An NUS internal shuttle bus.

The Internal Shuttle Bus is a network of bus routes that operate within the National University of Singapore Kent Ridge campus and between the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses.

The system is operated by ComfortDelGro and is entirely free of charge.[1][2] Route information and live bus tracking is available with the NextBus app.[3] The services are known for being extremely busy at peak times.[4][5]

The buses used are Volvo B9Ls,[6] Zhongtong N12s and BYD B12s.

History

The NUS NextBus app was introduced in 2012.[7]

A driverless bus, dubbed the NUSmart Shuttle, was introduced as a trial in 2019.[8] It carried passengers until April 2020 when the service was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It continued operating without passengers until January 2021.[9]

In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the routes were altered to allow students at Kent Ridge MRT station to reach different areas of campus without mixing with each other.[10]

In July 2021, bus routes were changed. One major change was to services A1 and A2 which now terminate at Kent Ridge Bus Terminal instead of Prince George's Park residences.[11] In November 2021, it was announced that the contract with ComfortDelGro Bus had been renewed and that the entire fleet would be replaced with electric buses. The first electric buses are expected to be introduced in the third quarter of 2022.[12]

Routes

There are several internal shuttle bus routes that run throughout NUS and link to both Kent Ridge MRT station and Botanic Gardens MRT station. There is also a bus route which links the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses and the Botanic Gardens MRT station.[13]

References

  1. ^ Tan, Chistopher (26 November 2019). "ComfortDelGro introducing buses with auto emergency braking features in its private fleet". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. ^ Ch’ng, Ryan (23 January 2019). "FAQs". The ISB Man. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. ^ Ch’ng, Ryan (27 March 2019). "Introducing the New NextBus Beta App". The ISB Man. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. ^ Sim, Royston (30 September 2013). "NUS looking for solution to shuttle bus squeeze". The Straits Times. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  5. ^ Ng, Charmaine (17 October 2019). "Ex-NUS senior lecturer jailed 14 weeks for rubbing against undergrad on campus bus". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  6. ^ Ch'ng, Ryan (24 October 2018). "MythBUSting: Getting to know our ISB system". The Cinnamon Roll. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. ^ Ch’ng, Ryan (2 January 2021). "ISB1101: Timeline of ISB History". The ISB Man. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Driverless shuttle bus to start passenger trial at NUS Kent Ridge campus". CNA. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  9. ^ Ch’ng, Ryan (30 July 2019). "History of Bus Routes Ep 8: AV1". The ISB Man. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  10. ^ "NUS Internal Shuttle Bus". Land Transport Guru. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  11. ^ Ch'ng, Ryan (16 August 2021). "The New Internal Shuttle Bus Network: The ISB Man's Review". Office of Campus Amenities. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  12. ^ "ComfortDelGro secures S$30m contract to operate electric bus fleet for NUS shuttle service". The Business Times. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Getting around NUS – NUS Office of Campus Amenities (OCA)". uci.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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