SBS Transit City Direct Service 654 is a Weekday Peak Hour City Direct service between Sengkang and the CBD, passing through Rivervale Drive, KPE and Shenton Way. It is the fourth City Direct route introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP). Its route was extended to Anchorvale Cres under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP) from 11 Nov 2024.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
[AM]: Anchorvale Crescent (Treasure Crest) → Shenton Way (Opp MAS Bldg) [PM]: Anson Road (Mapletree Anson) → Anchorvale Crescent (Opp Treasure Crest) |
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| Passes Through | Anchorvale St, Compassvale St, Rivervale Dr, Central Blvd / Marina Blvd | |||||||||||
| Route Length | Towards Shenton Way: 22.1 km | Towards Anchorvale Cres: 21.9 km | ||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 59 mins [AM Peak] | 60 mins [PM Peak] | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Sengkang–Hougang Bus Package | |||||||||||
| Current Operator | SBS Transit Ltd | |||||||||||
| Current Depot | Hougang Bus Depot (HGDEP) | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | Single-deck & Double-deck buses | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Anchorvale Cres |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 07:25 – 08:00 | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Anson Rd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 18:10 – 18:40 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Anchorvale Cres |
5 mins | |||||||||||
| From Anson Rd |
10 mins | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges express distance fares |
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City Direct Service 654 provides residents of Sengkang 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 Rivervale Drive and Marina Bay via KPE, ECP and Sheares Avenue.
This is the fourth City Direct service to be introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), and one of ten proposed City Direct bus routes 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.
The last morning trip is operated by a Double-Decker Bus from 9 October 2023.
The route was further enhanced under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP) from 11 November 2024, with a route extension to Anchorvale Crescent. In addition, two more morning trips and one more evening trip were added.
Travel Smart Journeys
This bus service is part of the Travel Smart Journeys – North-East Line Scheme from 20 Mar 2023 – 22 Nov 2024, where commuters who switch to this service can earn cashback in the form of e-transport vouchers.
The scheme will be suspended from 25 Nov 2024 till early Jan 2025 for a system upgrade.
MRT/LRT Stations Served
- SW2 Farmway
- SW1 Cheng Lim
- SE1Â Compassvale
- SE2 Rumbia
- SE3 Bakau
- SE4 Kangkar
- NS27CE2TE20 Marina Bay
- DT17 Downtown
- TE19 Shenton Way
- EW15 Tanjong Pagar
Departure Timings
Weekdays (except Public Holidays)
- Morning Peak from Anchorvale Crescent (Treasure Crest):
07:25, 07:30, 07:35, 07:40, 07:45, 07:50, 07:55 & 08:00 - Evening Peak from Anson Road (Mapletree Anson):
18:10, 18:20, 18:30 & 18:40
Gallery (SBS Transit):
Gallery (BT&Tan / Ren Quan Transport)
Poster Gallery
Operator History:
- 20 Jan 2014 – 19 Jan 2017: Ren Quan Transport Pte Ltd
- 20 Jan 2017 – 19 Jul 2019: BT&Tan Transport Service
- 22 Jul 2019 – Present: SBS Transit Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed under the Sengkang–Hougang Bus Package, in which the negotiated contract term was extended by an undisclosed number of years from 2024.
History:
- 2014 (20 Jan): Introduced between Anchorvale St (Blk 336B) and Shenton Way (Opp MAS Bldg) during morning peak hours and between Anson Rd (Hub Synergy Pt) and Anchorvale St (Blk 330) during evening peak hours as a peak hour one-directional service on weekdays under the BSEP. Operated under Contract VT387C.
- 2014 (14 Jul): Additional morning trip added
- 2015 (23 Mar): Serves new staggered bus stop outside Mapletree Anson along Anson Rd, skipping the bus stop outside Hub Synergy Pt
- 2015 (02 Nov): Additional morning trip added
- 2016 (13 Jun): Additional morning trip added
- 2017 (20 Jan): Operations transferred to BT&Tan Transport Service under Contract PT288
- 2018 (12 Jun): Additional morning trip & evening trip added
- 2019 (22 Jul): Operations transferred to SBS Transit Ltd under the Sengkang–Hougang Bus Package
- 2020 (08 Apr – 01 Jun): Temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
- 2024 (11 Nov): Extended to Anchorvale Cres under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), with additional 2 morning trips & 1 evening trip
Changes in Departure Times:
| Effective Date | Morning Peak Timings | Evening Peak Timings |
| 20 Jan 2014 | 07:35 & 07:50 | 18:20 & 18:35 |
| 14 Jul 2014 | 07:35, 07:45 & 07:55 | 18:20 & 18:35 |
| 02 Nov 2015 | 07:30, 07:38, 07:47 & 07:55 | 18:20 & 18:35 |
| 13 Jun 2016 | 07:30, 07:36, 07:42, 07:49 & 07:55 | 18:20 & 18:35 |
| 12 Jun 2018 | 07:30, 07:35, 07:40, 07:45, 07:50 & 07:55 | 18:20, 18:27 & 18:35 |
| 11 Nov 2024 | 07:25, 07:30, 07:35, 07:40, 07:45, 07:50, 07:55 & 08:00 | 18:10, 18:20, 18:30 & 18:40 |
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This is to complain about the 2nd to the last bus driver (morning) dated 20/06/2019 as he did not stop at block 119D. I did not see anyone standing when he passed by and he is waving that there is another bus, i was standing there alone. Luckily, the last bus that came is trying to squeeze everyone inside(appreciated the last driver).
Bottomline, my time was wasted by the 2nd to the last driver as I came to the bus stop early at 7:59am, he passed by at 8:04am, the last bus came at 8:10am.
2nd point, all those who are standing suffered the crowded last bus because of the 2nd to the last driver behaviour.
Worst case scenario if the last bus driver left me because he could not load anymore.
I am complaining to avoid this thing to happen again as the last bus is always over crowded.
Looking forward for improvement.
today 21/06/2019(am), the last bus skipped us because it is over loaded. I hope this concern will reach the 2nd to the last bus driver to be considerate! The last passengers are suffering over the crowded bus and other passengers cannot be accommodated!
I would suggest to add one more bus after 8:10am.
Dear Sir/Madam
May I know what time will be the last bus from SengKang Rumbia Station, Block 153 to go down to town. Thank you
I think it’s around 8am
Can we have one more bus at a later timing. 8:15 for the ones who start work at 9.30 am
Can please plan for early bus tat we started work 0830hrs
Can we have one more bus at a later timing. 8:15 for the ones who start work at 9.30 am
Noted that SBS Transit will operate City Direct Bus Service 654 from 22 July 2019, please let me know whether (a) it will be a single or double deck bus and (b) there will be an increase in the number of seats as compared to the previous operator.