Clarke Quay Rolls Out A Free Night Shuttle On Weekends To Ease Post-Party Transport Woes

It’s now potentially easier for partygoers to go home after their late-night escapades (Credit: Erwin Soo)

Heading home after a rowdy late night out has been a bane for partygoers lately, and it’s even become a source of inertia for folks to venture out into the wee hours. Unless you’re fine and dandy splurging on cabs or waiting for the first train when you wish to retreat into your cave post-dancing, the lack of affordable transportation options has been a pesky problem. Except it wasn’t always the case.

Gone are the glory days of Singapore’s NightRider bus service, a much-missed commute that was launched back in 2000 to assist nocturnal merrymakers in getting home. The NightRider service featured numerous routes spanning city-centre loops and heartland drop-offs during its run, before officially bidding adieu 2022 due to low demand and the pandemic crunch.

It’s not quite the NightRider of the glory days, but it’s a noteworthy gesture nonetheless (Credit: Richard L)

But now, it finally looks like the scene’s getting the help it needs, albeit in baby steps. CapitaLand has just announced its rollout of the free CQ Night Shuttle that provides a nifty loop service between Clarke Quay and several central locations; particularly Somerset MRT, ION Orchard, Ascott Orchard, Plaza Singapura and Raffles City (Swissotel The Stamford entrance). They’re testing out the service from 11pm to 3am every Friday and Saturday, with a full transportation schedule you can view here.

If you live much further west- or eastward, the CQ Night Shuttle potentially has you covered too. The shuttle service offers free one-way rides at 4am to the drop-off points of Jurong Westgate and Tampines Central 4 (Tampines MRT Exit B). These shuttles have the capacity of 45 and 23 seats respectively. While the routes and destinations here are much more limited compared to the original NightRider service, at least this development is a step in the right direction. And more crucially, it’s a visible, much-needed nod by a major government-affiliated entity towards the support of nightlife in Singapore. And we sure could use more of it.