SMRT Bus Service 961

SMRT Bus Service 961 is a trunk route between Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange and Lorong 1 Geylang Terminal, passing through Woodlands Road, Upper Bukit Timah, Bukit Merah, Chinatown, City Hall, Beach Road and Kallang Bahru.

On Sundays and Public Holidays, Service 961M plies an alternative route serving Marina Centre in both directions.

The boarding berth at Woodlands Temp Int for Service 961 will be changed from B2 to B1 from 16 Mar 2024.

961
47009 Woodlands Temp Int B2 NS9TE2 Woodlands Square
46549 Blk 347 Woodlands Ave 3
46539 Blk 320 Woodlands Ave 3
46529 Opp Marsiling Stn NS8 Woodlands Ave 3
46491 Blk 402 Woodlands Ave 3
46381 Opp W'Lands Ind Pk D St 1 Woodlands Ave 3
45139 Kranji Stn NS7 Woodlands Rd
45129 S'pore Turf Club Woodlands Rd
45119 Kranji War Memorial Woodlands Rd
45109 Bef Jln Bumbong Woodlands Rd
45099 Aft Jln Bumbong Woodlands Rd
45079 Aft Mandai Rd Woodlands Rd
45069 Aft Mandai Est Woodlands Rd
45059 Opp Da Di Glass Woodlands Rd
45049 Opp Yew Tee Ind Est Blk 1 Woodlands Rd
45039 Opp Yew Tee Ind Est Woodlands Rd
45029 Opp Heavy Veh Pk Woodlands Rd
44999 Bef Yew Tee Flyover Woodlands Rd
45019 Aft Yew Tee Flyover Woodlands Rd
44069 Aft KJE Slip Rd Woodlands Rd
44059 Blk 632 CP Woodlands Rd
44049 Opp Junction 10 Woodlands Rd
44029 Bt Panjang Stn Exit A/Lrt DT1-BP6 Upp Bt Timah Rd
44019 The Linear Upp Bt Timah Rd
43119 Bef Hazel Pk Terr Upp Bt Timah Rd
43109 Cashew Stn DT2 Upp Bt Timah Rd
43099 Assumption Pathway Sch Upp Bt Timah Rd
43089 Aft Assumption Eng Sch Upp Bt Timah Rd
43069 Hillview Stn Exit A DT3 Upp Bt Timah Rd
43059 The Rail Mall Upp Bt Timah Rd
43049 Opp Hume Pk Condo Upp Bt Timah Rd
43029 Opp The Hillside Upp Bt Timah Rd
43019 Springdale Condo Upp Bt Timah Rd
42119 Southaven II Upp Bt Timah Rd
42109 Opp Beauty World Ctr DT5 Jln Anak Bt
42089 Opp Bt Timah Plaza Jln Anak Bt
42059 Opp King Albert Pk Stn DT6 Dunearn Rd
42049 Hua Guan Gdns Dunearn Rd
42039 Opp The Nexus Dunearn Rd
42029 Aft Swiss Club Rd Dunearn Rd
42019 Opp Sixth Ave Stn DT7 Dunearn Rd
41089 Aft Jln Naga Sari Dunearn Rd
41079 Natl JC Dunearn Rd
41069 Opp Tan Kah Kee Stn DT8 Dunearn Rd
41049 Opp Coronation Plaza Dunearn Rd
41119 Opp Lutheran Twrs Farrer Rd
41109 Opp St. Margaret's Sec Sch Farrer Rd
11119 Farrer Rd Stn Exit A CC20 Farrer Rd
11109 Spanish Village Farrer Rd
11099 Opp Leedon Green Farrer Rd
11089 Opp Holland Hill Lodge Queensway
11079 Opp Blk 95 Queensway
11069 Queensway Sec Sch Queensway
11059 Queenstown Polyclinic Queensway
11049 Opp Blessed Sacrament Ch Queensway
11039 Blk 19 Queensway
11029 Blk 166/Aft Mei Chin Rd Queensway
11019 Bef Blk 2 Jln Bt Merah
10139 Blk 1 Jln Bt Merah
