Public buses of Singapore

Last updated

Public buses of Singapore
Singapore public bus logo.png
SG5602T-145-20240530-130858-02.jpg
Volvo B9TL double-decker bus operating on SBS Transit, Singapore's largest public bus operator by market share
Parent Land Transport Authority
Locale Singapore
Service type Transit bus
Routes300+
Stops5,103 (2024)
Depots12
Fleetapproximately 5,800 (2024) [1]
Daily ridership3.6 million
Fuel type Diesel
Hybrid
Electric
Operator

Public transport bus services form a significant part of public transport in Singapore, with over 3.6 million rides taken per day on average as of December 2021. [2] There are over 300 scheduled bus services and over 100 short-trip variants, operated by SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead Singapore. The newest bus operator, Go-Ahead Singapore, started operations on 4 September 2016. [3] In total, there are around 5,800 buses in operation as of 2024.

Contents

History

Early history

A trolleybus in 1930s Singapore Singapore trolleybus - ca. 1930.jpg
A trolleybus in 1930s Singapore

Buses were first introduced into Singapore when the Singapore Traction Company (STC) was established under the Singapore Traction Company Ordinance of 1925 to replace the ill-fated electric tramway with a trolleybus system. The first trolleybuses began operations on 14 August 1926 between Joo Chiat Road and Tanjong Pagar whereas trams were phased out by 1927, with 66 trolleybuses plying on six routes with a mileage of 15” by 30 September that year. The STC later phased in motorbuses in 1929 when seven Dennis G-type buses began plying between Geylang and Finlayson Green before being transferred to serve Seletar. [4]

However, the STC faced heavy competition from “mosquito-buses”, a form of informal paratransit operated using privately owned modified Ford Model T vehicles. Reckless driving of such “mosquito-buses” led to the government imposing heavy regulation on them, including having to stop at fixed stops (1923) and speed limits (1927). [5] By 1935, “mosquito-buses” were replaced with more formalised bus services with the former “mosquito-bus” owners establishing what came to be known as the Chinese bus companies; these Chinese-operated buses connected the rural parts of Singapore to the town as opposed to the inner town services of the STC. [4]

During the Japanese Occupation during the Second World War, all bus operations were briefly unified under the Syonan-si den (昭南市電), fuel shortages then led to some buses being charcoal-powered.

1950s-1960s: Post-war recovery and troubles

A Chinese-operated bus along Ayer Rajah Road in 1951 Singapore - Ayer Rajah Rd 1951.jpg
A Chinese-operated bus along Ayer Rajah Road in 1951

After the end of the war, the British Military Administration (BMA) was established to oversee the rebuilding of British institutions in its Malayan and Singapore colonies. Under the BMA, the STC slowly returned to normal operations with much of the dilapidated bus fleet replaced with newer motorbuses of the Albion make whereas the Chinese bus companies sought after numerous British makes such as Vulcan and Bedford. On the other hand, trolleybus operations were scaled down with only 50 new Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies-built trolleybuses procured as opposed the original 108 AEC-built trolleybuses from the pre-war period. Trolleybuses were eventually phased out by 1962 and were replaced by new Isuzu-built motorbuses. [4]

Unfortunately the 1950s boded bad times for both the STC and the Chinese bus companies. General discontent on the poor working conditions, coupled with a highly politicised environment in the 1950s, led to many of their workers joining labour unions such as the STC Employee's Union and the Singapore Bus Workers’ Union (SBWU). Labour unrest led to transport paralysis, with two notorious incidents being the Hock Lee bus riots in 1955 (that year alone saw 57 strikes) and a 146-day-long Great STC Strike in 1956, the latter which further accelerated the decline of the STC when Chinese bus companies established their presence in the inner city with replacement bus services. Illegal “pirate taxis” also flourished during this time, offering a form of relief for stranded commuters although they were also notorious for unsafe driving practices and cost the bus companies and legitimate taxi drivers much losses. [6]

The severity of the situation demanded immediate action from the government; in 1956 five Commissioners led by Mr L.C. Hawkins of the London Transport Executive published a report that recommended nationalisation of public transport [6] but little was followed up by the government then.

