Hougang Central Bus Interchange: Key Services, CRL Works and the New Integrated Interchange
Where the main Hougang bus routes go, how Cross Island Line works have affected the interchange, and what the new interchange in the Hougang Central development means.
Hougang Central Bus Interchange is where much of Hougang starts its day. It sits in the town centre, joined to Hougang MRT (NE14) through Exit A, with Hougang Mall across the road. It is also about to change more than most interchanges in Singapore, because a new integrated bus interchange is part of the development that includes LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences). Here is how the current interchange works, the routes worth knowing, and what we know about its replacement.
The interchange in brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Hougang Central, above Hougang MRT station (NE14) |
| Opened | 17 December 1994 |
| Operator | SBS Transit |
| Rail link | Hougang MRT Exit A opens into the interchange |
| Future | New interchange within the Hougang Central integrated development; date not announced |
The interchange closed for a few years around the turn of the millennium while the MRT station was built underneath it, then reopened on the same spot. It was later expanded to give buses more parking room.
Key bus services from Hougang Central
We checked each service below against SBS Transit’s service pages in September 2026. It is a selection of routes people ask about, not a full list, and routes can change, so confirm on SBS Transit or the MyTransport.SG app before relying on one.
| Service | Goes to | Handy for |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Changi Airport Terminal 2 (loop), via Sengkang, Punggol area and Tampines | Flights and airport jobs, with no train change |
| 51 | Jurong East Interchange, via Geylang, Bugis, City Hall, Chinatown and Pasir Panjang | A long one-seat ride through town to the west |
| 74 | Buona Vista, via Ang Mo Kio and Bukit Timah | Ang Mo Kio, the Sixth Avenue area and Buona Vista |
| 89 | Airport Cargo Road (loop), via Sengkang, Punggol, Pasir Ris and Loyang | The Changi cargo and Loyang side |
| 102 | Seletar Aerospace (loop), via Buangkok and Sengkang | Seletar Aerospace Park |
| 107M | Temasek Boulevard, near Suntec, via Serangoon and Geylang | Marina Centre; SBS lists it as running on weekday evenings, Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays and public holidays |
| 113 | Upper Paya Lebar Road (loop), via Kovan | Short local trips south of Hougang |
| 161 | Woodlands Interchange | The north, without going through town |
| 165 | Clementi Interchange, via Ang Mo Kio, Upper Thomson and Farrer Road | A slow but direct link to the west |
About bus 84: older lists sometimes show service 84 around Punggol. It was split into two loops, 84G and 84W, on 23 June 2024 to serve the SIT campus in Punggol Digital District. Neither starts at Hougang Central. For PDD, the NEL to Punggol Coast is simpler; see our Punggol Digital District guide.
Tips for using the interchange
- Check live arrivals first. Routes such as 113 and 165 run every 11 to 17 minutes or so outside the morning peak, per SBS Transit, so a quick look at a bus arrival app can save a long wait.
- Train for the city, bus for across the island. The NEL is usually quicker into town. Buses win for trips the train handles badly, such as the airport, Seletar or Woodlands.
- Use the stops outside for passing routes. Some services serving the town centre stop along Hougang Central or Hougang Avenue 10 rather than entering the interchange.
- Allow extra time at weekends. The town centre around Hougang Mall gets busy in the afternoons.
How CRL works have affected the interchange
Building the Cross Island Line station at Hougang has taken space in the town centre. Transport enthusiast records show one boarding berth closed from May 2024 for CRL station works, with services spread across the remaining berths, and a reopening pencilled in for early 2026. We could not confirm the current berth layout with SBS Transit, so check the service board in the concourse rather than heading to where your bus used to leave from.
Nearby, the network has shifted too. Compassvale Bus Interchange in Sengkang closed in December 2024 after Buangkok’s new interchange opened, so some older route maps for the Sengkang side are out of date.
The new integrated interchange
When the Hougang Central site was awarded in January 2026, the plans described a mixed-use development linked to Hougang MRT, with a new Hougang bus interchange, a town plaza with a sheltered event space, and a mall of about 300,000 sq ft owned by CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust. The homes above, about 830 of them, are LinkTown Residences.
LTA calls this kind of facility an Integrated Transport Hub: a bus interchange built into a larger development and linked to the MRT station and neighbouring buildings such as a mall. LTA lists 15 of them, including Serangoon (at NEX), Sengkang, Buangkok and Punggol Coast. For commuters, the everyday gains are usually sheltered, shorter walks between bus and train, and errands on the way home. Our guide to choosing a condo near the MRT explains why buyers weigh this.
To be announced: the switchover date to the new interchange, whether any routes will change when it opens, and where it sits relative to each residential block. The development is expected to complete around 2030 to 2031. The residential sales launch is expected in early 2027, and UOL’s August 2026 results guide a 2H 2027 launch.
What it means for LinkTown Residences residents
- Buses at the door: for Hougang Central Residences owners, trunk routes to the airport, Jurong East, Woodlands and Clementi would start downstairs.
- Two train lines: the NEL now, with the CRL interchange targeted for 2030. See our Hougang MRT guide.
- Busy surroundings: an interchange brings footfall and bus movements. Buyers sensitive to noise should look closely at stack orientation once the site plan is out.
For the full picture, see the location page and project details, and our guide to living in Hougang.
Sources checked September 2026: SBS Transit service pages for 27, 51, 74, 89, 102, 107M, 113, 161 and 165; CapitaLand’s January 2026 award announcement; LTA on Integrated Transport Hubs; Go-Ahead Singapore notice on service 84; berth details from Land Transport Guru.
Register to get the LinkTown Residences site plan and interchange details as soon as they’re released.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Hougang Central to Changi Airport?
SBS Transit lists service 27 as a loop from Hougang Central Interchange to Changi Airport Terminal 2, passing all three older terminals. Service 89 loops to the airport cargo area.
Is Hougang Central Bus Interchange moving?
A new bus interchange is planned inside the Hougang Central mixed-use development, which is expected to complete around 2030 to 2031. No switchover date has been announced.
Who operates Hougang Central Bus Interchange?
SBS Transit. Most services starting here belong to the Sengkang-Hougang bus package under LTA’s Bus Contracting Model.
Does bus 84 still run from Punggol?
Service 84 was split into two loops, 84G and 84W, on 23 June 2024 to serve the SIT campus in Punggol Digital District. It is a Punggol route, not a Hougang Central service.
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