10119 Opp Pacific Tech Ctr Jln Bt Merah
10109 Bt Merah Sec Sch Jln Bt Merah
10099 Opp Bt Merah Town Ctr Jln Bt Merah
10089 Blk 119 Jln Bt Merah
10079 Blk 201 Jln Bt Merah
10069 Opp Blk 140 Jln Bt Merah
10059 Opp Blk 149 Jln Bt Merah
10049 Opp Kampong Bahru Ter Kg Bahru Rd
10017 Aft Hosp Dr EW16NE3TE17 Eu Tong Sen St
10018 Outram Pk Stn Exit 6/SGH EW16NE3TE17 Eu Tong Sen St
05013 Chinatown Stn Exit C NE4DT19 Eu Tong Sen St
05023 Opp Hong Lim Pk Eu Tong Sen St
04222 Clarke Quay Stn Exit E NE5 Eu Tong Sen St
02181 Supreme Ct Parliament Pl
01611 Aft Raffles Hotel Beach Rd
01621 Opp Shaw Twrs Beach Rd
01511 Opp The Gateway Beach Rd
01521 Opp Plaza Parkroyal Beach Rd
01411 Opp St. John HQ Beach Rd
01421 Opp Golden Mile Cplx Beach Rd
01341 Southbank Crawford St
07371 Aft Kallang Rd Lavender St
60011 Bendemeer Stn Exit A DT23 Kallang Bahru
60059 Bef Kallang Pl Boon Keng Rd
80109 Opp Kallang Stn/Blk 2C EW10 Lor 1 Geylang
80009 Lor 1 Geylang Ter EW10 Lor 1 Geylang
80009 Lor 1 Geylang Ter EW10 Lor 1 Geylang
80101 Kallang Stn/Opp Blk 2C EW10 Lor 1 Geylang
60051 Opp Kallang Pl Boon Keng Rd
60019 Bendemeer Stn Exit B DT23 Kallang Bahru
07369 Aft Kallang Bahru Lavender St
07379 Aperia/Bef Kallang Rd Lavender St
01339 Bef Crawford Bridge Crawford St
01329 Blk 8 Nth Bridge Rd
01239 Sultan Plaza Jln Sultan
01529 Plaza Parkroyal Beach Rd
01519 The Gateway Beach Rd
01629 Shaw Twrs Beach Rd
01619 Esplanade Stn Exit F CC3 Beach Rd
04168 Aft City Hall Stn Exit B EW13NS25 Nth Bridge Rd
04249 Opp The Treasury Nth Bridge Rd
05029 Boat Quay Sth Bridge Rd
05131 Opp Hong Lim Cplx NE4DT19 Upp Cross St
05039 New Bridge Ctr New Bridge Rd
05019 Aft Duxton Plain Pk EW16NE3TE17 New Bridge Rd
05069 Outram Pk Stn Exit 4 EW16NE3TE17 New Bridge Rd
10011 Bef Neil Rd New Bridge Rd
10041 Bef Kampong Bahru Ter Kg Bahru Rd
10051 Blk 149 Jln Bt Merah
10061 Blk 140 Jln Bt Merah
10071 Blk 111 Jln Bt Merah
10501 Blk 104 Jln Bt Merah
10081 Opp Blk 120 Jln Bt Merah
10091 Bt Merah Town Ctr Jln Bt Merah
10101 Opp Bt Merah Sec Sch Jln Bt Merah
10111 Opp Blk 28 Jln Bt Merah
10131 Opp Blk 2 Jln Bt Merah
11021 Aft Queenstown NPC HQ Queensway
11031 Opp Queen's Cl Queensway
11041 Aft C'wealth Dr Queensway
11051 Opp Queenstown Polyclinic Queensway
11061 Opp Queensway Sec Sch Queensway
11071 Blk 97 Queensway
11081 Viz Holland Queensway
11091 Leedon Green Farrer Rd
11101 Farrer Rd Mkt Farrer Rd
11111 Farrer Rd Stn Exit B CC20 Farrer Rd
41101 St. Margaret's Sec Sch Farrer Rd
41111 Lutheran Twrs Farrer Rd
41031 Bef Crown Ctr Bt Timah Rd
41041 Coronation Plaza Bt Timah Rd
41051 Tan Kah Kee Stn DT8 Bt Timah Rd
41061 Chinese High Sch Bt Timah Rd
41071 Opp Natl JC Bt Timah Rd
41081 Sixth Ave Stn DT7 Bt Timah Rd
42011 Sixth Ave Ctr Bt Timah Rd
