Service 179 is a trunk route running from Boon Lay Interchange and looping at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), going via Jurong West Street 63, Pioneer Road North, Lien Ying Chow Drive and Nanyang Drive. It had considerable morning peak demand (7:30am – 9:30am) and evening peak demand (5:00pm – 7:30pm), as a faster means of travel for students heading to Boon Lay since many students prefer alighting at Pioneer MRT.
The route experiences heavy demand from students and staff of NTU commuting between Boon Lay/Pioneer and the University, which consist of 45 bus trips from Pioneer MRT Station. Xin Yi, Kyla Giam and her friend also took the bus service 179, and they were driving these service.
History[]
Service 179 was first introduced on 7 January 2001, by both SBS and First Western as Boon Lay – NTU (Loop), to cope with the heavy level due to the relocation of NIE to Nanyang area. It uses MCW Metrobuses and Dennis Trident 2s.
It therefore converted fully to Dennis Trident 2/Plaxton President and Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President in 2005.
On 21 September 2007, service 179A was introduced during peak hours.
On 13 January 2012, First Singapore (now Metroline) replaced all Dennis Trident 2/Plaxton President, Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President and Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini into Alexander Dennis Enviro400.
On 7 December 2014, service 179 calls at an additional bus stop outside School of Art, Design and Media along Nanyang Drive.
On 3 December 2015, service 179 was designated wheelchair-accessible bus service (WAB) after all the training involved.
On 13 October 2018, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 was replaced by Alexander Dennis Enviro400H double deckers and Volvo B9TLs.
179 is further reduced from 29 buses to 19 buses. SBS3203M, SBS3511Z and SBS3642D, are no longer in service 179.
Shortworking Trips[]
All shortworking trips operates during peak periods.
Service 179A also operates with 2 DDs. Service 179A helps relieve demand between NTU and Boon Lay and skips bus stops along Jurong West Street 63 and Pioneer Road North in both directions. It was introduced as a faster means of travel for students heading to Boon Lay since many students prefer alighting at Pioneer MRT. Its frequency is 31 minutes.
Service 179B helps relieve demand between NTU and Pioneer, and many students prefer alighting at Pioneer MRT. Its frequency is 15 minutes.
Fleet[]
Service 179 consists fully of Volvo B9TLs. Rubbish gungs of Volvo Olympians and Leyland Olympians were predominantly deployed from 2001 to 2014. Volvo Olympian 2-Axles were also used to be deployed for a short while until the eventual retirement in 2011.
2 buses will cross over to service 193 on weekdays AM and PM peak, and 2 more buses will cross over to service 241 on weekdays AM peak. Excess capacity were transferred to free shuttle bus that goes to NTU.
Route Information[]
| Road | Bus Stop Name | MRT Station |
|---|---|---|
| Jurong West Central 3 | Boon Lay Interchange | Boon Lay |
| Jurong West Street 63 | Blk 662A | |
| Jurong West Street 63 | Blk 658C | |
| Jurong West Street 63 | Pioneer Station Exit A | Pioneer |
| Pioneer Road North | opp Blk 643 | |
| Pioneer Road North | Blk 978 | |
| Pioneer Road North | Blk 949 | |
| Lien Ying Chow Drive | Hall 1 | |
| Lien Ying Chow Drive | opp Hall 6 | |
| Nanyang Drive | Hall 2 | |
| Nanyang Drive | opp Blk 41 | |
| Nanyang Drive | Lee Wee Nam Library | |
| Nanyang Drive | School of CEE | |
| Nanyang Drive | School of Communications and Information | |
| Nanyang Drive | Hall 7 | |
| Nanyang Drive | Innovation Centre | |
| Nanyang Drive | Hall 4 | |
| Pioneer Road North | Blk 840 | |
| Pioneer Road North | Blk 705 | |
| Pioneer Road North | Blk 643 | |
| Jurong West Street 63 | Pioneer Station Exit B | Pioneer |
| Jurong West Street 63 | Blk 608 | |
| Jurong West Street 63 | Blk 664C | |
| Jurong West Central 3 | Boon Lay Interchange | Boon Lay |