SMRT Express Bus Service 960e is a Limited Stop Express route variant of Service 960, plying between Woodlands and Marina Centre at selected hours daily. It passes through Marsiling, Dunearn Rd, Bukit Timah Road and Bugis, skipping Woodlands Road and Bukit Panjang. This bus service only calls at selected bus stops along its parent route and was launched on 28 October 2018.
960e
Note:
- No boarding and alighting at Marina Centre Terminal.
| Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route  |
Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub ↔ Marina Centre Bus Terminal | |||||||||||
| Passes Through | Woodlands Ave 3, Dunearn Rd / Bukit Timah Rd, Victoria St | |||||||||||
| Route Length | Towards Marina Ctr: 24.2 km | Towards Woodlands: 24.5 km | ||||||||||
| Travelling Time | 50 – 75 mins | |||||||||||
| Operator Information | ||||||||||||
| BCM Route Package | Woodlands Bus Package | |||||||||||
| Current Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd | |||||||||||
| Current Depot | Woodlands Bus Depot (WLDEP) | |||||||||||
| Current Fleet | Single-deck & Double-deck buses | |||||||||||
| Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
| Departure Times from Woodlands |
Weekdays | Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
| 06:00 – 12:00 | 08:00 – 18:30 | |||||||||||
| Departure Times from Marina Centre |
Weekdays | Saturdays & Sundays / Public Holidays | ||||||||||
| 14:00 – 22:30 | 14:00 – 23:00 | |||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
| From Woodlands |
30 – 60 mins | |||||||||||
| From Marina Centre |
30 mins | |||||||||||
| Fare Information |
||||||||||||
| Fare | Charges express distance fares |
|||||||||||
Express Bus Service 960e is a Limited-stop Express Bus Service which offers quicker journeys for commuters at Woodlands and Marsiling, linking them with the Central areas of Stevens, Newton, Little India, Bugis and Marina Centre. Operating during selected hours in the day, it only calls at selected bus stops served by its parent Bus Service 960, and charges Express Fares as a result.
In between Marsiling and Stevens, the bus plies an express sector along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) in both directions.
Express 960e is the eighth new route to be introduced under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) after Service 991, as well as the fourth limited-stop service to operate daily (after 12e, 147e and 851e).
The number of trips for the service were progressively reduced in various stages in February 2020, January 2021, January 2022 & April 2023.
Route Preview
The bus route was first revealed in LTA’s “Hacks to Travel Smart” poster at Woodlands MRT Station in July 2018, which stated “Trunk Bus 960e” as an alternative for a more comfortable commute to the city.
Departure Timings
- From Woodlands Int:
Weekdays – 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30 & 12:00
Weekends & Public Holidays – 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30 & 18:30 - From Marina Centre Ter:
Weekdays – 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00 & 22:30
Weekends & Public Holidays – 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30 & 23:00
MRT Stations Served:
- NS9TE2Â Woodlands
- NS8 Marsiling
- DT10TE11Â Stevens
- NS21–DT11 Newton
- NE7DT12Â Little India
- DT13Â Rochor
- EW12DT14 Bugis
- EW13NS25 City Hall
- CC4DT15 Promenade
Route Variant:
- Bus Service 960: Woodlands Int ↔ Marina Centre Ter
Daily
Gallery (Buses):
Poster Gallery:
Operator History:
- 2018 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2026 under the Woodlands Bus Package.