42021 Aft Maple Ave Bt Timah Rd
42031 The Tessarina Bt Timah Rd
42041 The Nexus Bt Timah Rd
42051 King Albert Pk Stn DT6 Bt Timah Rd
42061 King Albert Pk Bt Timah Rd
42071 Pei Hwa Presby Pr Sch Upp Bt Timah Rd
42091 Beauty World Stn Exit B DT5 Upp Bt Timah Rd
42111 Woh Hup Bldg Upp Bt Timah Rd
43011 Bt Regency Upp Bt Timah Rd
43021 Aft Old Jurong Rd Upp Bt Timah Rd
43041 Hume Pk Condo Upp Bt Timah Rd
43051 Opp The Rail Mall Upp Bt Timah Rd
43061 Hillview Stn DT3 Upp Bt Timah Rd
43071 Opp Dairy Farm Rd Upp Bt Timah Rd
43081 Opp Assumption Eng Sch Upp Bt Timah Rd
43091 Bef Cashew Stn DT2 Upp Bt Timah Rd
43111 Min Of Defence Upp Bt Timah Rd
44011 Opp The Linear Upp Bt Timah Rd
44021 Bt Panjang Stn Exit B DT1-BP6 Upp Bt Timah Rd
44041 Junction 10 Woodlands Rd
44051 Opp Blk 632 CP Woodlands Rd
43991 Opp Blk 635A Woodlands Rd
44061 Bef Yew Tee Flyover Woodlands Rd
45011 Aft Yew Tee Flyover Woodlands Rd
45021 Heavy Veh Pk Woodlands Rd
45031 Yew Tee Ind Est Woodlands Rd
45041 Thong Huat Bros Pte Ltd Woodlands Rd
45051 Da Di Glass Woodlands Rd
45061 Opp Mandai Est Woodlands Rd
45071 Bef Mandai Rd Woodlands Rd
45091 Opp Jln Bumbong Woodlands Rd
45101 Aft LP 234 Woodlands Rd
45111 Opp Kranji War Memorial Woodlands Rd
45121 Opp S'pore Turf Club Woodlands Rd
45131 Opp Kranji Stn NS7 Woodlands Rd
46389 Aft W'Lands Ind Pk D St 1 Woodlands Ave 3
46499 Opp Blk 402 Woodlands Ave 3
46521 Marsiling Stn NS8 Woodlands Ave 3
46531 Blk 173 Woodlands Ave 3
46541 Marsiling Mall Woodlands Ave 3
47009 Woodlands Temp Int NS9TE2 Woodlands Square
Route Overview
Route WAB_logo_20px Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange ↔ Lorong 1 Geylang Bus Terminal 
Passes Through Woodlands Ave 3, Woodlands Rd, Upp Bukit Timah Rd, Dunearn Rd / Bukit Timah Rd, Farrer Rd, Queensway, Jln Bukit Merah, Eu Tong Sen St / New Bridge Rd, Beach Rd
Route Length Towards Lor 1 Geylang: 35.7 km
Towards Woodlands: 35.4 km
Travelling Time 110 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package Woodlands Bus Package
Current Operator SMRT Buses Ltd
Current Depot Woodlands Bus Depot (WLDEP)
Seletar Bus Depot
(SEDEP)
Current Fleet Single Deck Bus
– MAN A22
Double Deck Bus
– MAN A95
– Volvo B9TL
Operating Hours
Departure Times from Woodlands (Temp Bus Int)
Weekdays & Saturdays (except Public Holidays)
05:30 – 23:30
Departure Times from Lor 1 Geylang
Weekdays & Saturdays (except Public Holidays)
06:00 – 23:30
Operating Frequency
6:30am–8.30am 8.31am–4.59pm 5.00pm–7.00pm After 7.00pm
From Woodlands (Temp Bus Int)
7 – 11 mins 7 – 15 mins 11 – 15 mins 12 – 15 mins
From Lor 1 Geylang
11 – 13 mins 8 – 13 mins 8 – 12 mins 11 – 16 mins
Fare Information
Fare Charges regular distance fares

