Tower Transit City Direct Service 651 is a Weekday Peak Hour 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).
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
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) |
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| Passes Through | Jurong West Ave 5, Jurong West St 81 | |||||||||||
| Route Length | Towards Marina Blvd: 25.1 km | Towards Jurong West Ave 3: 25.7 km | ||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 62 – 66 mins | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Bulim Bus Package | |||||||||||
| Current Operator | Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Tower Transit Singapore) |
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| Current Depot | Bulim Bus Depot | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | Double Deck Bus – Alexander Dennis Enviro500 – Volvo B9TL |
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| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Jurong West Ave 3 |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 07:30 – 07:45 | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Central Blvd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 18:15 – 18:30 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Jurong West Ave 3 |
15 mins | |||||||||||
| From Central Blvd |
15 mins | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges express distance fares |
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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.
Double-deck buses were deployed on City Direct 651 from 31 May 2021.
MRT Stations Served
- NS27CE2TE20 Marina Bay
- DT17 Downtown
- TE19 Shenton Way
- EW15 Tanjong Pagar
Departure Timings
Weekdays (except Public Holidays)
- Morning Peak from Jurong West Avenue 3 (Opp Blk 276B):
07:30 & 07:45 - Evening Peak from Central Boulevard (Marina Bay Stn):
18:15 & 18:30
Gallery (Tower Transit)
Gallery (Rui Feng)
Gallery (ComfortDelGro Bus)
Poster 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 – Present: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Bulim Bus Package.
Route History:
- 2013 (02 Sep): Introduced between Jurong West Ave 3 (Opp Blk 276B) and Marina Blvd (Marina Bay Financial Ctr) during morning peak hours and between Central Blvd (Aft Marina Stn Rd) and Jurong West Ave 3 (Blk 276B) during evening peak hours as a peak hour one-directional service on weekdays under the LTA’s Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP). Operated under Contract VT371.
- 2013 (01 Dec): Serves new bus stop outside Downtown Stn along Central Blvd
- 2015 (23 Mar): Serves new staggered bus stop outside Mapletree Anson along Anson Rd, skipping the bus stop outside Hub Synergy Pt
- 2016 (03 Oct): Operations transferred to Rui Feng Chartered Pte Ltd under Contract PT270
- 2020 (13 Jan): Operations transferred to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd under the Bulim Bus Package; Designated wheelchair-accessible bus service (WAB)
- 2020 (08 Apr – 01 Jun): Temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
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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.
Tower Transit only took 40 Minutes cause TTS drivers dont follow timing that were given by LTA.
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.