Tower Transit City Direct Bus Service 651
City Direct Service 651 is an AM/PM Peak City Direct service between Jurong West and the CBD, passing through AYE, Shenton Way and Marina Bay. It is the first City Direct route introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP).
City Direct 651 is operated by Tower Transit from Monday, 13 January 2020.
| Technical Information | ||
| Route |
[AM]: Jurong West Avenue 3 (Opp Blk 276B) → Marina Boulevard (Marina Bay Financial Ctr) [PM]: Central Boulevard (Marina Bay Stn) → Jurong West Avenue 3 (Blk 276B) |
|
| Passes Through | Jurong West Ave 5, Jurong West St 81 | |
| Route Length | 25.1km (D1) | 25.7km (D2) | |
| Traveling Time | 66 mins (D1) | 62 mins (D2) | |
| Operator Information | ||
| BCM Route Package | City Direct Bus Services | |
| Current Operator | Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd |
|
| Current Depot |
Bulim Bus Depot |
|
| Current Fleet | 12-meter Single Deck Buses – MAN A22 – Mercedes-Benz Citaro |
|
| Departure Times from Jurong West |
0730hrs – 0745hrs (Weekdays except Public Holidays), 2 Trips | |
| Departure Times from Central Blvd |
1815hrs – 1830hrs (Weekdays except Public Holidays), 2 Trips | |
| Frequency | AM Peak |
PM Peak |
| 15 mins | 15 mins | |
City Direct Service 651 provides residents of Jurong West with greater connectivity to the CBD. By running parallel to existing rail lines, the service provides a travel alternative for commuters who relied on the rail network and feeder buses to and from work. The route incorporates an express sector between Jurong West Street 61 (near Pioneer MRT) and Anson Road/Shenton Way via Pioneer Road North and Ayer Rajah Expressway
This is the first City Direct service to be introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), and one of ten proposed City Direct bus routes to be progressively introduced until the 2nd Quarter of 2014. This provides more options for commuters using stretches of the existing rail lines that experience persistently high ridership, while the ongoing rail enhancement measures are being implemented.
Departure Timings:
- AM Peak from Jurong West Avenue 3 (Opp Blk 276B): 0730hrs, 0745hrs
- PM Peak from Central Boulevard (Marina Bay Stn): 1815hrs, 1830hrs
MRT Stations Served
- DT17 Downtown
- NS27CE2 Marina Bay
- EW15 Tanjong Pagar
Fares: Charges regular distance-based express fares.
Gallery
Operator History:
- 02 Sep 2013 – 30 Sep 2016: ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd
- 03 Oct 2016 – 10 Jan 2020: Rui Feng Chartered Pte Ltd
- 13 Jan 2020 onward: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
History:
- 2013 (02 Sep): Introduced as a bidirectional AM/PM-Peak hour service from Jurong West to the CBD under the BSEP. Operates two trips on weekday mornings at 7:30am and 7:45am, and weekday evenings at 6:15pm and 6:30pm. Charges Distance-based flat fares.
- 2013 (01 Dec): Calls at a new bus stop (03529 Downtown Stn) along Central Blvd
- 2014 (06 Apr): Revised fares as part of the Public Transport Fare Adjustment 2014
- 2015 (23 Mar): Calls at new bus stop 03241 Anson Rd – Mapletree Anson instead of 03222 Anson Rd – Hub Synergy Point
- 2016 (18 Jan): City Direct 651 operating contract for ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd extended by 1 year.
- 2016 (01 Aug): Tender for City Direct 651 awarded to Rui Feng Chartered Pte Ltd.
- 2016 (03 Oct): Operations transferred to Rui Feng Chartered Pte Ltd
- 2020 (13 Jan): Operations transferred to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
External Links:
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Today I took the City Direct 651 from the first bus stop at 0730hrs. When I arrived at the last bus stop, it was 0840hrs. This is my first time taking since the City Direct 651 was taken over by Tower Transit. I noticed the express sector has been changed. Previously it was via Jalan Boon Lay. Now it is via Pioneer Road North. This is a better route, as it avoids the evening jam at Jalan Boon Lay, which was what haunted City Direct 651. Pioneer Road North is much smoother. I haven’t tried the evening trip yet. Will take it later. But I believe it would be equally smooth, and the trip would also be 1hr 10mins long, same as the morning trip. 😊
Actually transferring City Direct 651 to Tower Transit is a capacity upgrade for City Direct 651. Currently, City Direct 651 operates using two private buses which has the capacity for around 50 passengers only. The Tower Transit single decker bus can easily accommodate around 70 passengers, which means 20 more passengers can take City Direct 651, per trip, or 40 more passengers can take City Direct 651 in total. So, whereas the transfer of City Direct 651 to Tower Transit is a cost saving measure for the government, it will benefit the commuters as more people can take City Direct 651 after it is transferred to Tower Transit. 😎
Upgrade? Only the total capacity (inclusive of standing passengers)
Lesser seats as double-decker buses won’t be deployed for the service
Expect rides to be slower too as TTS likes to drive their buses at turtle speed
I took it yesterday and today was a fast and smooth ride took only 40 mins and faster than the previous operator. What rubbish are you saying? Please shut up if you dont know anything
On the seating capacity, I am currently on a Mercedes-Benz Citaro, which is the bus model that Tower Transit is using on City Direct 651. There are 34 seats on the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. As compared to the private coaches that were previously used on City Direct 651, the private coaches had about 45 to 50 seats. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro clearly has 11-16 seats less than the private coaches. Nonetheless, it’s not that everyone gets a seat on the MRT during peak hours. In fact, majority of the people are standing on the MRT during peak hours. So, the reduction of seating capacity is a minor issue. What matters is the overall capacity, which the Mercedes-Benz Citaro can carry about 20 more passengers than a private coach.
I would like to praise Tower Transit for hiring such polite and patient drivers who greet their passengers “Good morning”, as they enter.
The previous drivers were rude, arrogant and impatient. I’m also happy that they re-routed 651 to ply Pioneer Road North due to heavy traffic jam along Jalan Boon Lay!
Hi, please cater a double decker bus for bus 651 as there are not enough seats to sit as compared to previous private bus.
At blk 821, there are already 6 person standing, and have to stand all the way to town.
Yes. Also, wheelchair-bound passengers may be able to take City Direct 651 in the future as Tower Transit uses wheelchair-accessible buses. We are one step closer to being an inclusive society that leaves nobody behind. 😀
Will TTS take in additional new MAN buses since it wil be operating 651? Hope they do or else it will put a strain on their fleet for the other trunk routes
No, this would a terrible idea as Service 651 would be a perfect alternative service to the CBD during MRT Breakdown or Closure.