1970s: Bus reorganization and mergers

SBS began operating double-decker buses in 1977; by 2004 its successor SBS Transit was operating more than 700 of such buses, one of which was this Volvo Olympian 9663D - Flickr - megabus13601.jpg
SBS began operating double-decker buses in 1977; by 2004 its successor SBS Transit was operating more than 700 of such buses, one of which was this Volvo Olympian
Bus lanes were implemented in 1974 to speed up bus services Upp Serangoon Rd LED bus lane sign 20060409.jpg
Bus lanes were implemented in 1974 to speed up bus services

Five years after the independence of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, the government published a White Paper to study into an overhaul on bus services; this was followed by the Wilson Report published by Australian transport consultant R.P. Wilson, who not only reaffirmed the need for rationalisation of bus transport but also provided detailed recommendations on bus routes, frequencies, fares, vehicle specifications, bus stop and terminal design and maintenance standards. [7]

In April 1971, the 10 Chinese bus companies were merged to form three larger regional bus companies, namely Amalgamated Bus Company in the west, Associated Bus Services in the east, and United Bus Company in the north. The STC retained its presence in central Singapore but lost its privileges previously granted by the 1925 STC Ordinance. Unable to cope with existing financial difficulties and competition from the regional companies, the STC eventually discontinued bus operations in 1971, with its remaining bus fleet being split up between the three regional companies. Service quality did not make great improvement however, with breakdowns and complaints from passengers being very common. Eventually in 1973, the Singapore government persuaded the three regional companies to merge to form a single entity called Singapore Bus Services (SBS). [6]

SBS inherited many problems from its Chinese predecessors, including use of 14 non-standard bus models that frequently broke down, poor standards among the staff and inadequate infrastructure. Hence, the government seconded a Government Team of Officials to SBS in 1974 to overhaul the management and culture. Under the supervision of the GTO, SBS completely overhauled their bus fleet with new buses of usually the Albion Viking or Mercedes-Benz OF1413 makes and introduced a rigorous maintenance regime, improving the reliability of their buses greatly whereas a new disciplinary code was introduced, reducing complaints by half from 1979 to 1983. The government also helped to further alleviate the burden from SBS by introducing priority bus lanes to speed up bus services and introduced Scheme B bus services operated by private companies in 1974. [8]

In 1977, SBS introduced into service its first double-decker buses, the Leyland Atlantean AN68 on route 86 between Tampines Way and Shenton Way. [9]

In light of dissatisfaction over bus services in the Jurong area and requests for improved coverage, SBS started a reorganisation of bus services across the country, starting with Jurong. This consisted of a network of internal services serving a town, with external services terminating at a point in the town, along with bus interchanges to serve as such termini. Additional depots were also constructed, which SBS claimed gave them more control over bus operations. [10]

In 1975, one-man operation (OMO) that charged a flat fare (for the case of SBS; TIBS opted for a distance fare) was introduced to cut manpower costs; this was followed by a one-man operated ticketing operation (OTS) in 1982.[ citation needed ] By 1984, bus conductors were completely phased out. [8]

By 1978, SBS was in a healthy position to be publicly listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange as SBS (1978) Limited.

1980s-1990s: Market competition

While SBS opted for double-decker buses, TIBS went for articulated buses instead. This is a Hispano Carrocera-bodied Mercedes-Benz O405G Mercedes Benz O405G Bukit Panjang.jpg
While SBS opted for double-decker buses, TIBS went for articulated buses instead. This is a Hispano Carrocera-bodied Mercedes-Benz O405G

