Ayer Rajah Bus Park

Slipping through a crack in time, we find ourselves at Ayer Rajah Bus Park in 1984. Imagine the freshly paved expanse of the brand new depot, a 17,939 square meter haven built for 176 buses. Ayer Rajah Bus Park, a much-needed solution to the overnight parking woes plaguing North Buona Vista Terminal, Holland Road, Delta Road carparks, and even Leng Kee Road. This two-point-eight-million-dollar investment promised to streamline bus operations around Buona Vista, Ghim Moh, Kent Ridge, Bukit Merah, and HarbourFront. Ayer Rajah Bus Park wasn’t just a parking lot. It was a vital hub, equipped with fuel pumps, a bus washing machine, and offices for the staff. The heavy maintenance work, however, was handled by its big brother, Bukit Batok Bus Depot. Interestingly, Ayer Rajah Bus Park was built on land leased under a Temporary Occupation Licence, foreshadowing its eventual fate. Now, fast forward to 2018. Ayer Rajah Bus Park, after 34 years of service, closed its gates on September 9th. The Bukit Merah Bus Package, awarded to SBS Transit, led to a shift in operations to Ulu Pandan Bus Depot. The buses that once called Ayer Rajah Bus Park home were relocated to either Bukit Batok or Ulu Pandan. Even in retirement, a small part of Ayer Rajah Bus Park continued to serve. The entrance area was cordoned off, becoming a looping point for Service 91. The fuel pumps and washing machine fell silent, their shelters remaining as ghostly reminders of the past. For a brief period in 2020, the grounds of Ayer Rajah Bus Park echoed with the presence of SBS Transit COMET MAXI buses, parked there for overnight stays and daily decontamination. The final chapter began in early 2021 with the demolition of the diesel pumps and storage tank, marking the end of an era for Ayer Rajah Bus Park.