SMRT Bus Service 963

SMRT Bus Service 963 is a trunk route linking Woodlands Temporary 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 Peak hours on Weekdays, and and Express 963R, which operates on Weekends and Public Holidays.

Bus Service 963’s stopping point along Jelebu Rd will be changed from 04 Sep 2017.

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Route Information:

Route Details (Click to expand)

Technical Information
Route	Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange ↔ HarbourFront Bus Interchange
Passes Through	Marsiling, BKE, Bukit Panjang, Upper Bukit Timah, Hillview, Bukit Batok, Toh Tuck, AYE, Alexandra, Telok Blangah
Route Length	29.9km (D1) | 29.4km (D2)
Travelling Time	85 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package	Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package
Current Operator	SMRT Buses Ltd
Current Depot	Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot (AMDEP)
Current Fleet	12-metre Double Deck Bus: – MAN A95 12-metre Single Deck Bus: – MAN NL323F
Departure Times from Woodlands	0550hrs – 2330hrs (Daily)
Departure Times from HarbourFront	0600hrs – 2330hrs (Daily)
Frequency	Direction 1	Direction 2
	0630 – 0830: 06 – 13 mins 0831 – 1659: 05 – 14 mins 1700 – 1900: 07 – 13 mins After 1900: 12 – 15 mins	0630 – 0830: 08 – 15 mins 0831 – 1659: 06 – 13 mins 1700 – 1900: 06 – 08 mins After 1900: 08 – 13 mins

Route History

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.

MRT/LRT Stations Served:

• NS9 Woodlands
• NS8 Marsiling
• BP8 Pending
• BP7 Petir
• DT1BP6 Bukit Panjang
• DT2 Cashew
• DT3 Hillview
• CC24 Kent Ridge
• CC27 Labrador Park
• CC28 Telok Blangah
• NE1CC29 Harbourfront

Special Departures:

• Bukit Panjang Rd (Blk 223) → HarbourFront Int
  Daily: 0545hrs – 0600hrs
• Bukit Batok East Ave 3 (Opp Parkview Apts) → Woodlands Temp Int
  Daily: 0600hrs – 0625hrs

Route Variants:

• SMRT Express Service 963E
  Woodlands Temp Int ⇌ HarbourFront Int
• SMRT Express Service 963R
  Woodlands Temp Int ↔ Resorts World Sentosa

Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares. Calculate your bus fare using LTA’s fare calculator on MyTransport.sg here.

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Gallery:

 

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Operator History:

• 1999 – 2004: Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd
• 2004 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd

The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2020 under the Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package.

History:

• 1999 (01 Sep): Introduced as Express 521 between Bukit Panjang and World Trade Center (now HarbourFront).
• 2002 (29 Sep): Downgraded to trunk service and renumbered Service 963. Route extended to Woodlands, hence plying Woodlands Int – World Trade Center Ter (now knows as HarbourFront Int)
• 2013: Service improvement under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP)
• 2014 (15 Sep): Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-deck buses deployed
• 2015 (14 Jun): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
• 2015 (27 Dec): Calls at Hillview Station along Upp Bt Timah Rd
• 2016 (12 Mar): Amended to Woodlands Temp Int
• 2017 (04 Sep): Amended stopping point along Jelebu Rd

Past Routings:

• Refer to this article
• 2002: No significant route changes since 2002.

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External Links & References:

• TransitLink E-Guide

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