By the 1980s, SBS had managed to modernise its fleet with new buses such as the Volvo B57, Mercedes-Benz OF1417 and the Leyland Atlantean AN68. By 1982 however, there was concerns that SBS might turn complacent. To ensure that SBS remain competitive, the government gave Ng Ser Miang of Singapore Shuttle Bus (SSB, one of the two operators of City Shuttle Service) the green light to set up a second operator. Named as Trans-Island Bus Service (TIBS), TIBS started operations the following year with a modest fleet of 90 Hino buses on routes 160 and 167. By 1988, the company had expanded its operations to encompass Woodlands and Yishun and operated 328 buses on 214 routes and had taken over SSB. [7]

In 1984, SBS trialled its first air-conditioned buses, the Mercedes-Benz OF1413/61, on route 168. Following various trials of different air-conditioned demonstrators, SBS made its first bulk order for air-conditioned buses in 1989, the Scania N113CRB. When the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) opened in 1987, bus services were further rationalised such that buses complemented the MRT by “feeding” commuters into the MRT network. Fares for both buses and the MRT were also coordinated together from 1987 with the setting of the Public Transport Council that year whereas magnetic stored value cards were implemented across the entire bus network to streamline fare payment earlier in 1986. [8]

In 1993, SBS introduced into service its first air-conditioned 12m double decker bus, the Leyland Olympian 3-axle. With a capacity of 131, its size earned it the nickname “Superbus”. Three years later, TIBS phased in Singapore's first bendy buses with a length of 17.5 metre and a capacity of 150.

Late 1990s-2000s: Bus operators go multimodal

An older EZ-Link card reader on board an SMRT bus. EZ-Link contactless smart cards were first introduced in 2002 EZ-reader.JPG
An older EZ-Link card reader on board an SMRT bus. EZ-Link contactless smart cards were first introduced in 2002
Toa Payoh Bus Interchange was the first air-conditioned bus interchange in Singapore when it opened in 2002 Toa Payoh Bus Interchange 3, Aug 06.JPG
Toa Payoh Bus Interchange was the first air-conditioned bus interchange in Singapore when it opened in 2002

By 1996, SBS had expanded far beyond public bus operations to include tourist transport (SBS Leisure), taxis (Citycab) and engineering works (SBS Engineering) to name a few. To better manage its business, SBS (1978) Limited was rebranded as DelGro Corporation while public bus services were now managed by a new subsidiary named SBS. This new company also won a tender in 1999 to operate the North East MRT line and the LRT systems in Sengkang and Punggol and was rebranded as SBS Transit in 2001 to reflect its multimodal nature. By 2003, Delgro Corporation merged with Comfort Group to form ComfortDelGro, one of the largest land transport operators in the world whose operations include Metroline in London and ComfortDelGro Australia. In 2001, TIBS was merged into SMRT Corporation and by 2004, the TIBS name was dropped by SMRT, with TIBS now being known as SMRT Buses.

During this period, there were also numerous changes outside corporate shakeups; in 1995, some bus services in Bukit Panjang, Sengkang and Punggol were transferred to TIBS from SBS but this was reversed in 1999 when SBS won the contract to operate the North East MRT line. In return, bus services in Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok were transferred to TIBS that year. [11] In 2002, the contactless EZ-Link card was introduced to replace the magnetic farecard and the first air-conditioned bus interchange opened in Toa Payoh; by the end of 2021, there were 11 air-conditioned integrated transport hubs.

In 2006, SBS Transit introduced into service is the first wheelchair accessible bus, the Volvo B9TL, on bus 21 between Pasir Ris and Saint Michael's. SSB wound up in 2007 with the discontinuation of the City Shuttle Service and its fleet was inherited by SMRT Buses. By 2009, both SBS Transit and SMRT Buses were renewing their respective bus fleets with new low-entry configuration Scania K230 urban buses and Mercedes-Benz OC500LE buses as respectively.

