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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Maybe don’t mind adding 21e to Pasir Ris, direct connection from St Michael’s ter skipping geylang and continuing to bedok nth/resvr to pasir ris, and also a new service to buangkok/Sengkang/Punggol to enhance better connectivity
Living in Whampoa for 20 good years, but with new BTO projects coming up, I’m worried about the lack of convenient transportation options. No direct buses to the East-West Line ( eg: Lavender mrt ) people in Whampoa drive walked good distances to Jalan Tenteram to cross nearby overhead bridge ( to east west line ) or bus stop ( to TPY hub to avoid traffic jam at Balestier Road) and travel times to downtown areas MRT are over 30 minutes via the Thomson-East Coast Line. I did feedback to SBS but always meh response)
With the population density rising quickly in Whampoa/Balestier, this is a very useful service. I hope that the frequency will be increased in time though. Buses like 124 serving part of this route are jam-packed from 7-10 pm.
Those that are commenting negatively while not even living in this area should be ignored.
Keep it up LTA!
No one commented negatively about 21X’s route. In fact I think apart from the logistics, everyone agrees that 21X is a very useful service. My mother works in the NKF HQ and knows how needed this kind of service is too.
I agree that I hope the frequencies will be increased as I foresee this route alone getting crowded too.
My only concern is that LTA decides to extract resources from Service 21 (eg Buses and BC) to operate 21X, which will be detrimental for Bedok & Tampines side. However if this is not the case and it ends up similar to 979 & 979X, then I really applaud 21X.
Thank goodness LTA thought this up!
Why 21X after 10am to 4pm stop the service in between ,elderly who stay at whampoa go hospital review in morning or afternoon might need the bus service to go back,they need to walk so far to take bus 21 back ,please put into the consideration not just to clear peak hour but also convenient for people from novena back to whampoa.
If every little things you want easy where to find extra BCs operation cost just because a few elderly sake? Singapore how long how far you want to walk?You want every 200m one bus stops ah?
The view that this is for “a few elderly sake” is incorrect. In fact, there is a rising number of young working-class couples and families moving to Balestier and Whampoa and it will only grow. By 2028, 2200 new families will rely on public buses due to new BTOs in this area. There is good reason (and good money-making opportunities) for express bus connectivity and increased frequency.
“A few elderlies sake” excuse me hor, Whampoa’s population is increasing as I type. New BTO are about to be launched and the demand for buses travelling to Novena is going to burst.
Why don’t YOU try to WALK instead of selfishly dragging down every new bus service that does not fit into YOUR expectations and YOUR plans
And service 13 uses 72 I’ve seen a lot of this “little phenomenon” before sirs.