SMRT Bus Service 971 is a Peak Hour trunk service between Bukit Panjang Ring Road and Cecil Street / Anson Road, passing through Jelapang, Segar, Fajar, Pending, Petir Road, BKE/PIE, Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut and Bras Basah. The route replaces the former Express Bus Service 971E and commenced operations on 31 August 2020.
Route Overview | ||||||||||||
Route ![]() |
[AM]: Bukit Panjang Ring Road (Blk 602) → Cecil Street (Prudential Tower) [PM]: Anson Road (Tanjong Pagar Stn Exit C) → Bukit Panjang Ring Road (Blk 541A CP) |
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Passes Through | Jelapang Rd, Fajar Rd, Segar Rd, Petir Rd, Scotts Rd, Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Shenton Way | |||||||||||
Route Length | Towards Cecil St: 23.3 km |
Towards Bt Panjang Ring Rd: 21.6 km |
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Traveling Time | 80 – 86 mins | |||||||||||
Operator Information | ||||||||||||
BCM Route Package | Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang Bus Package | |||||||||||
Current Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd | |||||||||||
Current Depot | Kranji Bus Depot (KJDEP) | |||||||||||
Current Fleet | 12-metre Single Deck bus: – MAN A22 |
12-metre Double Deck bus: – MAN A95 |
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Operating Hours | ||||||||||||
Departure Times from Bt Panjang Ring Rd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
06:15 – 08:30 | ||||||||||||
Departure Times from Anson Rd |
Weekdays, except Public Holidays | |||||||||||
18:05 – 19:35 | ||||||||||||
Operating Frequency | ||||||||||||
From Bt Panjang Ring Rd |
10 – 15 mins | |||||||||||
From Anson Rd |
15 mins | |||||||||||
Fare Information |
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Fare | Charges regular distance fares |
Renumbered from Express Bus Service 971E in August 2020 as a mitigation measure following the controversy over Bus 700 withdrawal and Bus 171 & 972 amendment, Bus Service 971 connects residential estates in Bukit Panjang and along Petir Road with the Central Business District along Shenton Way.
Changes as part of the renumbering include:
- Conversion of Express 971E to Trunk Bus Service 971
- Amendment of route to start/end at Bukit Panjang Ring Road instead of Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park
- Amendment of route to serve Pending Road & Petir Road
- Amended to serve all bus stops along Stevens Road & Bras Basah Road
The first bus timing from Bukit Panjang Ring Road (Blk 602) was originally announced to be at 6:30am in publicity posters and press releases on 14 Aug 2020. However, on 28 Aug 2020, the first bus timing from that stop was revised to 6:15am in an update posted by SMRT.
Departure Times
Weekdays, except Public Holidays:
- Morning Peak from Bukit Panjang Ring Road (Blk 602):
06:15, 06:30, 06:45, 07:00, 07:10, 07:20, 07:30, 07:40, 07:50, 08:00, 08:15 & 08:30
- Evening Peak from Anson Road (Tanjong Pagar Stn Exit C):
18:05, 18:20, 18:35, 18:50, 19:05, 19:20 & 19:35
MRT / LRT Stations Served
- BP13 Senja
- BP10 Fajar
- BP9 Bangkit
- BP8 Pending
- DT10 Stevens
- NS22 Orchard
- NS23 Somerset
- NS24NE6CC1 Dhoby Ghaut
- DT21 Bencoolen
- CC2 Bras Basah
- CC3 Esplanade
- EW13NS25 City Hall
- EW14NS26 Raffles Place
- EW15 Tanjong Pagar
Gallery:
Prior to 31 Aug 2020 – See Service 971E
Poster Gallery:
Operator History:
Prior to 31 Aug 2020 – See Service 971E
- 31 Aug 2020 onwards: SMRT Buses Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2023 under the Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang Bus Package
History:
Prior to 31 Aug 2020 – See Service 971E
- 2020 (31 Aug): Renumbered from Express 971E and converted to peak-hour trunk bus service from Bukit Panjang Ring Road to Cecil Street during weekday peak hours & from Anson Road to Bukit Panjang Ring Road during weekday evening peak hours.
Amended to ply Pending Road & Petir Road.
Amended to serve all bus stops along Stevens Road and Bras Basah Road.
Reference
- Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达 – Facebook
- [Update] Service Announcement – Changes to bus services along Downtown Line 2 corridor – SMRT Corporation
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Same thing must be done with 850E, 868E, 951E and 982E.
What about 513?
Renumber to City Direct 673.
My thoughts on this bus:
– Extend it to BPITH or the bus park (like 974)
-Make it full day
-Make it loop at the city (But merge 972), Extend to Marina centre (But merge with 75 if in bus park), or loop at the downtown (No merge)!
Bukit Panjang MPs really did their job,One petition about service 700,Voila they get 971 & 972M.
The bus 971 will start from 6:15am instead of 6.30am from the smrt websiite
971 can merge with 983. The current 983 routing can be retained for after hours service.
I used to wish for 983 extended to Bukit Panjang back 2015-2017, but however it’s unlikely for 983 to be extended as it’s meant for Keat Hong residents to Bukit Panjang MRT Station. I don’t think 983 will be extended as it will make it more inconvenient.
SMRT 971 is already good enough to be peak hour only as LTA also need to save their profits as well.
LTA/MOT not a fan of lengthy trunk services…