LTA took on the role of central bus network planner from 2009, working with communities and the bus operators, SBS Transit and SMRT Buses, to identify areas for bus improvements and to shift the focus to placing the commuter at the centre and taking a holistic approach in planning the bus network, taking into consideration development in the Rapid Transit System (RTS) network and other transport infrastructure. It is meant for their feedbacks, and any changes will be under the monthly updates, this has been brought through Bus Service Enhancement Programme. Under BSEP, about 80 new bus services are being introduced and 1000 buses are being added over five years. [12]

Quality of Service (QoS) standards have also been tightened to reduce waiting time and reduce crowding. Now, those with increased loads run every 10 minutes or less during weekday peak hours in 2015. Feeder bus services have become more frequent too, with 95% of bus services now running at intervals of 10 minutes or less during the weekday peak periods, tightened from 85%. [13]

It was also in the 21st century when the public bus operators looked into alternative fuel sources. In 2002, SBS purchased 12 compressed natural gas-powered Volvo B10BLE buses whereas the first hybrid buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses were introduction in 2010. two CNG B10BLE units was deployed on Jurong Island Bus Services permanently debut in 2006.

2010s: Government leans in

Under the new Bus Contracting Model, all new government owned public buses are to be painted in a unified lush green livery SG6227L on 114 (MAN A95 ND323F Euro 6 Batch 5).jpg
Under the new Bus Contracting Model, all new government owned public buses are to be painted in a unified lush green livery

Since the early years of independence, the government has maintained its stance that heavy car usage is not sustainable for Singapore in the long term with a mixed-use of policies to both deter car usage and to push its people to take public transport. In December 2011, the North–South MRT line suffered its first major breakdowns with 127,000 passengers affected in the worst of them.

Amid growing criticism of the existing operating model and growing strain on the bus system, the main public transport statutory board Land Transport Authority (LTA) launched the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), with 80 new and extended bus routes and 1000 government-funded buses, involving Volvo B9TL (Wright Eclipse Gemini 2), Mercedes-Benz Citaro, Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC and MAN A22 buses. introduced over a period of five years. In 2013, the last non-air-conditioned public bus, the Volvo Olympian 2-Axle, was phased out of service whereas SMRT Buses introduced its first wheelchair-accessible bendy bus, the MAN A24 and in the following year, its the first-ever double-decker bus, the MAN ND323F A95 or Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC.

In 2014, LTA announced that it would replace the existing operating model with the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) from 2016 onwards. Modelled after the Transperth model with elements of the competitive tendering model from London Buses, LTA would own all bus assets and lease them out in regional packages to different bus operators for five years. The first bus package, the Bulim Bus Package, was awarded to Anglo-Australian company Tower Transit [14] [15] whereas Loyang was awarded to Go-Ahead. [16] [17] Both companies began their operations in 2016. The entire public bus system was fully transitioned into the BCM by September 2016 with SBS Transit and SMRT signing agreements with LTA to operate the remaining packages up to 2021 to 2026 after which they would be gradually opened up to competitive tendering. [18] [19]

With the BCM, bus operators introduced new buses with new features; in 2016 the first fully electric bus since the withdrawal of trolleybuses, the BYD K9, was operated by Go-Ahead Singapore whereas the first buses with USB charging ports commenced service with SMRT that year. In 2017, two three-door buses — a double-deck MAN A95 and a single decker MAN A22 were trialled by Tower Transit and SMRT Buses respectively. New Volvo B5LH hybrid buses were also purchased from Volvo in 2018.

In April 2019, SimplyGo, a new payment scheme that allows direct fare payment from bank cards, was introduced. Stroller restraint systems were also retrofitted on all wheelchair-accessible buses since July 2019. In addition, LTA also experimented with assistive technology for commuters with special needs on routes 139 and 141 from January to July 2019.

2020s: Sustainable and accessible buses

SBS Transit's Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro C2 Hybrid Trial Bus, introduced in 2020 SBS Transit Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro C2 Hybrid (EvoBus GmbH) (SG4004B) on Service 93.jpg
SBS Transit's Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro C2 Hybrid Trial Bus, introduced in 2020

On 3 April 2020, 10 units of Yutong E12 electric buses debuted on SMRT Buses 944 and 983, on Tower Transit buses 66 and 990, and on Go-Ahead bus 15.

