Tower Transit Bus Service 861

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.

861
Sembawang Int
↺ Yishun Ring Rd (Loop)
58009 Sembawang Int B1B NS11 Sembawang Vista
58151 Bef Sembawang Stn NS11 Canberra Rd
58331 Blk 589D Canberra Link
58041 Blk 590C Sembawang Rd
58051 Blk 592C Sembawang Rd
58511 Blk 104C Canberra St
58521 Blk 106A Canberra St
58621 Blk 126 CP Canberra St
58531 Blk 129A Canberra Way
58541 Opp Canberra Stn NS12 Canberra Link
59529 Opp Yishun Emerald Yishun Ave 2
59229 Yishun Ind Pk A Yishun Ave 7
59219 Opp Blk 288 Yishun Ave 7
59201 Opp Chongfu Pr Sch Yishun Ave 6
59191 Opp Northland Sec Sch Yishun Ave 6
59629 Opp Blk 317A Yishun Ave 6
59829 Opp Blk 334B Yishun Ave 6
59809 Opp Blk 382C Yishun Ave 6
59609 Opp Blk 391 Yishun Ave 6
59811 Blk 477B Yishun St 42
59779 Opp Blks 469A/469B Yishun Ave 1
59789 Bef Yishun Ave 6 Yishun Ave 1
59479 Opp Blk 430B Yishun Ave 1
59589 Blk 505C Yishun St 41
59761 Blk 504C Yishun Ave 1
59719 Opp Blk 672C Yishun Ring Rd
59439 Blk 858 Yishun Ring Rd
59429 Blk 846 Yishun Ring Rd
59569 Khatib Stn Exit D NS14 Yishun Ring Rd
59421 Blk 624 Yishun Ring Rd
59431 Blk 630 Yishun Ring Rd
59711 Blk 672C Yishun Ring Rd
59581 Blk 432C Yishun St 41
59471 Blk 430B Yishun Ave 1
59781 Aft Yishun Ave 6 Yishun Ave 1
59771 Blk 469B Yishun Ave 1
59819 Blk 467C Yishun St 42
59601 Blk 391 Yishun Ave 6
59801 Blk 382C Yishun Ave 6
59821 Blk 334B Yishun Ave 6
59621 Bet Blks 318A/318B Yishun Ave 6
59199 Blk 250 Yishun Ave 6
59209 Blk 272 Yishun Ave 6
59211 Blk 289 Yishun Ave 7
59221 Opp Yishun Ind Pk A Yishun Ave 7
59521 Yishun Emerald Yishun Ave 2
58549 Canberra Stn NS12 Canberra Link
58539 Blk 120A Canberra Way
58621 Blk 126 CP Canberra St
58529 Blk 108 CP Canberra St
58519 Opp Blk 104B Canberra St
58059 Opp Blk 592C Sembawang Rd
58049 Opp Blk 590C Sembawang Rd
58339 Opp Blk 589D Canberra Link
58159 Aft Admiral Hill Canberra Rd
58009 Sembawang Int NS11 Sembawang Vista

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 WAB_logo_20px 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)
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
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
Fare Charges regular distance fares

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 IntYishun 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).

Past Routings


References:

28 thoughts on “Tower Transit Bus Service 861

  • 3 September 2024 at 5:00 PM
    Permalink

    3 Sep saw many A22 on route familiarisation training.
    No DD spotted yet

    Reply
  • 2 September 2024 at 7:53 PM
    Permalink

    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-

    Reply
    • 15 September 2024 at 9:18 PM
      Permalink

      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

      Reply
  • 31 August 2024 at 3:32 PM
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
  • 30 August 2024 at 5:51 PM
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
  • 29 August 2024 at 10:56 PM
    Permalink

    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.

    Reply
    • 31 August 2024 at 7:17 PM
      Permalink

      883 is often crowded tbh, often delays…. 811 also affected. That’s why 861 is there to kill 2 birds in 1 stone.

      Reply

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