City Direct Services

City Direct Current Operator Route Service Area
651 Tower Transit Jurong West Avenue 3 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Jurong West
652 SBS Transit Upper Thomson Road ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road Ang Mo Kio
653 Tower Transit Hume Avenue / Hillview Avenue ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Hillview, Bukit Batok
654 SBS Transit Anchorvale Street ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road Sengkang West, Sengkang East
655 SBS Transit West Coast Road ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Pandan Gardens, Teban Gardens, West Coast
656 Tower Transit Canberra Road ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road Sembawang
657 Tower Transit Jurong West Avenue 1 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Jurong East
660 SBS Transit Buangkok Green ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road Hougang
661 Go-Ahead Singapore Pasir Ris Drive 3 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Pasir Ris
663 Tower Transit Yishun Avenue 6 ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road Yishun East
665 SMRT Buses Marsiling Drive ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road Marsiling, Woodlands
666 Go-Ahead Singapore Punggol Drive ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Punggol East
667 SBS Transit Clementi Avenue 4 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Clementi, Dover
668 SBS Transit Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang
670 Tower Transit Yishun Avenue 7 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Yishun West
671 SBS Transit Punggol Road ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Sengkang
672 SBS Transit Hougang Street 51 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard Hougang
List of Withdrawn City Direct Services:
City Direct Route Introduced Withdrawn
658 Bedok Reservoir Road / Kaki Bukit Avenue 1 ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road 19 May 2014 17 Dec 2018
659 Bedok South Road ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road 9 Jun 2014 17 Dec 2018
662 Choa Chu Kang North 7 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard 6 Oct 2015 17 Dec 2018
664 Tampines Street 41 ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard 6 Oct 2015 17 Dec 2018
669 Bedok North Road ⇄ Marina Boulevard / Central Boulevard 22 Mar 2016 3 Jun 2019

City Direct Services are express bus routes operating between residential estates and the Central Business District (CBD) weekday peak hours. 22 routes were introduced between 2013 and 2016 under the Bus Services Enhancement Programme (BSEP), offering alternatives for commuters who relied on the rail network.

Private Bus Operators were initially contracted to operate these routes, augmenting the resources of public transport operators. An initial 10 City Direct services were launched, staring with Service 651 in September 2013, and Services 652–660 in January–June 2014. Bus Services originally operated 2 trips each in the morning and evening. Catering to increased demand, some services were increased to up to 6 trips.

In March 2014, an expansion of the BSEP was announced, increasing the number of City Direct Services to 20. This figure was revised later in March 2015 when LTA announced 12 new City Direct Services. Services 661–672 were introduced from September 2015–November 2016.

After their initial two-year operating contracts with Private Bus Operators had expired, most City Direct services were transferred to Public Transport Operators. Presently, most routes are operated by PTOs with either single-deck or double-deck buses. Poorer performing services were withdrawn. City Direct Bus Services 658, 659, 662 & 664 were withdrawn in December 2018, while City Direct Bus Service 669 was withdrawn in June 2019.

Flat fares were initially charged for the first 10 City Direct Bus Services (Service 651–660), equivalent to the full distance of the bus route under the distance-based Express fare scheme. Between 2014 Q4 and 2015 Q3, all City Direct services transitioned to the distance-based Express fare scheme. Buses were fitted with fare collection equipment similar to that used on public buses, inclusive of entry and exit readers. Commuters could pay fares corresponding to the exact distance travelled, and benefit from transfer discounts between City Direct services and other modes of public transport (bus or train) under distance-based fare rules.