On 29 July 2020, 5 units of Gemilang-bodied BYD K9 electric buses debut on SBS Transit buses 135, 162, and 807, with the rollout of the remaining 15 units completed in December 2020.

On 27 October 2020, 10 units of Yutong E12DD double-decker electric buses debuted on SMRT bus 983, on Tower Transit bus 189, and on Go-Ahead buses 83 and 118.

On 25 August 2021, ST Engineering-Linkker LM312 which is fitted with three passenger doors debuted on SBS Transit buses 38 and 40, on SMRT Buses 176 and 976.

On 5 October 2021, ST Engineering Retrofit Electric MAN A22, SG3100M which was once a diesel bus was retrofitted to an electric bus debuted on SMRT bus 176. However, it was taken out of service the next day due to rolling back issues and charging connectivity issues. [20] It has since returned to revenue service in August 2023 after taken out for repairs between late 2022 to August 2023.

All the Volvo Super Olympian buses were retired from revenue service on 8 April 2020, with the exception of SBS9889U being in revenue service until 11 November 2020. However, 2 buses have been preserved - 1 unit in Hong Kong for heritage purposes and the other in a special needs school in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore for practical purposes. A sole Mercedes-Benz O405G (Hispano Habit), TIB1238H which operated under Woodlands Bus Depot (WLDEP) has been preserved at Woodlands Bus Depot and has been de-registered with the "Off Peak" Number registration plate which has a Red Plate with White Text. [21] November 2020 marked the last day of operation of non-wheelchair-accessible buses with TIB1242U, a Hispano Habit-bodied Mercedes-Benz O405G on Service 169 being the last non-wheelchair-accessible bus on revenue service.

On 1 December 2020, all public buses in Singapore became fully wheelchair-accessible. [22]

In April 2023, LTA launched a tender for 400 electric buses. [23] The tender was won by BYD and Zhongtong, for 240 and 120 buses each. [24] An option for 60 more buses was exercised and awarded to BYD Auto on 23 October 2024, and the new buses entered service from December. [25]

COVID-19 pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged in the beginning of 2020, the Singapore government introduced the circuit breaker measures to curb the spread of the virus. Under these measures, selected public bus services were suspended in two tranches, with adjustments made later. The first tranche of suspended bus services took effect from Wednesday, 8 April 2020, while the second tranche of bus service suspensions started from Wednesday, 15 April 2020. [26] The suspensions lasted till Monday, 1 June 2020; Express and City Direct services all resumed after 1 June 2020, and several recreational and discretionary services were suspended until 30 June 2022, after which all services except 401 were withdrawn. [27] [28] Bus 401 was eventually reinstated on 4 June 2022 [29] while the rest of the suspended bus services were withdrawn from 30 June 2022. [30] [31] [32] [33]

Installation of protective screens

Since 2016, protective screens were installed to protect bus drivers from potential abuse by passengers. This was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect bus captains from the virus as well. [34] [35] [36] [37]

Autonomous buses

Between 2015 and 2022, ST Engineering embarked on various initiatives and effort to develop and trial autonomous buses. The public trials included Sentosa (3 months, 2019), Science Park 2 (4 months, 2021) and Jurong Island (4 months, 2021). In 2023, the company discontinued their autonomous bus development effort, citing insufficient financial resources. [38] The Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles (CETRAN) has said that autonomous vehicles remained a key part of the plan to make the city-state "car-lite", potentially reducing accidents and keeping roads safer for all. [39]

In 2024, LTA announced that it was considering to trial autonomous minibuses on public bus routes. LTA launched a request for proposals in January 2025, with buses to be deployed from 2026 onwards on buses 191 and 400. [40]

Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme

Bus services introduced under the BCEP include express feeder services. Service 298X was the first express feeder to be introduced. (SGP-Singapore) SBS Transit SG3046L 298X 2024-12-23.jpg
Bus services introduced under the BCEP include express feeder services. Service 298X was the first express feeder to be introduced.

