Tower Transit City Direct Service 653 is a Weekday Peak Hour City Direct service between Hume/Bukit Batok and the CBD, passing through PIE, AYE and Shenton Way. It is the third City Direct route introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP).
653
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
[AM]: Hume Avenue (Bef Summerhill) → Marina Boulevard (Marina Bay Financial Ctr) [PM]: Central Boulevard (Marina Bay Stn) → Hillview Avenue (Hillington Green Condo) |
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| Passes Through | Hillview Ave, Bukit Batok East Ave 2/3, Anson Rd, Shenton Way | |||||||||||
| Route Length | Towards Marina Blvd: 21.8 km | Towards Hillview Ave: 21.5 km | ||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 60 – 61 mins | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Bulim Bus Package |
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| Current Operator | Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Tower Transit Singapore) |
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| Current Depot | Bulim Bus Depot | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | Double-deck buses | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Hume Ave |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 07:15 – 07:48 | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Central Blvd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 18:15 – 18:30 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Hume Ave |
6 – 10 mins | |||||||||||
| From Central Blvd |
15 mins | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges express distance fares |
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City Direct Service 653 provides residents of Hume and Bukit Batok 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 Bukit Batok East Ave 3 and Shenton Way via PIE, Clementi Avenue 6 and AYE.
This is the third 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.
MRT Stations Served
- DT3 Hillview
- NS27CE2TE20 Marina Bay
- DT17 Downtown
- TE19 Shenton Way
- EW15 Tanjong Pagar
Departure Timings
Weekdays (except Public Holidays)
- Morning Peak from Hume Avenue (Bef Summerhill):
07:15, 07:25, 07:35 07:41 & 07:48 - Evening Peak from Central Boulevard (Marina Bay Stn):
18:15 & 18:30
Gallery (Tower Transit):
Gallery (SMRT Buses):
Gallery (ComfortDelGro Bus):
Poster Gallery:
Operator History:
- 13 Jan 2014 – 12 Apr 2017: ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd
- 13 Apr 2017 – 28 May 2021: SMRT Buses Ltd
- 29 May 2021 – 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:
- 2014 (13 Jan): Introduced between Hume Ave (Bef Summerhill) and Marina Blvd (Marina Bay Financial Ctr) during morning peak hours and between Central Blvd (Aft Marina Stn Rd) and Hillview Ave (Hillington Green Condo) during evening peak hours as a peak hour one-directional service on weekdays under the BSEP. Operated under Contract VT387A.
- 2015 (23 Mar): Serves new staggered bus stop outside Mapletree Anson along Anson Rd, skipping the bus stop outside Hub Synergy Pt
- 2017 (13 Apr): Operations transferred to SMRT Buses Ltd under the Choa Chu Kang–Bukit Panjang Bus Package. Trip details revised. Double-Decker Buses deployed.
- 2020 (08 Apr – 01 Jun): Temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
- 2021 (29 May): Operations transferred to Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd under the Bulim Bus Package
- 2024 (15 Apr): Additional morning peak trip added with changes to departure timings
Changes in Departure Times:
| Effective Date | Morning Peak Timings | Evening Peak Timings |
| 13 Jan 2014 | 07:25 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 31 Mar 2014 | 07:20, 07:30 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 04 Aug 2014 | 07:20, 07:26, 07:33 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 16 Mar 2015 | 07:15, 07:21, 07:27, 07:33 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 29 Jun 2015 | 07:15, 07:21, 07:27, 07:33 & 07:40 | 18:10, 18:20 & 18:30 |
| 26 Oct 2015 | 07:15, 07:21, 07:27, 07:33, 07:39 & 07:45 | 18:10, 18:20 & 18:30 |
| 13 Apr 2017 | 07:15, 07:25, 07:35 & 07:45 | 18:15 & 18:30 |
| 15 Apr 2024 | 07:15, 07:25, 07:35, 07:41 & 07:48 | 18:15 & 18:30 |
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Tower Transit should take this over the Marsiling & Yishun CDS.
Don’t worry, it will take over.
I dont see the bus which is scheduled at 7:25am…….. is there any changes to the bus timing ??
On the new bus right now, the driver is driving at 40km/h….this is too much, when will I get home? It’s good that we are guaranteed seats and all but if you are going to be driving this slow, I would rather take than the train, at least I know I can get to work/home quicker.
I feel exact the same. I don’t take this bus anymore and take the train to work now . I bet many people would do the same as I see a few on the bus.
Take the train, you mean? And it’s not that many people would do the same. It’s just that they do not want to comment about that.
And remember, the service charges express fares, which is more expensive, that’s why you saw a few on the bus.
New 653, so slow. I’m sure I won’t be able to make it to work. I like the previous one much much better. Maybe I should take a train.
I was 30minutes late this morning. Can’t take it.
OK, you have double-deckers, and passenger load is up, so the bus driver has to ensure the passengers’ safety not just at the lower deck but also at the upper deck. The driver has to slow down. Furthermore, today’s the first day of operations.
Yeah, I won’t take this bus as this will take more than 65 minutes. Thank you for your advice. I miss the blue bus.
Frankly speaking, I miss it, too.
So new operator is charging the same price for buses with narrower seats without headrest and seat belts?
Lesser value for money now.
Come on, this ain’t Premium buses. I took 667 and never used a seat belt.
Less comfort, more trip time.