 

Service 961 is a lengthy inter-town route connecting the housing estates of Woodlands, Bukit Panjang, Farrer and Bukit Merah, with the suburban areas of Upper Bukit Timah, Bukit Timah and Bendemeer, and with the City areas of Chinatown, Clarke Quay, City Hall and Beach Road. Much of its demand comes from shuttling commuters between various points of its long route, and is a notably popular connection between the Bukit Merah and Bukit Timah areas.

On Sundays and Public Holidays, Service 961M operates with an alternative route serving the Marina Centre area in both directions, on Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue.

MRT/LRT Stations Served:
Special Departures
  • Upp Cross St (Opp Hong Lim Cplx) → Woodlands Temp Int
    Weekdays: 05:40, 05:53 & 06:06
    Saturdays: 05:40, 05:51, 06:02 & 06:12
Route Variant
  • Service 961M: Woodlands Temp Int ↔ Lorong 1 Geylang Ter, via Raffles Ave
    Sundays / Public Holidays only

Gallery
Poster Gallery

Operator History:
  • 1998 – 2004: Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd
  • 2004 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd

The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Woodlands Bus Package.

History:
  • 1998 (28 Dec): Re-numbered from Service 181 as a service between Woodlands Reg Int and Lor 1 Geylang Ter, operating on weekdays and Saturdays only
  • 1999 (10 Jul): Amended to ply Parliament Pl, skipping Hill St and Bras Basah Rd
  • 1999 (26 Dec): Amended to ply Lavender St, Kallang Bahru and Boon Keng Rd under Bukit Panjang LRT Rationalisation, replacing the deleted sectors of Service 5
  • 2002 (20 Apr): Amended to ply Upp Cross St and the reinstated New Bridge Rd, skipping South Bridge Rd, Neil Rd and Cantonment Rd
  • 2004: Skips abolished bus stop outside Nanyang Pr Sch along Farrer Rd
  • 2004 (27 Apr): Amended to ply Geylang Rd, Kallang Rd and Sims Ave towards Woodlands Reg Int with the temporary conversion of Lor 1 Geylang to a one-way road
  • 2004 (06 Dec): Amended to ply the reinstated Lor 1 Geylang towards Woodlands Reg Int, skipping Geylang Rd, Kallang Rd and Sims Ave
  • 2010 (23 May): Skips temporarily abolished bus stop outside Assumption Voc Inst along Upp Bt Timah Rd to facilitate the construction of Cashew MRT station along the Downtown MRT Line
  • 2013 (29 Dec): Serves new bus stop outside Outram Pk Stn along New Bridge Rd
  • 2014 (02 Mar): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
  • 2015 (01 Mar): Serves reinstated bus stop outside Assumption Pathway Sch along Upp Bt Timah Rd
  • 2016 (12 Mar): Amended to Woodlands Temp Int
  • 2016 (11 Dec): Serves new bus stop opposite Blk 635A along Woodlands Rd
  • 2017 (28 May): Skips abolished bus stop opposite Mandai Rd along Woodlands Rd
  • 2017 (26 Nov): Serves the bus stop after Hospital Dr along Eu Tong Sen St, skipping abolished bus stop before Hospital Dr along Kg Bahru Rd
  • 2018 (10 Jun): Serves new bus stop before Yew Tee Flyover along Woodlands Rd

Past Routings

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8 thoughts on “SMRT Bus Service 961

  • 12 December 2023 at 5:05 PM
    Permalink

    Service 961/961M should ply Woodlands Avenue 2, SLE, Upper Thomson Road, Lornie Highway, Adam Road skipping Woodlands Road/Upper/Lower Bukit Timahs

    and also 961/961M should shorten to Marina Centre while Service 960 extends to Shenton Way via City Hall MRT, Upper Pickering Street.

    961/m should shorten to Marina Centre due to the long route that this route is plying

    960/e should extend to Shenton Way for faster connectivity from Woodlands/Bukit Panjang to the southern part of the city

    Reply
  • 17 April 2022 at 8:32 AM
    Permalink

    Well I saw one Citaro on 961.

    Reply
  • 1 November 2021 at 1:40 PM
    Permalink

    Majority park at Seletar Depot.

    Reply
  • 30 May 2018 at 2:51 AM
    Permalink

    961 also serve yew tee residents. It’s an alternative as that’s the closest trunk route we can find. Yew tee is sg not Singapore stop keeping our town name away from this woodlands Rd or seriously u nt guru at all

    Reply
    • 8 October 2020 at 12:51 PM
      Permalink

      961 is too far from Yew Tee……. Yes I know there’s 979 but then…………

      Reply
      • 7 June 2022 at 4:29 PM
        Permalink

        Have been taking 961 since 2016. The frustration. 6 yrs on, too many times, if u missed a bus, u may have to wait up to 25 minutes for the next one.
        Then, to add insult to injury, the following bus might just be 2 mins after. I waited at a bus stop serviced by 10 services and in that time, at least 20 buses would have come and left before 961 appear again. Do the sums!

        Reply
  • 23 June 2016 at 8:59 PM
    Permalink

    Now 961 got 1 perm OC500LE and frequently gets Citaros cameo as well

    Reply
    • 14 October 2020 at 6:38 PM
      Permalink

      Unfortunately OC500LE and Citaro doesn’t operate on 961 anymore. OC500LE are mostly serving KJDEP/AMDEP, but 961 is under WLDEP. Most of WLDEP buses are MAN A22/A95 and Volvo B9TL. MAN A24 is not counted as it’s Woodlands Feeders.

      Reply

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