Timeline:

  • 21 Nov 2012: Tender for City Direct 651 called between Jurong West and the CBD (VT371)
  • 13 Jun 2013: Tender for City Direct 652 – 657 called (VT387). Contract for one City Direct awarded (VT371).
  • 09 Nov 2013: Contracts awarded City Direct 652 – 657 (VT387)
  • 26 Nov 2013: Tender for City Direct 658 – 660 called (PT162)
  • 03 Feb 2014: Contracts awarded for City Direct 658 – 660 (PT162)
  • 09 Feb 2015: Tender for City Direct 661 – 665 called (PT221)
  • 11 Mar 2015: LTA announces 12 City Direct Services to be launched from Q2 2015 onwards, an increase of 2 services from the original announcement.
  • 21 Jul 2015: Contracts for City Direct 661 – 665 awarded (PT221), City Direct 666 – 670 routing region announced.
  • 05 Aug 2015: Tender for City Direct 666 – 670 called (PT233)
  • 14 Dec 2015: Contracts awarded for City Direct 666 – 670 (PT233).
  • 18 Jan 2016: Contracts for City Direct 651 – 657 extended for 1 more year
  • 15 Apr 2016: Tenders for City Direct 651, 671, 672 called (PT270)
  • 01 Aug 2016: Contracts awarded for City Direct 651, 671, 672 (PT270). Tenders for City Direct 652, 653, 654, 655, 656 & 657 called (PT288)
  • 14 Nov 2016: Contract awarded for City Direct 654 (PT288). Tender for City Direct 653, 655, 656 & 657 not awarded.
  • Apr 2017: Transfer of operations for City Direct 653, 655, 656 & 657 to Public Transport Operators.
  • 12 May 2017: Tenders for City Direct 658, 659 & 660 open.
  • 22 Jun 2017: Tenders for City Direct 661, 662, 663, 664 & 665 open.
  • 10 Jul 2017: Tender for City Direct 658, 659 & 660 not awarded.
  • 30 Aug 2017: Tenders for City Direct 661, 662, 663, 664 & 665 not awarded.
  • 28 Sep 2017: Transfer of operations for City Direct 663 to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd.
  • 12 Oct 2017: Transfer of operations for City Direct 665 to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd.
  • 17 Dec 2018: Discontinuation of City Direct Services 658, 659, 662 & 664
  • 02 Jan 2019: Transfer of operations for City Direct 660 to SBS Transit Ltd
  • 02 Jan 2019: Transfer of operations for City Direct 661 to Go Ahead Singapore Pte Ltd
  • 03 Jun 2019: Discontinuation of City Direct Service 669
  • 22 Jul 2019: Transfer of operations for City Direct 654 to SBS Transit Ltd
  • 06 Jan 2020: Transfer of operations for City Direct 652 to SMRT Buses Ltd
  • 13 Jan 2020: Transfer of operations for City Direct 651 to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
  • 13 Jan 2020: Transfer of operations for City Directs 671 & 672 to SBS Transit Ltd
  • 02 Mar 2020: Transfer of operations for City Direct 666 to Go Ahead Singapore Pte Ltd
  • 09 Mar 2020: Transfer of operations for City Direct 667 to SBS Transit Ltd
  • 30 Mar 2020: Transfer of operations for City Direct 670 to SMRT Buses Ltd
  • 14 Dec 2020: Transfer of operations for City Direct 668 to SBS Transit Ltd
  • 31 May 2021: Transfer of operations for City Direct 653 & 657 from SMRT Buses Ltd to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd under the Bulim Bus Package; Transfer of operations for City Direct 665 from Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd to SMRT Buses Ltd under the Woodlands Bus Package
  • 05 Sep 2021: Transfer of operations for City Direct 670 from SMRT Buses Ltd to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd under the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package
  • 06 Sep 2021: Transfer of operations for City Direct 652 from SMRT Buses Ltd to SBS Transit Ltd
  • 03 Oct 2021: Transfer of operations for City Direct 656 from SMRT Buses Ltd to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd under the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package

Fares:

Fares are charged based on distance-based fares for express bus services. Entry and exit card readers will ensure the correct fare is charged based on the distance travelled, similar to regular Express bus routes.

