Tower Transit City Direct Service 656 is a Weekday Peak Hour City Direct service between Sembawang and the CBD, passing through Sembawang Drive, Bras Basah and Shenton Way. It is the sixth City Direct route introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP).
656
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
[AM]: Canberra Road (Blk 424A CP) → Shenton Way (Opp MAS Bldg) [PM]: Anson Road (Mapletree Anson) → Canberra Road (Blk 508 CP) |
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| Passes Through | Admiralty Link, Sembawang Dr, Dhoby Ghaut | |||||||||||
| Route Length | Towards Shenton Way: 28.3 km | Towards Canberra Rd: 28.6 km | ||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 64 – 79 mins | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package | |||||||||||
| Current Operator | Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Tower Transit Singapore) |
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| Current Depot | Mandai Bus Depot | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | Single-deck & Double-deck buses | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Canberra Rd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 07:20 – 07:40 | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Anson Rd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
| 18:10 – 18:25 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Canberra Rd |
20 mins | |||||||||||
| From Anson Rd |
15 mins | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges express distance fares |
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City Direct Service 656 provides residents of Sembawang with greater connectivity to the CBD. 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 Sembawang Avenue and Dhoby Ghaut via SLE and CTE.
This is the sixth City Direct service to be introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), providing 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 are deployed in the morning towards Shenton Way, while single deck buses are deployed in the evening towards Canberra Road.
MRT Stations Served
- NS11 Sembawang
- NS24NE6CC1 Dhoby Ghaut
- DT21 Bencoolen
- CC2 Bras Basah
- CC3 Esplanade
- NS25EW13 City Hall
- NS26EW14 Raffles Place
- TE19 Shenton Way
- EW15 Tanjong Pagar
Departure Timings
Weekdays (except Public Holidays)
- Morning Peak from Canberra Road (Blk 424A CP):
07:20 & 07:40 - Evening Peak from Anson Road (Mapletree Anson):
18:10 & 18:25
Gallery (Tower Transit):
Gallery (Tower Transit / F1 Diversion):
Gallery (Loh Gim Chong Transport / SMRT Buses):
Poster Gallery:
Operator History:
- 17 Feb 2014 – 14 Apr 2017: Loh Gim Chong Transport
- 17 Apr 2017 – 01 Oct 2021: SMRT Buses Ltd
- 03 Oct 2021 – Present: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package.
History:
- 2014 (17 Feb): Introduced between Canberra Rd (Blk 424A CP) and Shenton Way (Opp MAS Bldg) during morning peak hours and between Anson Rd (Hub Synergy Pt) and Canberra Rd (Blk 508 CP) during evening peak hours as a peak hour one-directional service on weekdays under the BSEP. Operated under Contract VT387B
- 2015 (23 Mar): Serves new staggered bus stop outside Mapletree Anson along Anson Rd, skipping the bus stop outside Hub Synergy Pt
- 2017 (17 Apr): Operations transferred to SMRT Buses Ltd under the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package
- 2020 (08 Apr – 01 Jun): Temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
- 2020 (02 Jun): Start of regular double-decker bus operations for morning peak
- 2021 (03 Oct): Operations transferred to Tower Transit under the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package
Changes in Departure Times:
| Effective Date | Morning Peak Timings | Evening Peak Timings |
| 17 Feb 2014 | 07:25 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 10 Mar 2014 | 07:20, 07:30 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 14 Jul 2014 | 07:20, 07:26, 07:34 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 17 Apr 2017 | 07:20, 07:30 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
| 02 Jun 2020 | 07:20 & 07:40 | 18:10 & 18:25 |
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The express sector for this bus service is from Sembawang Road, turn left to Yishun Avenue 1, then turn right to Lentor Avenue to go on leftmost lane into SLE for morning peak and from SLE then exit at Lentor Avenue to go on leftmost lane to turn left to Yishun Avenue 1 to turn right into Sembawang Road.
The double decker bus service was only operational for 2 days. For once commuters thought the days of long hour standing has gone. For once, we thought our voices are heard. You can literally see the glee in all of their eyes upon boarding the DD bus.
Why..why do you play with our feelings SMRT.. We want our DD bus back!
Seriously…
With the ever increasing MRT problems recently especially affecting NSL lines, SMRT should look into increasing the frequency of the existing bus services (BSEP) to the city centre.
I am staying in Sembawang area and there is bus service 656 plying in our estate. But when checking the bus schedule, I learn that the service only starts at 7:20am onwards. May I request for the service to begin earlier to cater those offices starting earlier (in line with the government encouraging companies to stagger the peak working hours). My work starts at 8:00 am and I won’t be able to reach Raffles Place with your existing bus schedule, as it takes approx. 70 mins of travel time to reach town.
Kindly take immediate action to rectify the existing flaws in bus / MRT services. SMRT need to step-up to deal with the current transport deficiency and have the foresight to plan and coordinate their services with the existing times. It is a shame that a “1st world nation and world class transport service” is in this dire dilemma.
I sincerely hope to receive a favourable response to this request.
I urge everyone to crowd start a new route from Sembawang to CBD via Grab Shuttle.. you guys can download the app or do it online.. once enough passengers requested for it, they’ll create the route!
You’ll be guaranteed a seat, comfortable one that is, and price wise it is affordable! Pass for 10 rides cost about $2.60+ per trip!!
I’ve tried it for the return trip to Sembawang from CBD so i do know.. You’ll be in a 20+ seater mini bus.. Travelling time will definitely decrease..
Please lets try this solution, especially for those who board the bus from Sun Plaza onwards.. An hour plus of standing each day is really a torture.. Do pass on the message! Say hello to your fellow commuters and tell them abt this!
Im definitely not from grab..just a passenger that is desperate for a comfortable ride to work and hope not to be late for work anymore!!
I have been taking this bus for a while now. I agree with you guys about the disappointment. I’m so disappointed when SMRT taken over the service. Because I know that the comfortable seats will be gone. Not only that, they also decreased the frequency from 4 trips to 3 trips in the morning.
Come Mon, the bus is almost full everyday and people are paying more to stand meh? Some more the timing of the buses also buey zhun. Seldom early but always late. Like that how?
Please don’t take advantage of us leh. We must stand up to them and demand that either the frequency increases or they give us double Decker buses.
Best way will be feedback straight to SMRT. If not I don’t think they will care about how we feel. I strongly urge everyone here to call and feedback to SMRT about this. 来来大家一起来 Let our voices be heard and pressure them to do something for us. Everybody let’s do it!
If really cannot, then really let the professionals do the job. Buey hiao mai kay kiang.