Bus Service 21X, operated by SBS Transit, is a supplementary express service (or “express feeder” service) operating from St. Michael’s and looping at Novena MRT Station along Thomson Road.
The service is introduced under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), and operates only during weekday peak hours.
Service 21X commences operations on Monday, 28 April 2025.
↺ Thomson Rd (Loop)
- Service 21X serves Jalan Bahagia & Jalan Tenteram towards both Thomson Rd (Novena MRT) & St. Michael’s. Check the bus destination before boarding.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
St. Michael’s Bus Terminal ↺ Thomson Road (Loop) | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Jln Bahagia, Jln Tenteram, Kim Keat Rd, Whampoa Dr | |||||||||||
| Route Length | TBC | |||||||||||
| Travelling Time | TBC | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Bishan–Toa Payoh Bus Package | |||||||||||
| Current Operator | SBS Transit Ltd | |||||||||||
| Current Depot | TBC | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | TBC | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from St. Michael’s |
Weekdays (Except Public Holidays) |
|||||||||||
| 06:30 – 10:00 & 16:15 – 19:45 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| Loop Service | 6:30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | ||||||||
| TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |||||||||
| Fare Information |
||||||||||||
| Fare | Charges regular distance fares |
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Bus Service 21X provides a faster connection for commuters travelling between Novena MRT and housing estates in Whampoa & Jalan Tenteram. This limited-stop service, which operates only during weekday morning and evening peak hours, is a quicker alternative to the regular Bus Service 21.
The service plies express between Whampoa estate and Novena MRT in both directions—from Kim Keat Rd to Thomson Rd (via Balestier Rd), and from Thomson Rd to Whampoa Dr (via Moulmein Rd and Balestier Rd). At Novena, Service 21X calls at Thomson Rd (Novena Stn) only, the bus stop near Novena Stn Exit B.
Service 21X serves Jalan Bahagia & Jalan Tenteram in both directions. Commuters should check the bus destination before boarding.
Express Feeder Services
Service 21X is the third bus service with the ‘X’ suffix introduced under the BCEP, launched in 2024. These services with the ‘X’ suffix (which LTA refers to as ‘express feeder’ bus services) are designed to benefit residential estates located farther from major transport nodes and town centres. They take more direct routes with fewer intermediate stops compared to their parent service.
Like its parent Service 21, Service 21X is classified as a trunk service, and thus charges regular distance fares.
MRT Station Served:
- NS20 Novena
Route Variant:
- Bus Service 21: Pasir Ris Bus Interchange ↔ St. Michael’s Bus Terminal
Daily
Poster Gallery
Operator History:
- From 28 Apr 2025: SBS Transit Ltd
Route History:
- 2025 (28 Apr): Introduced between St. Michael’s Ter and Thomson Rd (Loop) as a supplementary express bus service under the LTA’s Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP).
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This should just be 21M instead of 21X. Looking at 298X and 979X, they served the full distance while skipping some stops along the way, which is not the case for 21X (Which should be to Pasir Ris if we want to be consistent, but the appropriate numbering should be 21e instead)
This is so confusing haha
LTA really loves to inflate the number of ‘new’ bus services launched under BCEP. This 21X is at best a SWT-like service which doesn’t even operate that many hours a day. Same goes to those CDS.
As mentioned by the above commenter, I hope that the frequency of parent 21 will not get even worse. Headways from St Mike’s are quite horrendous, esp with the NSE mess at Newton/Thomson junction. But i suppose they chose 21 just because of it goes inside Tenteram unlike 131 which doesn’t.
It will be the 3rd express service with the letter “X” introduced in Singapore.
So apparently a route does not need to be a feeder or a short-distance trunk to receive ‘X’ variants (lookin at u 170X)
This is fucked up planning by LTA
On the bright side, 21X will be extremely helpful for St. Michael’s Residents. The high people traffic to Novena & Toa Payoh really requires help. For TPY, 139 & 129 exists. But the higher traffic flow would be to Novena MRT. Thus 21X. Also, NKF workers would greatly benefit from this service.
The HORRID SIDE OF THIS, is that they use TWENTY ONE, instead of ONE THREE ONE. 21?!?! With 21X, the fleet for 21 will be siphoned to 21X, worsening the frequencies even more! 21 frequencies are already fucked up because of Tampines & Bedok North bottlenecks! Instead of 21, they should have used 131. Currently, 131 has 131A that supplements. Instead of 131A, they could convert it to 131X to better divert the crowd, providing a more frequent service as well, since 131A does not operate very frequently
They can add more split shift buses. Or the buses can even come from another service, doesn’t have to be 21. 124 would be a good option. Moreover 131 is now full UPDEP control
Unfortunately that isn’t how it works normally
If it is numbered from this service: the costs of operation, the Farebox Rate & the resources used, will all come from the parent service
Look at every other M- or X- variants
It would be great though if they use other service bus
Did 979 have SDs prior to 979X? If it didn’t then your point is completely invalidated since 979 is full DD and 979X is full SD
Yes there are cases of SWTs where buses come from other services. Usually from the same interchange/terminal if not nearby. Same logic as CDS eg. 668 which uses buses from 851
Remember, even if the buses itself are not used, they have to use Service 21 BC.