Route History
- 2018 (28 Oct): Introduced between Woodlands Temp Int and Marina Ctr Ter, operating daily
- 2019 (24 Feb): Serves reinstated bus stop Bef Winstedt Rd along Bukit Timah Rd
- 2020 (09 Feb): Reduction of operating hours. Trips from Woodlands operate till 1830hrs, while trips from Marina Centre start at 1230hrs
- 2020 (15 Apr – 01 Jun): Temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures
- 2021 (24 Feb): Amended to the relocated Marina Ctr Ter
- 2021 (13 Jun): Amended to Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub
- 2022 (16 Jan): Reduction of operating hours & frequency
- 2023 (09 Apr): Reduction of operating hours
Changes in Departure Times:
| Day Type / Departures | From Woodlands |
From Marina Centre |
| From 28 Oct 2018 | ||
| Weekdays | 06:00, 06:30, 06:50, 07:10, 07:30, 07:50, 08:10, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00 | 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 17:50, 18:10, 18:30, 18:50, 19:10, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30 |
| Weekends / Public Holidays | 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00 | 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30 |
| From 9 Feb 2020 | ||
| Weekdays | 06:00, 06:30, 06:50, 07:10, 07:30, 07:50, 08:10, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 | 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 17:50, 18:10, 18:30, 18:50, 19:10, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30 |
| Weekends / Public Holidays | 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 | 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30 |
| From 4 Jan 2021 | ||
| Daily | 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 | 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30 |
| From 16 Jan 2022 | ||
| Weekdays | 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00 | 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 |
| Weekends / Public Holidays | 06:30, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30 | 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 |
| From 9 Apr 2023 | ||
| Weekdays | 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 | 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30 |
| Weekends / Public Holidays | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30 | 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 |
Back to Express Services
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Where are the bus models for 960e
As of 2020, mostly are MAN ND323F, MAN NL323F and sometimes Volvo B9TL
I think they should’ve put the express variant on 961 instead of 960. 960 already has a long express sector between Bukit Road and Whitley Road. On the other hand, 961 could do with an express sector between Woodlands Avenue 3 and Farrer Road to reduce commuting time between these 2 important areas.
To make it fair to say, 960 demand is much higher than 961. Unlike 961, it shared duplicative sectors along Downtown Line 2 and most of high demand sectors are likely Farrer Road – Kallang sectors. Therefore, Express 960e was invented instead of 961e. And also, most of 961’s sectors are also done by other bus services too, 961 is actually meant to be a lengthy supplementary service.
960e reminds me of the old 950 before WDL MRT extension opened.
Yup. The former 950 had high ridership back then before woodlands mrt opened. Together with 951 & 952, all were wiped out during rationalisation.
Yes. Together with TIBS 951 and 952, all were wiped out during route rationalisation. Given today, some routes would have been retained.
Eventually, 960/960e are a mixture of TIBS 182, 950 and 952 where they only call at selected segments that aren’t duplicated by any MRT Line back then. Bugis Station is not counted as it’s EWL, not NSL.
700 (before Covid/DTL1-3), 960 and 960e is a merger of TIBS 182, 950 and 952.
182: Woodlands – Shenton Way via Marsiling, Kranji, Bt Timah Rd, Dunearn Rd, Scotts Rd, Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall, Raffles Place.
950: Woodlands – Shenton Way via BKE, Whitley Rd, Little India, Rochor, Bugis, City Hall, Raffles Place.
952: Woodlands – Marina Centre via Whitley Rd, Scotts Rd, Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall.
Given this scenario, service 182 will not survive today as same as service 171 due to DTL2. 952 will not survive, because everyone knows MRT is the fastest. So service 950 survives currently, and it is service 960 and amended to Marina Centre.
This almost reminds me of the old service 952 in the early 90s.
Woodlands Int-Rochor Canal Rd?
Probably will continue as Woodlands Temp Int – Marina Centre Ter routing. Will duplicate parent Service 960, but suspect might skip Woodlands Rd and Bukit Panjang town entirely, travelling via BKE and PIE all the way to Whitley Rd. Along Dunearn Rd / Bukit Timah Rd sector suspect will call only at selected stops.
Hope it could be extended to Shenton Way Ter via Bayfront Ave alongside Service 960 on weekdays mornings and afternoon and Saturday mornings (eg. similar to that of 162/M and 700/A, except terminating at Marina Centre Ter). At all other timings can remain at Marina Centre Ter.
I fear this route may be redundant after TEL opens
However, 960e does not duplicate any segments along TEL except Woodlands itself and Stevens Station. 960e is at most serving Little India, partially Newton, Bugis and Promenade, and majority aren’t affected by TEL. Eventually, 960e demand is somehow high ridership mostly