Boarding & Alighting Locations:

AM Peak (Alighting Points) PM Peak (Boarding points)
City Direct 651, 653, 655, 657, 661, 666, 667, 668, 670, 671, 672 Anson Road
Robinson Road
Marina Boulevard
Central Boulevard
Shenton Way
City Direct 652, 656, 660, 663, 665 Orchard Road
Bras Basah Road
Fullerton Road
Raffles Quay
Shenton Way
Anson Road
Robinson Road
Fullerton Road
Stamford Road
Orchard Road
City Direct 654 Central Boulevard
Shenton Way
Anson Road
Robinson Road
Marina Boulevard

Operating Hours:

City Direct services operate during the morning and evening peak hours on Weekdays (except Public Holidays) in a single direction.

City Direct Summary Poster
City Direct Summary Poster

External Links:

Back to Bus Services

63 thoughts on “City Direct Services

  • 10 January 2024 at 4:49 PM
    Permalink

    City Direct Services should amend to their nearest neighbourhood Bus Interchanges/Terminals and Depots
    651 (Bulim Bus Depot to Marina South ITH via Jurong West, Pioneer)
    652 (Ang Mo Kio ITH to Marina South ITH via Upper Thomson)
    653 (Future Hillview INT to Marina South ITH Via Bukit Batok East)
    654 (Sengkang West Depot to Marina South ITH Via Rivervale)
    655 (Jurong East ITH to Marina South ITH Via Teban Gardens)
    656 (Remains as it is)
    657 (Bulim Bus Depot to Marina South ITH via Jurong East)
    660 (Buangkok ITH to Marina South ITH Via Hougang)
    661 (Loyang Bus Depot to Marina South ITH via Pasir Ris)
    663 (Remains as it is)
    665 (Woodlands ITH to Marina South ITH Via Marsiling & Woodlands South)
    666 (Punggol INT to Marina South ITH Via Punggol East)
    667 (Clementi ITH to Marina South ITH Via Dover)
    668 (Yio Chu Kang INT to Marina South ITH Via Ang Mo Kio)
    670 (Yishun ITH to Marina South ITH via Yishun West)
    671 (Compassvale INT to Marina South ITH Via Sengkang)
    672 (Hougang Central INT to Marina South ITH)

    Reply
  • 12 April 2023 at 5:23 PM
    Permalink

    If the five city direct services that got withdrawn survived, and were handed over to public bus operators, here are what are their operators now:

    658: SBS Transit (Serangoon-Eunos Bus Package; either BNDEP or HGDEP)
    659: SBS Transit (Bedok Bus Package; BNDEP)
    662: SMRT (Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang Bus Package; KJDEP)
    664: SBS Transit (Tampines Bus Package; BNDEP)
    669: SBS Transit (Bedok Bus Package; either BNDEP or HGDEP)

    Reply
    • 15 April 2023 at 9:31 PM
      Permalink

      Updated:

      658: SBS Transit (Serangoon-Eunos Bus Package; HGDEP)
      659: SBS Transit (Bedok Bus Package; BNDEP)
      662: SMRT Buses (Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang Bus Package; KJDEP)
      664: SBS Transit (Tampines Bus Package; BNDEP)
      669: SBS Transit (Bedok Bus Package; BNDEP)

      Reply
  • 23 March 2023 at 2:29 PM
    Permalink

    With staggering work hours these days, please consider having the bus services for workers who start/end work earlier/later. I am looking at bus 657. The current bus service starts a little too late, which means I can only reach office at 8.30am.

    Reply
  • 14 April 2022 at 9:25 AM
    Permalink

    Sengkang residents would prefer if two of bus no. 654 starts around 7am and another two at 8am instead of having 6 buses between 7.30 to 7.55 am. It does not cater to those who start work at 8am or 9am but only for 8.30am. Would really be appreciated if more time slots are given.

    Reply
    • 24 November 2022 at 2:46 PM
      Permalink

      Do you have transport from Khatib to Robinson road please

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *