SMRT Bus Service 963 is a trunk route linking Woodlands Bus Interchange and HarbourFront Interchange, passing through Marsiling, BKE, Bukit Panjang, Upper Bukit Timah, Hillview, Bukit Batok, Toh Tuck, AYE, Alexandra and Telok Blangah. It has two route variants, Express 963e, which operates during Weekday Peak hours and Express 963R, which operates on Weekends and Public Holidays.
963
Woodlands Int → HarbourFront Int⇋
HarbourFront Int → Woodlands Int⇋
46009Woodlands Int B9NS9TE2Woodlands Sq
46549Blk 347Woodlands Ave 3
46539Blk 320Woodlands Ave 3
46529Opp Marsiling Stn NS8Woodlands Ave 3
46491Blk 402Woodlands Ave 3
44269Blk 223Bt Panjang Rd
44229Bef Pending Stn BP8Pending Rd
44219Bet Blks 139/140Petir Rd
44209Opp Petir Stn BP7Petir Rd
44731Opp Blk 180 DT1-BP6Jelebu Rd
44259Blk 183Bt Panjang Rd
44029Bt Panjang Stn Exit A/Lrt DT1-BP6Upp Bt Timah Rd
Service 963 is an inter-town route serving between the residential towns of Woodlands, Bukit Panjang, Hillview, Bukit Batok and Telok Blangah. Its direct nature makes it a fast connection between various points on its route. The route compliments Service 97 between AYE – HarbourFront, Services 176 and 970 between Hillview – Bukit Panjang, and Services 187 and 966 between Bukit Panjang – Woodlands. Demand for the service is moderate during offpeak hours, but receives high demand during the peak hours, and operates a proportionately large split-shift fleet along with high-capacity buses to cope with demand.
Originally introduced Express 521 in September 1999 with brand-new Hino HS3KRKK ‘smiley’ buses, its launch coincided with the extension of the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) scheme to outer ring roads, in an effort to encourage more commuters to opt for public transport. It charged discounted fares (normal air-con bus fares) during off-peak periods, and express fares during peak periods. Later in 2002, it was extended to Woodlands and downgraded to a regular trunk route, and renumbered as Service 963.
A TIBS Volgren-boded Hino bus at Bukit Panjang Bus Terminal along Petir Road
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:
2002 (29 Sep): Re-numbered from Express Service 521 as a service between Woodlands Reg Int and World Trade Ctr Ter
2005 (12 Jun): Serves new bus stop outside Science Park along AYE
2005: Serves new staggered bus stop outside Hillington Green Condo along Hillview Ave, skipping the bus stop outside Hillview Heights
2010 (23 May): Skips temporarily abolished bus stop outside Assumption Voc Inst along Upp Bt Timah Rd to facilitate the construction of Cashew MRT station along the Downtown MRT Line
2015 (01 Mar): Serves reinstated bus stop outside Assumption Pathway Sch along Upp Bt Timah Rd
2015 (14 Jun):Â Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
2015 (27 Dec): Serves additional bus stop outside Hillview Stn along Upp Bt Timah Rd
2016 (12 Mar): Amended to Woodlands Temp Int
2017 (04 Sep): Serves the pair of bus stops outside and opposite Blk 180 along Jelebu Rd, skipping the pair of bus stops outside and opposite Bt Panjang Plaza
2021 (13 Jun): Amended to Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub
Woodlands residents take 951E or NSL to Shenton Way, or even TEL from End-2021. 963 is meant for an upgrade from 521 to serve Woodlands, Bukit Panjang and Bukit Batok West. 963 terminating at HarbourFront is rather better than terminating at Shenton Way as it’s useless for many 963 residents.
If not you tell me WHY 963R is introduced?!?! Is meant for 963R direct access to RWS without the hassle walk to VivoCity via Sentosa Express or Boardwalk
Is up to LTA to decide though….. If 963 became Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package, so believed it. Although Marsiling side are Woodlands Package (except 966), is not depending on the direction, depending on LTA
Good service provided by SMRT bus captain whilst travelling on service 963 from Hillion Mall bus stop to BLK 289E Bukit Batok Ave 3. Bus driver waited for us to board when I alighted at Hillion mall from service 170 from Johor Bahru. The bus I took on 21/02/2019 at around 8 pm was Bus No SG 766D. Keep up your good work. Thanks.
bus 963, 965, 966 and 969 should be in woodlands bus package, same for 169.
Sembawang-Yishun and Woodlands Packages wanted to equalise actually………
Extend to Shenton Way Ter much better
Woodlands residents take 951E or NSL to Shenton Way, or even TEL from End-2021. 963 is meant for an upgrade from 521 to serve Woodlands, Bukit Panjang and Bukit Batok West. 963 terminating at HarbourFront is rather better than terminating at Shenton Way as it’s useless for many 963 residents.
If not you tell me WHY 963R is introduced?!?! Is meant for 963R direct access to RWS without the hassle walk to VivoCity via Sentosa Express or Boardwalk
Should be under Woodlands package in exchange for 961
Is up to LTA to decide though….. If 963 became Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package, so believed it. Although Marsiling side are Woodlands Package (except 966), is not depending on the direction, depending on LTA
Good service provided by SMRT bus captain whilst travelling on service 963 from Hillion Mall bus stop to BLK 289E Bukit Batok Ave 3. Bus driver waited for us to board when I alighted at Hillion mall from service 170 from Johor Bahru. The bus I took on 21/02/2019 at around 8 pm was Bus No SG 766D. Keep up your good work. Thanks.