In July 2024, LTA announced the launch of the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), in which they would spend nearly $900 million over a period of eight years to improve the connectivity of public buses in Singapore. These improvements would include purchasing more buses, introducing new bus services and increasing the frequency of existing ones, recruiting more staff and building new transport infrastructure. [41]

The main initiatives under the BCEP include -

  • Bus Service Improvements: In response to changing travel patterns and bus service rationalisation in view of the expanded rail network, bus services will be improved through introduction of new bus services, route amendments or improved frequencies. This includes - [41]
    • Bus 230 extension to Caldecott
    • Bus 116 extension to Buangkok
    • Bus 114 extension to Yio Chu Kang (with the introduction of bus 114M)
    • Bus 292 amendment via Tampines Lane and Tampines Street 11
    • Bus 197 amendment to Kembangan and Chai Chee
    • Discontinuation of buses 10e, 14e, 196e and 853M
    • Merger of buses 47 and 16, to form Changi Business Park - Bukit Merah.
    • Merger of Buses 870 and 143M to form Tengah - Teban Gardens (Loop).
    • Extension of bus 171 to Tengah
  • Peak-Hour Express Bus Services: More peak hour express bus services will be introduced. 7 new "City-Direct" services have been introduced under this scheme, this first of which was bus 673 in Oct 2024.
    • 673: Punggol - Suntec City / Shenton Way (October 2024)
    • 674: Tengah / Bukit Batok West - Marina Bay (November 2024)
    • 678: Punggol North - Suntec City / Shenton Way (January 2025)
    • 679: Punggol - Suntec City / Shenton Way (end of 2025)
    • 680: Brickland - Marina Bay (2026)
  • New Bus Services in New Estates: With growing demand in residential estates, the introduction of new bus services will be sped up to serve residents' needs better. [42]
    • 861: Yishun (September 2024)
    • 967: Woodlands (January 2025)
    • 148: Bidadari (April 2025)
    • 299: Tampines (April 2025)
    • 230M: Toa Payoh (June 2025)
    • 872: Tengah (August 2025)
    • 104: Punggol (September 2025)
    • 984: Choa Chu Kang / Bukit Panjang (end of 2025)
  • Express Feeder Services: The new category will reduce residents travel time to major transport nodes by skipping intermediate bus stops along routes. [43]
    • 298X: Tampines North (December 2024)
    • 979X: Choa Chu Kang (March 2025)
    • 21X: St Michael's (April 2025)
    • 903X: Woodlands (end of 2025)
    • 870X: Tengah (2026)
    • 871X: Tengah (2026)
    • 992X: Tengah (2026)

With the luggage rack trial on service 36, Member of Parliament also shared the service 34e or 34X from Punggol to Changi Airport and more details will be shown where ready.

Vehicles

Singapore's buses consist of single deck and double deck buses and they are operated by all four operators, SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead Singapore. Articulated buses are operated by SMRT Buses, with several units being transferred to SBS Transit and Tower Transit Singapore as part of the Seletar and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages respectively under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM).

Single deck and bendy buses
Bus ModelOperatorsUnits acquiredYear of introductionNotesRef.
BYD BC12A04 SBS Transit, Tower Transit Singapore, Go-Ahead Singapore & SMRT Buses 3002024To replace Scania K230UB and Mercedes-Benz OC500LE. [44]
BYD C6 Tower Transit Singapore 42019Only deployed on Service 825 [45]
BYD K9 SBS Transit 202020 [46]
Linkker LM312 SBS Transit, SMRT Buses 202021 [47]
MAN A22 SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore & Go Ahead Singapore 734 (Euro V), 150 (Euro VI)2010 (Euro V)

2018 (Euro VI)

