Bidding soon for bus routes in 2 estates
BUS operators will soon bid to run bus routes in Punggol and Pasir Ris estates, as the Government continues its move towards a contracting model.
A tender for a package of 25 routes serving the two areas will be called in the second quarter of this year, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew yesterday.
The operator who wins the contract is expected to run bus services from the second half of next year, with about 400 buses, for a start.
This will grow to about 500 buses in 2021, in tandem with new developments in the area and a projected growth in ridership.
This will grow to about 500 buses in 2021, in tandem with new developments in the area and a projected growth in ridership.
Under the new model, the Government will own all bus fleets and infrastructure, with the operators in charge of running the routes and meeting service standards.
This bus package is the second to be tendered out under the contracting model, which will "inject more competition into the industry" and better meet commuters' needs, said Mr Lui.
The tender for the first bundle of 24 routes in the western part of the island attracted 11 bidders when it closed in January.
The contract is expected to be awarded in the second quarter of this year.
The contract is expected to be awarded in the second quarter of this year.
Out of the 25 routes in the latest contract, 22 are currently run by SBS Transit, with three new services to be announced later.
The change is expected to affect some 420 bus workers.
Buses under the package will depart from Changi Airport Bus Terminal, Changi Village Bus Terminal, Pasir Ris Bus Interchange and Punggol Bus Interchange.
They will be based at a new bus depot located off Loyang Avenue that will be completed in June this year.
They will be based at a new bus depot located off Loyang Avenue that will be completed in June this year.
A third tender for bus routes in the Mandai area will likely be called later this year. The eventual plan is to progressively carve out all bus services in Singapore into 12 packages, to be run by three to five operators after 2022.
The Straits Times / Singapore Published on 12 March, 2015 By Adrian Lim
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