Hougang Central Bus Interchange: Services, the New Integrated Interchange and What Changes
A practical guide to Hougang Central Bus Interchange: where it is, key bus services, the MRT link, how CRL works have affected it, and the new integrated interchange planned at Hougang Central.
Hougang Central Bus Interchange is where most journeys in Hougang start or end. It sits in the town centre at Hougang Central, beside Hougang Mall and connected to Hougang MRT station (NE14). Over the next few years it will also be one of the biggest things to change in the area, because a new integrated bus interchange is planned as part of the Hougang Central redevelopment.
This guide covers what the Hougang interchange offers today, how Cross Island Line (CRL) works have affected it, and what we know, and don’t know, about the new integrated interchange at LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences).
Hougang Central Bus Interchange today
Information is accurate as of September 2026; we update this page when routes, rules or plans change.
The interchange has served the Hougang Central town centre for decades and, according to transport enthusiast records, has been extended and reconfigured over the years. Buses board from berths around a sheltered concourse, and bus stops along Hougang Central serve passing routes that don’t enter the interchange.
Around it you’ll find Hougang Mall, the town council office, coffeeshops and HDB blocks, with the Hougang Central GLS site close by. It is the main bus node for Hougang, Buangkok and Kovan residents heading beyond the town.
Key bus services from Hougang interchange
The interchange is the starting point for a mix of trunk routes across the island and shorter loops within the north-east. The services below were checked against SBS Transit’s own service pages in September 2026, and each is listed there as starting from Hougang Central Interchange. This is a selection, not a full list. Routes change from time to time, so confirm on SBS Transit’s website or LTA’s MyTransport.SG app before you rely on one.
| Service | Runs to (per SBS Transit, as of September 2026) | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Changi Airport Terminal 2 (loop) | Airport workers and travellers heading east |
| 51 | Jurong East Interchange | Cross-island trips to the west |
| 102 | Seletar Aerospace Drive (loop) | Seletar Aerospace Park, via Buangkok and Sengkang |
| 107 | Shenton Way Terminal | The CBD by bus; SBS Transit lists it as not running on Sundays and public holidays |
| 147 | Clementi Interchange | Long trunk route to the west |
| 161 | Woodlands Interchange | The north |
For most commuters, though, the MRT does the heavy lifting. From Hougang, the North-East Line runs direct to Serangoon (2 stops, for the Circle Line), Dhoby Ghaut, Outram Park and HarbourFront. Our Hougang commute guide sets out routes by destination.
Tips for using the Hougang bus interchange
- Check arrival times before you leave. Bus arrival apps and the screens in the concourse show live timings, which helps on routes that run less often outside peak hours.
- Know your berth. Services are grouped by boarding berth, and allocations can shift during CRL works. Look for the berth number on the service guide rather than walking to where your bus used to be.
- Use the bus stops outside for passing routes. Some services that serve the town centre stop along Hougang Central instead of entering the interchange.
- During train disruptions, follow station announcements. Bridging bus arrangements for the North-East Line are managed by the operator and can use the interchange.
- Allow extra time at peak hours. The town centre is busy on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons, especially around Hougang Mall.
Hougang MRT station and its exits
People searching for the “Hougang MRT exit” usually want the bus interchange. The station connects to the interchange, with other exits serving Hougang Mall and the surrounding streets. Because CRL construction has changed entrances and walkways around the town centre, we don’t list exit letters here; follow the station signage on the day.
- NE14Hougang MRT stationNorth-East Line; Kovan (NE13) one stop towards the city, Buangkok (NE15) one stop north
- CRLFuture interchangeHougang becomes a North-East Line and Cross Island Line interchange, targeted around 2030
- BusHougang Central InterchangeLinked to the station; a new interchange is planned within the Hougang Central development
How CRL works have changed the interchange
Building the new CRL Hougang station has taken space around the town centre. Transport enthusiast records (not official sources) describe part of the interchange’s bus parking being moved to a separate bus park and some boarding berths being closed temporarily for station works, with services reshuffled across berths. We have not been able to confirm these details with SBS Transit or LTA, so treat them as a general picture: if your usual bus seems to have moved berth, construction is the likely reason.
These are construction-period arrangements. Expect further changes as the CRL station and the Hougang Central development progress, and check SBS Transit notices for current berth allocations. LTA’s targets for each phase are set out in our Cross Island Line opening date timeline.
The new integrated interchange at Hougang Central
When the Hougang Central GLS site was awarded in January 2026, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust’s announcement described a mixed-use development seamlessly integrated with Hougang MRT station, the new Hougang bus interchange and a new town plaza with a sheltered public event space. The residential component, about 830 homes, is LinkTown Residences.
LTA calls this kind of facility an Integrated Transport Hub: a development with an integrated bus interchange, seamlessly linked to an MRT station and adjoining developments such as a mall. LTA’s list of existing hubs includes Sengkang, Buangkok, Serangoon, Bedok and Toa Payoh. For commuters, the practical gains are usually shorter, sheltered walks between bus and train, and errands in the mall on the way home. Our explainer on integrated developments covers the model in more detail, and our guide to buying a condo near MRT explains how to judge walking routes and shelter.
What we don’t know yet
- The exact date the new interchange opens and services move across. The development is expected to complete around 2030 to 2031, but as of September 2026 no switchover date has been announced.
- Whether any services will be added, amended or relocated when the new interchange opens.
- Interim arrangements while the old and new facilities overlap.
- Where the interchange sits in relation to each residential block. The site plan has not been released.
What this means for LinkTown Residences buyers
Living above a bus interchange is a trade-off worth thinking through. The upside is obvious: MRT, buses and the largest mall in Hougang at your lift lobby, with the CRL adding direct trips east towards Pasir Ris and west towards Ang Mo Kio. See our Cross Island Line guide for what the interchange station changes.
The trade-off is activity. Buses queue, turn and idle, and a town plaza will host events. When the site plan is out, look at where the interchange entrances and bus lanes sit relative to each stack. Our guide to choosing a stack in an integrated condo has a checklist, and the location page shows the surroundings.
Information as of September 2026. Bus services checked against SBS Transit service pages in September 2026 and subject to change; confirm with SBS Transit or LTA before travelling. Construction-period details come from transport enthusiast records, have not been officially confirmed and may have changed. Timing of the new interchange has not been announced. Published by an independent licensed salesperson, not the developer.