 [48]
MAN A24 SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore 402013Sole model of articulated buses in Singapore since 2021. [48]
Mercedes-Benz Citaro SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore & Go Ahead Singapore 1,155201051 units were built to SMRT specifications, while the remaining 1,104 units were built to SBS Transit specifications [48]
Mercedes-Benz OC500LE SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore 1342008The first Euro V buses in Southeast Asia. [48]
Scania K230UB SBS Transit 501 (Euro IV), 600 (Euro V)2007 [48] [49]
Volvo B5LH SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore 502018 [50]
Yutong E12 Go-Ahead Singapore, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore 102020 [46]
Zhongtong N12 SBS Transit, Tower Transit Singapore, Go-Ahead Singapore & SMRT Buses 1202025To replace Scania K230UB and Mercedes-Benz OC500LE. [51]
Double deck buses
Bus ModelOperatorsUnits acquiredYear of introductionNotesRef.
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore 216 (Euro V), 50 (Euro VI)2014 (Euro V)

2021 (Euro VI)

 [48]
MAN A95 SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore & Go Ahead Singapore 200 (Euro V), 412 (Euro VI)2014 (Euro V)

2018 (Euro VI)

 [48]
Scania K310UD SBS Transit 12010Demonstrator Unit [48]
Volvo B9TL (Gemilang) SBS Transit 12014Demonstrator Unit [48]
Volvo B9TL (Wright) SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore & Go Ahead Singapore 1,6062010Most common bus model in Singapore. [48]
Yutong E12DD Go-Ahead Singapore, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore 102020 [46]

Routes

Singapore has many different bus services plying through the island. These bus routes are categorised accordingly:

Bus packages

Under the Bus Contracting Model, bus services are grouped into bus packages, each of which is operated by a bus operator.

PackageBus depotOperatorCommencement DateEnd DateTotalServices
Tendered packages
Bulim Bulim Bus Depot
Tengah Bus Depot (from 2026)		 Tower Transit 29 May 202120263341, 49, 66, 77, 78, 79, 96, 97, 97e, 98/98M, 106, 143/143M, 173, 177, 183, 189, 282, 284, 285, 333, 334, 335, 651, 653, 657, 674, 870, 871, 941, 945, 947, 990, 992
Loyang Loyang Bus Depot
Lorong Halus Bus Depot (from 2029)		 Go-Ahead 4 September 20162026332, 3, 6, 12, 12e, 15, 17/17A, 34, 36, 43/43M, 43e, 62, 68, 82, 83, 84, 85, 118, 119, 136, 354, 358, 359, 381, 382, 384, 386, 403, 518/518A, 661, 666, 673, 678
Seletar Seletar Bus Depot SBS Transit 16 March 202520302924, 70/70M, 71, 76, 130, 133, 135, 138, 162, 261, 262, 265, 268, 269, 652, 668, 800, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 811, 812, 850E, 851, 851e, 852, 860
Bukit Merah Ulu Pandan Bus Depot
Pasir Panjang Bus Depot (from 2029)		 SBS Transit 28 April 20242029185, 16/16M, 57, 93, 120, 121, 122, 123/123M, 131, 145, 160, 170/170X, 195, 198, 272, 273, 400, 993
Sembawang-Yishun Mandai Bus Depot
Simpang Bus Depot (from 2029)		 Tower Transit 5 September 2021202626167, 169, 171, 656, 663, 670, 801, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 861, 882, 883/883M, 963, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981
Jurong West Soon Lee Bus Depot SMRT Buses 1 September 2024 [52] 202926179/179A, 181/181M, 182/182M, 185, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 247, 248, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 405, 502/502A, 974
Negotiated packages
Sengkang-Hougang Sengkang West Bus Depot SBS Transit 1 September 2016TBA3627, 50, 51, 80, 86, 87, 89, 89e, 102, 107/107M, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117/117M, 132, 151, 153, 159, 161, 163, 165, 324, 325, 329, 371, 372, 374, 654, 660/660M, 671, 672, 675, 676, 677
Bedok Bedok North Bus Depot SBS Transit 1 September 2016TBA209, 13, 14, 14e, 25, 30, 30e, 35/35M, 40, 42, 45, 46, 168, 196, 196e, 222, 225, 228, 229, 401
Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang Kranji Bus Depot
Gali Batu Bus Depot (from 2026)		 SMRT Buses 1 September 201620262861, 67, 75, 172, 176, 180, 184, 188, 190, 300, 301, 302, 307, 920, 922, 927, 970, 972/972M, 973, 975, 976, 979, 982E, 983, 985, 991
Woodlands Woodlands Bus Depot SMRT Buses 1 September 2016202621110, 178, 187, 665, 900/900A, 901/901M, 902, 903/903M, 904, 911, 912, 913/913M, 925/925M, 950, 951E, 960, 960e, 961/961M, 962, 964, 967
Tampines Bedok North Bus Depot
East Coast Integrated Depot (from 2026)		 SBS Transit 1 September 2016July 2026274, 10, 10e, 18, 19, 20, 23, 28, 29, 31, 37, 38, 39, 47, 65, 69, 72, 81, 127, 129, 291, 292, 293, 296, 298/298X, 299, 513
Serangoon-Eunos Hougang Bus Depot
SBS Transit 1 September 2016TBA2711, 22, 53/53M, 55, 58, 59, 60, 63/63M, 64, 90, 94, 101, 103, 105, 109, 134, 137, 140, 141, 146, 148, 150, 154, 158, 315, 317, 506
Clementi Bukit Batok Bus Depot
Ulu Pandan Bus Depot (from 2030)		 SBS Transit 1 September 2016TBA237, 32, 33, 48, 74, 91, 92/92M, 95, 99, 100, 111, 147, 156, 166, 174, 174e, 175, 191, 197, 200, 201, 655, 667
Bishan-Toa Payoh Hougang Bus Depot
Kim Chuan Bus Depot (from 2026)		 SBS Transit 1 September 2016TBA228, 21/21X, 26, 52, 54, 56, 73, 88, 124, 125, 139, 142, 155, 157, 186, 230, 230M, 231, 232, 235, 238, 410G/410W

