SMRT Bus Service 857 is a trunk route from Yishun Bus Interchange and looping at Suntec City, passing through Yio Chu Kang Road, CTE, Geylang Bahru, Little India and Bras Basah.

Technical Information | |
Route ![]() |
Yishun Bus Interchange ↺ Temasek Avenue (Loop) |
Passes Through | Yio Chu Kang Rd, CTE, Boon Keng, Little India, Bras Basah, Suntec City |
Route Length | 42.9 km |
Travelling Time | 120 mins |
Operator Information | |
BCM Route Package | Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package |
Current Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd |
Current Depot | Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot (AMDEP) Majority of buses park at: Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange |
Current Fleet | 12-metre Double Deck Bus: – Alexander Dennis Enviro500 – MAN A95 12-metre Single Deck Bus: – MAN A22 – Mercedes-Benz OC500LE – Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro |
Departure Times from Yishun |
0530hrs – 2240hrs (Weekdays & Saturdays | Full loop) 0545hrs – 2240hrs (Sundays/Public Holidays | Full loop) 2241hrs – 2330hrs (Daily | Terminates at Temasek Ave (Promenade Stn)) |
Departure Times from Temasek Blvd |
0621hrs – 2328hrs (Weekdays) 0618hrs – 2321hrs (Saturdays) 0636hrs – 2327hrs (Sundays & Public Holidays) |
Frequency | Loop Service |
0630-0830: 03 – 07 mins 0831-1659: 05 – 09 mins 1700-1900: 06 – 10 mins After 1900: 08 – 10 mins |
Service 857 connects the residential estates of Yishun, Khatib, and private estates around Yio Chu Kang Road, with a fast connection to the City areas of Little India, Bras Basah, Suntec City and Marina Centre. The route incorporates an express sector on the Central Expressway (CTE) between Yio Chu Kang Road and Jalan Toa Payoh in both directions, making it a popular connection between the North and the City.
Demand for the route is moderate during off-peak hours but very high during peak hours, as residents commute to and from the City and various industries along Yio Chu Kang Road. High capacity double-deck buses were deployed from 26 April 2015.
Introduced in 2001Â by Trans-Island, the route has not undergone any amendments since, except for a diversion to Prinsep Street when a portion of Bencoolen Street was closed for Downtown Line construction between 2011 – 2016.
Between 2241hrs and 2330hrs daily, buses leaving Yishun Int will terminate at 02161 Temasek Ave (Promenade Stn). The last bus returning to Yishun leaves Promenade Stn at 2331hrs on Weekdays, 2324hrs on Saturdays and 2330hrs on Sundays / Public Holidays.
Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares.
MRT Stations Served
- NS13 Yishun
- NS14 Khatib
- NE9 Boon Keng
- NE8 Farrer Park
- DT22 Jalan Besar
- DT21 Bencoolen
- CC2 Bras Basah
- EW13NS25 City Hall
- CC3 Esplanade
- CC4DT15 Promenade
Short Trip Service
- Service 857A: Yishun Int → Yio Chu Kang Road (Opp Sunrise Gdns)
Weekdays, except Public Holidays: 0708hrs & 0721hrs
Service 857A caters to the industries along Yio Chu Kang Road, reducing peak hour loading on Service 857 and hence benefiting commuters heading from Yishun towards the city.
Special Departures
- Yishun Int → Temasek Ave (Promenade Stn)
Weekdays: 0600hrs, 0630hrs, 0701hrs, 0733hrs, 0800hrs, 0838hrs, 0910hrs, 0943hrs, 2248hrs, 2256hrs, 2304hrs, 2312 hrs, 2321hrs & 2330hrs
Saturdays: 2251hrs, 2300hrs, 2310hrs, 2320hrs & 2330hrs
Sundays / Public Holidays: 2246hrs, 2257hrs, 2308hrs, 2319hrs & 2330hrs
Gallery
Operator History
- 2001 – 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
- 2001 (14 Jan): Introduced as a trunk service from Yishun Int to Suntec City (Loop)
- 2011 (16 Oct): Amended to serve Middle Rd, Selegie Rd & Prinsep St with the closure of a section along Bencoolen St for Downtown Line construction
- 2012 (29 Apr):Â Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
- 2013: Service improvement under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP)
- 2015 (14 Mar): Amended to Yishun Temp Int via Yishun Central 1
- 2015 (26 Apr): Start of Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-decker deployments
- 2015 (Jun): Bus Service Reliability Framework (BSRF) implemented for trial till Aug 2016
- 2016 (11 Dec): Resume plying Bencoolen Street with the completion of Downtown Line works (Main Article)
- 2019 (08 Sep):Â Amended to Yishun Integrated Transport Hub, skipping Yishun Central 1
- 2020 (12 Jan): Skips removed bus stops 55271 – Aft Lentor Flyover & 55279 – Lentor Flyover along Lentor Ave
Past Routings:
- Refer to this article
- 2019: No significant route changes since 2019.
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Why 857bus today services NA?
Sometimes they does N/A due to Formula 1 diversions. I have also occurred the same when SMRT 171 shows N/A during Formula 1 diversions back pre-COVID19 days
Last bus timings needs to be extended !! SBS buses are running after 11.45 or even beyond 12.15 bus SMRT bus that too long routes terminates the service very early, can you pls extend the service up to 12.15 or so like SBS services ?? Unfortunately no SBS services runs for 857 route
boarded 857 at Bras Basah to look home to Upper Serangoon/St. George’s Road last night after 7pm (probably 7:15pm).
why was 857 instructed to be driven at such a slow pace when the bus is filled with commuters from Little India? when bus is filled up, why is bus told “to be at crawling speed” (sorry, i have no other expression however it is ludicrous decision).
and this was a single-deck … i can understand if 857 happened to be double-deck, in fact for weekends and public holidays, double-deck buses seem to be needed especially when foreign workers are returning home (single-decks simply is insufficient for the mass numbers at Little India).
They already have near-full fleet of DD on Sundays & Public Holidays. In fact majority DD are usually operating 857