Go-Ahead Express Bus Service 518 is an Express service running from Pasir Ris Interchange and looping at Bayfront Avenue, passing through Tampines, Bedok North, Moulmein, Orchard, Suntec City and Bayfront. A uni-directional morning peak route variant, Express 518A, is also operated.
↺ Bayfront Ave (Loop)
Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route | Pasir Ris Bus Interchange ↺ Bayfront Avenue (Loop) | |||||||||||
Passes Through | Pasir Ris Dr 1, Tampines Ave 2, Bedok North Rd, Moulmein Rd, Newton Rd, Orchard Rd, Suntec City, Marina Bay Sands | |||||||||||
Route Length | 59.6 km | |||||||||||
Travelling Time | 155 mins | |||||||||||
Operator Information | ||||||||||||
BCM Route Package | Loyang Bus Package | |||||||||||
Current Operator | Go Ahead Singapore Pte Ltd (Go-Ahead Singapore) |
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Current Depot | Loyang Bus Depot | |||||||||||
Current Fleet | Single-deck & Double-deck buses | |||||||||||
Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
Departure Times from Pasir Ris | Weekdays & Saturdays | Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
06:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 22:00 | |||||||||||
Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
6:30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | |||||||||
Loop Service | 15 – 20 mins | 15 – 20 mins | 15 – 20 mins | 13 – 20 mins | ||||||||
Fare Information |
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Fare | Charges express distance fares |
Express Service 518 connects the residential estates of Pasir Ris and Tampines to the City areas of Moulmein, Orchard Road, Marina Centre and Bayfront. It incorporates a express sector from Bedok North Road to Moulmein Road via PIE and CTE, and another express sector via ECP, KPE and PIE from Bayfront back to Bedok. The route is popular among residents in Pasir Ris and Tampines as a fast bus connection between home and City, and double-deck buses were introduced to the fleet in 2014.
In 1997, the route numbered Express 503 was introduced by SBS as a unidirectional peak-hour Express service between Tampines Int and Temasek Ave/Anson Rd, operating City-bound trips in the morning and return trips in the evening. It was later renumbered Express 505 in 1999, converted to a full day service and extended at both ends to start from Pasir Ris Int and loop at Telok Blangah Rd. Finally, it was renumbered to Express 518 in 2000 and shortened to loop at Marina Centre. The route has not seen any major amendments since, except for the 2012 amendment which extended it to loop at Bayfront.
A peak hour variant, Express 518A, operates during Weekday Morning Peak Hours with two departures from Pasir Ris Int which terminates at Bayfront. These trips skip the Tampines and Bedok North sectors of the route, allowing for faster commute from Pasir Ris to the City.
Amendment to KPE
Service 518 was planned to be amended to ply the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) between Bayfront and Bedok North on the first day of Go-Ahead operations (18 Sep 2016), reportedly specified in official route information such as the TransitLink E-Guide website. However, Go-Ahead service guide lists the old express routing via Bedok North, and buses have been following the old routing in the early days of Go-Ahead operations. Go-Ahead formally began using the amended route via KPE on Friday, 23 September 2016.
MRT Stations Served:
- EW1 Pasir Ris
- DT33 Tampines East
- DT31 Tampines West
- DT29 Bedok North
- NS21–DT11 Newton
- NS22TE14 Orchard
- NS23 Somerset
- NS24NE6CC1 Dhoby Ghaut
- CC2 Bras Basah
- DT21 Bencoolen
- EW13NS25 City Hall
- CC3 Esplanade
- CC4DT15 Promenade
- CE1DT16 Bayfront
Special Departures:
- Tampines Avenue 7 (Blk 370) → Pasir Ris Int, via Bayfront Avenue
Weekdays: 07:25 & 08:03 - Moulmein Road (Opp Natl Skin Ctr) → Pasir Ris Int, via Bayfront Avenue
Weekdays: 22:54, 23:15, 23:29, 23:44 & 00:00
Saturdays: 22:52, 23:14, 23:28, 23:43 & 00:00
Sundays / Public Holidays: 22:53, 23:11, 23:19, 23:31, 23:43 & 00:00
Peak Hour Variant:
- Express 518A: Pasir Ris Int → Bayfront Avenue (Bayfront Stn Exit A)
Weekdays, 07:00 & 07:30
Express from Loyang Ave to Moulmein Rd, skipping Tampines / Bedok North
Gallery (Go-Ahead)
Gallery (SBS Transit)
Poster Gallery:
Operator History:
- 2000 – 2001: Singapore Bus Services Ltd
- 2001 – 17 Sep 2016: SBS Transit Ltd
- 18 Sep 2016 – Present: Go Ahead Singapore Pte Ltd (formerly known as Go Ahead Loyang Pte Ltd)
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Loyang Bus Package.
