both countries in May, with this being the third service introduced out of eight services agreed. The first two are introduced in September 2010 and operated by Transtar, with the routes plying between RWS and Changi Airport to Johore.

The service will stop at all stops on the route it plies.

It charges a flat fare of SGD $2 when boarding in Singapore or paying by ezlink card. For those boarding at Malaysia, RM $2 will be charged instead.

Advance Coach's AC7 - First day on service.

 

The promotion flyer (front page).
Scanned by (buses[IN]gapore!), copyright Advance Coach.



The route details are printed behind. The bus stops for boarding/alighting are listed here.
(Scanned by (buses[IN]gapore!), copyright Advance Coach.


 10 Yutong ZK6118HGA are purchased for AC7's fleet.

One of AC7's bus departing Yishun Int.

The rear.

The boarding point is at Berth B5 near the Passenger Service Centre, with the frequency roughly around 30 minutes.
Expect more cross border routes to be introduced soon!