Besides being a hot spot for Thai food and groceries, Golden Mile Complex is also a “bus terminal” where you can hop on long-distance coaches to Malaysia.
Thus, Singaporeans might be wondering where they can take such coaches from when the complex is vacated in May this year.
The answer is that four Golden Mile bus operators will be moving to a mall on MacPherson Road.
Source: Google Maps
Passengers will be able to board coaches for long-distance trips there from 1 Apr.
A few days ago, Transtar Travel received permission from the authorities to move to Grantral Mall@MacPherson, their managing director Elson Yap told Shin Min Daily News.
Moving along with them are three other bus operators from Golden Mile Complex: Sri Maju Tours and Travel, The One Travel & Tours and Super-Nice Express (previously known as Grassland).
These four companies have been operating out of Golden Mile Complex since the 1980s, said Mr Yap, who’s also on the executive committee of the Express and Excursion Bus Association (EEBA).
Many Singaporeans may not have heard of Grantral Mall@MacPherson as it’s a fairly new complex.
Source: Google Maps
According to its website, the mall located at the corner of MacPherson Road and Upper Paya Lebar Road was completed only in 2022.
It’s also a stone’s throw away from Tai Seng MRT.
By the way, it shouldn’t be confused with the similarly named Grantral Mall that’s in Clementi.
Anyway, Transtar will be setting up shop on the first floor of Grantral Mall@MacPherson, and preparing for the move at the end of March.
They will officially commence operations from there on 1 Apr, Mr Yap said.
However, they’re currently selling long-distance bus tickets up to 31 Mar only.
Thus, Golden Mile Complex will still be the pick-up point for those who’re travelling on or before that date.
The companies will inform customers over social media about the move and that they’ll have to board buses at Grantral Mall@MacPherson from 1 Apr.
Explaining the decision to move to Grantral Mall@MacPherson, Mr Yap told Shin Min that the mall is suitable as there’s enough space there to park buses.
Source: Shin Min Daily News on Facebook
It also has available units for their offices and a place for staff to rest.
This was compared with Oxley BizHub in Ubi, which they had previously considered.
The four companies decided to make the move together despite fierce competition in the business, he said.
That’s because they believe it’s better to maintain the “express bus gathering point” they’ve established over the years, elaborated Mr Yap, adding,
If we stay together, we won’t be afraid of competition and can all win together.
As for the other bus companies besides the four mentioned, Starmart Express will move their operations to the nearby Golden Mile Tower from 1 Apr.
Star Qistna, on the other hand, hasn’t confirmed a place yet but is considering moving to Little India Arcade on Serangoon Road.
The tenants of Golden Mile Complex will now be scattered across Singapore after its S$700 million en bloc sale was finalised.
Ahead of the May deadline to hand the building over to the developers, some have already found new homes.
For example, the Thai Supermarket will be moving to Aperia Mall in Kallang.
What’s certain though is that Golden Mile Complex as it is now will soon fade into history like many of our iconic buildings.
Hopefully, their tenants will find a way to continue the legacy at their new homes.
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps and Google Maps.
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