Trip 6: Sunday Specials

The Woodlands - 856, 926, 961C

   Once again, I started at Lorong 1 Geylang, this time, on a Sunday to catch the Sunday route of Trunk Service 961 (961C). Service 961's route runs from Lorong 1 Geylang all the way to Woodlands via Beach Road, Chinatown, Queensway and Upper Bukit Timah. 

Though called 961C/961#, route displays and bus stop poles still display 961.

   What sets 961C apart from 961 is that it loops around Marina Centre and serves attractions such as Suntec City and the Singapore Flyer.

Entering Marina Centre, the normal route of 961 would make a right turn at this junction.

Chinatown (961C)

Kranji MRT Station (961C)

   After around a two hour trip up the Upper Bukit Timah corridor, I arrived at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange, which will serve the North of Singapore for the next few years as the original Interchange is renovated as part of the construction of the Thomson-East Coast MRT Line.

   After having my usual lunch, of course, I rode a loop on the special Trunk Service 926.

   Service 926 runs from Woodlands and the Singapore Zoo in Mandai and only operates on weekends. It has a flat fare of $1.90, as opposed to the regular distance fares on other Trunk Services.

Entering Mandai Lake Road, seen also the other 2 bus routes serving the zoo, 138 and 927. (926)

A road sign you won't see anywhere else in Singapore (926)

Scenery along the way (926)

   Getting back to Woodlands from the Zoo, I took a full trip on Trunk Service 856 between Woodlands and Yishun, another route I like to take between the estates when I don't really want to take the MRT.

Exiting Woodlands Town Centre (856)

   The route goes up to Woodlands Train Checkpoint from Marsiling MRT, where it receives most of its demand, and also serves Senoko and Sembawang.

Bus Stop at Woodlands Train Checkpoint (856)

Admiralty Road West (856)

Sembawang Road (856)

Going Marine - 16, 853C

   From Yishun, I ticked off another Sunday service, Trunk Service 853C runs from Yishun all the way to Upper East Coast, while the weekday and Saturday version terminates at Lorong 1 Geylang. The route traverses the roads of Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Geylang, Tanjong Katong and Marine Parade.

Grey clouds over Yishun (853C)

The route goes through Geylang Bahru (853C)

Bridge over the Kallang River (853C)

A typical shophouse in Tanjong Katong (853C)

   Passing through Marine Parade, the roads are majorly realigned as per construction works on the Thomson-East Coast Line.

   Arriving at the Upper East Coast Bus Terminal, a minor bus terminal around the outskirts of Bedok, I took Service 25 a short distance out to Bedok MRT and Town Centre.

Exiting Upper East Coast Terminal

   Since it was already the late afternoon, I decided to end the day's trip with a full journey on Trunk Service 16, from Bedok to Bukit Merah, passing through the realigned roads of Marine Parade, Joo Chiat, Orchard Road and Tiong Bahru.

Sun setting over Bedok South (16)

The old Kallang Airport Control Tower (16)

Arriving back at Tiong Bahru (16)

Recap of trip:

Routes done - 16, 853C, 856, 926, 961C

Progress - 35.5/371 (9.57 %)