City Direct Services

List of Withdrawn City Direct Services:

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 Poorer performing services were withdrawn. City Direct Bus Services 658, 659, 662 & 664 were withdrawn in December 2018, while City Direct Bus Service 669 was withdrawn in June 2019.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:

Operating Hours:

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

External Links:

• City Direct route plans
• City Direct Poster

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