History:
Express 503:
- 1997 (05 May): Introduced between Tampines Int and Temasek Ave (Opp Centennial Twr) during morning peak hours and between Anson Rd (Apex Twr) and Tampines Int during evening peak hours as a peak hour one-directional service on weekdays and Saturdays.
- 1999 (30 Aug): Extended to start from Pasir Ris Int, extended to loop at Telok Blangah Rd, converted to full day service and re-numbered Service 505
Express 505:
- 1999 (30 Aug): Re-numbered from Service 503 as a service between Pasir Ris Int and Jln Bt Merah (Loop), operating daily.
- 2000 (03 Sep): Shortened to loop at Temasek Ave and re-numbered Service 518
Express 518
- 2000 (03 Sep): Re-numbered from Service 505 as a service between Pasir Ris Int and Temasek Ave (Loop)
- 2002 (07 Jul): Skips the bus stop outside Orchard Emerald along Orchard Rd
- 2005 (26 Dec): Amended to ply Pasir Ris Dr 3, Pasir Ris Dr 12 and Pasir Ris Dr 1, skipping Elias Rd
- 2010 (26 Apr): Amended to ply Bayfront Ave, skipping Raffles Blvd and Republic Blvd
- 2012 (29 Apr): Serves new bus stop outside Blk 612 along Pasir Ris Dr 1
- 2012 (03 Dec): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
- 2016 (18 Sep): Operations transferred to Go Ahead Loyang Pte Ltd from SBS Transit Ltd
- 2016 (23 Sep): Amended to ply KPE and PIE towards Pasir Ris Int, skipping Bedok South Ave 1, Bedok South Rd and Bedok North Ave 1
- 2017 (21 Oct): Serves new pair of bus stops outside Tampines East Stn along Tampines Ave 2; Serves new bus stop outside Bedok North Stn along Bedok North Rd
- 2020 (08 Apr – 01 Jun): Temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures
- 2021 (15 Sep – 24 Sep): Temporarily suspended due to the impact of COVID-19 on available manpower
- 2022 (30 Oct): Amended to ply Pasir Ris St 12 and Pasir Ris St 11 with the partial closure of Pasir Ris Dr 1 to facilitate the construction of Pasir Ris East MRT station on the Cross Island MRT Line
- 2022 (27 Nov): Serves a new pair of bus stops outside and opposite HomeTeamNS Bedok along Bedok Nth Rd
- 2023 (08 Jan): Temporarily skips the bus stop outside Newton Stn Exit B along Scotts Rd due to upgrading works
- 2023 (27 Aug): Resumes serving the bus stop outside Newton Stn Exit B along Scotts Rd after completion of upgrading works
- 2023 (08 Oct): Amended to ply Pasir Ris Dr 8 and Pasir Ris Ctrl with the partial closure of Pasir Ris Dr 1 to facilitate the construction of Pasir Ris MRT station on the Cross Island MRT Line
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By the way, is it good to serve a few towns with one route?
I cant imagine how long does it take for Pasir Ris people to get onto the Highway.
The longest bus Service for Go Ahead Singapore with double Decker Buses. Its really fun to take the longer Trunk / Express routes that passes through the Expressway. This service has to be my best double Decker Bus service for Go Ahead Singapore.
Bus Service 518 should serve full double-deck buses everyday and reduce the frenquenctly to between 5 and 15 minutes.
I was waiting for 518 at the Suntec busstop (02151). At 2.40pm, the bus passed the bus stop without stopping. This is not the first time. Please provide sufficient training to the drivers. Thank you.
I waited for bus 518 at bus stop 76249. The bus arrived at about 1:23pm today. It stopped and opened the door to allow passenger to board about 2 bus stops away and when I flagged the bus at the bus stop, the driver just ignored me and drive away out of the bus stop. Is this the right practice? Can the bus not pass the bus stop and merely stop far from the bus stop?