Tower Transit Bus Service 861 is a trunk service from Sembawang Int and looping at Khatib MRT Station, passing through Canberra, Yishun Avenue 6 and Yishun Avenue 1. It is the first bus service launched under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP).
Service 861 commenced service on 15 September 2024.
↺ Yishun Ring Rd (Loop)
Note:
- Service 861 stops at Bus Stop 58621 – Blk 126 CP, Canberra Street in both directions.
Check the bus destination before boarding.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
Sembawang Bus Interchange ↺ Yishun Ring Road (Loop) | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Canberra St, Yishun Ave 6, Yishun Ave 1 | |||||||||||
| Route Length |
21.8 km | |||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 100 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 buses | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Sembawang |
Weekdays | Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
| 05:30 – 23:17 | 05:30 – 23:18 | |||||||||||
| A trip at 23:30 daily operates as Service 861A which terminates at Yishun Ring Rd (Khatib Stn Exit D). | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Yishun Ring Rd (Khatib Stn Exit D) |
Weekdays | Saturdays | Sundays / Public Holidays |
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| 06:00 – 23:58 | 06:00 – 23:59 | 06:00 – 23:58 | ||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| Loop Service | 6:30am–8.30am | 8.31am–4.59pm | 5.00pm–7.00pm | After 7.00pm | ||||||||
| Weekdays |
10 – 12 mins | 10 – 12 mins | 10 mins | 12 – 13 mins | ||||||||
| Saturdays | 12 mins | 12 mins | 12 mins | 12 mins | ||||||||
| Sundays / Public Holidays | 12 mins | 12 mins | 12 mins | 12 mins | ||||||||
| Fare Information |
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| Fare | Charges regular distance fares |
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Service 861 is a trunk service that enhances connectivity to new and existing residential developments around Canberra and Yishun East, linking them with Sembawang, Canberra, and Khatib MRT stations.
The sector between Sembawang and Canberra estate is also nearly identical to Bus Service 883, and offers a quicker route to Sembawang Int by skipping Sembawang Dr.
Major schools and amenities served by this service include:
- Sun Plaza
- Bukit Canberra
- Canberra Plaza
- Chongfu Primary School
- Northland Secondary School
- Wisteria Mall
- Naval Base Primary School
- Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
- Khatib Polyclinic
After Khatib MRT Station, the service skips stops along Yishun Ring Rd, Yishun Ave 3 and Yishun Ave 2 to loop back along Yishun Ring Rd towards Sembawang. The skipping of stops along this sector could be to facilitate a future route amendment that results in Service 861 skipping this sector, as was the case for Bus Service 20 between 2013 and 2017, when it skipped stops along Upp Changi Rd East and Xilin Ave before its route amendment to Somapah Rd.
Some of the service details were announced in a Facebook Post by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport, Second Minister for Finance and MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC on 29 August 2024.
Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme
Service 861 is the first new bus service introduced under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), a ~$900 million government scheme to fund the purchase of new buses, infrastructural improvements, and operating cost of new bus services between 2024–2032.
Like the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) that came before it, the first bus service under the BCEP will serve the Yishun housing estate. In October 2012, Bus Service 860 was the first bus service introduced under the BSEP.
MRT Stations Served
Special Departures:
- Yishun Ring Rd (Khatib Stn Exit D) → Sembawang Int
Daily: 06:00
Short Trip Service
- Service 861A: Sembawang Int → Yishun Ring Rd (Khatib Stn Exit D)
Daily: 23:30
Gallery:
Operator History:
- 15 Sep 2024 – Present: Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
This route’s Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) will be renewed in 2026 under the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package.
History:
- 2024 (15 Sep): Introduced between Sembawang Int and Yishun Ring Road (Loop) under the LTA’s Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP).
3 Sep saw many A22 on route familiarisation training.
No DD spotted yet
861 could extend to Woodlands once Chencharu Bus Interchange opens. Service 861 could become a Bidirectional Trunk running from Chencharu Bus Interchange to Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange passing via Yishun Ring Road/Avenue 1/ Street 42/Avenue 6/7/2, Canberra Estate, Sembawang MRT, Woodlands Avenue 10, Gambas Avenue & Woodlands Avenue 9/4/7. this amendment is to connect a direct link from Yishun East to Woodlands with a direct bus.
858 should also shorten to Sembawang Bus Interchange due to it’s long route. It will still loop at Changi Airport passing via Sembawang Road, Yishun, SLE, Jalan Kayu, TPE/PIE & Airport Boulevard but instead it will not serve Woodlands Town anymore. Service 861 extension will cover up lost sectors of 858 in Woodlands.
Passenger can take MRT (Woodlands-Yishun), than take 858 from there instead or just take MRT (Woodlands-Outram Park-Tanah Merah-Changi Airport) TEL Will extend to Changi Airport in the future so maybe 858 will be a part of that rationization.
Thanks for reading.
-Travel985transport-
Highly likely 858 wont be rationalised. Taking train to Changi Airport from Woodlands/Yishun is already a long hassle in of itself. So long as LTA have no plans for an MRT line from Yishun to Punggol, they’ll need buses plying the TPE to facilitate cross-town travel from Yishun to Punggol, and up to Pasir Ris/Tampines until CRL Punggol Branch is operational
861 could take over 858’s Woodlands sector and run to Woodlands Main Interchange since its taking over the berth space for 858 if 858 is shortened to Sembawang
861 might be amended to serve that new extended portion of Miltonia Close in the future (the part aft Yishun St 41 & bef St 43). There seems to be new HDB developments there, based on signs.
Another bus service from Sembawang to Yishun area… I know it’s for the upcoming Chencharu int, but that’s like a few more years. Why not extend the bus to Sengkang/Buangkok or west side of sg.
Tbh the Canberra St and Canberra Way sector is kinda redundant when 117/883 already covers the same Sembawang – Canberra sector. Should have made 861 ply Canberra Link instead so that the Yishun interior will have a more direct route to Bukit Canberra and Sun Plaza.
883 is often crowded tbh, often delays…. 811 also affected. That’s why 861 is there to kill 2 birds in 1 stone.