SMRT Bus Service 853M is a trunk route linking Yishun Bus Interchange and Upper East Coast Terminal, passing through Lentor, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Geylang Bahru, Sims Ave/Geylang Rd, Tanjong Katong and Marine Parade. Operating only on Sundays and Public Holidays, it is an extended route of Service 853 which terminates at Lorong 1 Geylang on Weekdays and Saturdays.



Technical Information | ||
Route ![]() |
Yishun Bus Interchange ↔ Upper East Coast Bus Terminal | |
Passes Through | Lentor, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Geylang Bahru, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade | |
Route Length | 31.1km (D1) | 32.2km (D2) | |
Travelling Time | 95 mins | |
Operator Information | ||
BCM Route Package | Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package | |
Current Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd |
|
Current Depot | Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot (AMDEP) | |
Current Fleet | 12-metre Single Deck Bus: – MAN A22 – Mercedes-Benz OC500LE – Mercedes-Benz Citaro |
|
Departure Times from Yishun |
0540hrs – 2330hrs (Sundays & Public Holidays) | |
Departure Times from Upper East Coast |
0600hrs – 2330hrs (Sundays & Public Holidays) | |
Frequency | Direction 1 | Direction 2 |
0630 – 0830: 11 – 13 mins 0831 – 1659: 09 – 14 mins 1700 – 1900: 12 – 14 mins After 1900: 14 – 15 mins |
0630 – 0830: 12 – 18 mins 0831 – 1659: 10 – 15 mins 1700 – 1900: 12 – 14 mins After 1900: 13 – 15 mins |
Service 853M is an inter-town route serving the housing estates of Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Geylang Bahru, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade and Upper East Coast. The route is frequented as a popular connection between various housing estates and as an alternative to the MRT network, serving Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Kallang and Aljunied stations. It benefits from moderate demand loads throughout the day, with only rigid buses deployed on the route.
This route only operates on Sundays and Public Holidays. On Weekdays and Saturdays, Service 853 plies a shorter route terminating at Lorong 1 Geylang Bus Terminal. The service is also the only SMRT service at Upper East Coast Bus Terminal.
Service 853M shares long duplicating sectors with both Services 851 and 852 between Yishun – Ang Mo Kio, but is otherwise non-duplicative from Ang Mo Kio to Lorong 1 Geylang. The route also compliments existing Services 13 and 43 along Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade and Upper East Coast sectors.
MRT Stations Served
- NS13 Yishun
- NS14 Khatib
- NS15 Yio Chu Kang
- NE12CC13 Serangoon
- NE11 Woodleigh
- NE10 Potong Pasir
- DT24 Geylang Bahru
- EW10 Kallang
- EW9 Aljunied
Route Variant
- Service 853: Yishun Int ↔ Lorong 1 Geylang Ter
Operates on Weekdays & Saturdays, except Public Holidays
Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares.
Gallery
Operator History
- 1987 – 2004: Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd
- 2004 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd
- (~September 2021) onwards: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
Operations for this route would be transferred to Tower Transit in 2021 as part of the Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package.
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package.
History
- 1987 (21 Jun): Alternate routing 853C (or 853#) introduced, to operate on Sundays & Public Holidays between Yishun Int and Marine Parade Ter
- 2001 (16 Sep): 853# amended to loop at Siglap Link following closure of Marine Parade Terminal
- 2001 (09 Dec):Â 853# extended to Upp East Coast Terminal
- 2003 (04 May): Amended to ply Geylang Bahru, Bendemeer Rd and Whampoa East instead of Jln Kolam Ayer
- 2011 (13 Feb): 853 & 853# amended to ply Yishun Ctrl 2 in both directions, serving KTPH
- 2013 (29 Sep):Â Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
- 2014 (23 Jun): Bus Service Reliability Framework (BSRF) implemented for a two-year trial
- 2014 (10 Aug): Amended to serve Yishun Temp Polyclinic via Yishun Ctrl and Yishun Ctrl 1
- 2015 (14 Mar): Amended to Yishun Temp Int
- 2015 (05 Jun): BSRF trial extended to Aug 2016
- 2019 (08 Sep): Renumbering of Service 853# to 853M. Amended to Yishun Integrated Transport Hub
- 2020 (12 Jan): Skips removed bus stops 55271 – Aft Lentor Flyover & 55279 – Lentor Flyover along Lentor Ave
Past Routings:
References:
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Since it is just a renumbering shouldn’t the route length stay put?
Next is 700A>700M,900A>900M & 925#>925M.
961 and 925 next?
When the new ITH opens later this year