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Statistics" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "LTA | Bus". www.lta.gov.sg.
  3. ↑ "Go-Ahead Singapore begins bus services" . Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 York, F W; Phillips, A R (1996). Singapore: A History of its Trams, Trolleybuses & Buses, Volume One 1880s to 1960s. Croydon, Surrey, UK: DTS Publishing. ISBN   1-900515-00-8.
  5. ↑ "Singapore Infopedia: Mosquito bus".
  6. 1 2 3 "The Road to Nationalisation: Public buses in Singapore". Biblioasia.
  7. 1 2 York, F W; Davis, Mike; Phillips, Ron (2005). Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 1. DTS Publishing. ISBN   9781900515757.
  8. 1 2 3 Teo, Eisen (2019). Jalan Singapura : 700 Years of Movement in Singapore. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN   9789814828741.
  9. ↑ "First doubledecker bus service starts on Monday". The Straits Times. Singapore. 11 June 1977. p. 9. Retrieved 3 October 2019– via NewspaperSG.
  10. ↑ "Jurong to have a new bus system". New Nation. Singapore. 19 February 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2019– via NewspaperSG.
  11. ↑ Yung, Stanley (2017). Transformation of Singapore Buses. BSI Hobbies (HK). ISBN   978-962-8414-88-8.
  12. ↑ "Bus Service Enhancement Programme". Land Transport Authority.
  13. ↑ "Quality of Service (QoS) Standards for Basic Bus Services". Public Transport Council. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "First Bus Package under the Government Contracting Model up for tender". Land Transport Authority. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "LTA hands over Bulim Depot to Tower Transit".
  16. ↑ "Second Bus Package under the Government Contracting Model up for tender". Land Transport Authority. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "LTA awards second bus package to Go-Ahead Group PLC". Land Transport Authority. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "Bus Industry to complete Transition to Bus Contracting Model on 1 September 2016". Land Transport Authority. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  19. ↑ Annex B: Details of the 11 Negotiated Packages Archived 1 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine . Land Transport Authority. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "ST Engineering Retrofitted Electric Bus | Land Transport Guru". Land Transport Guru. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  21. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz O405G (Hispano Habit) (Euro II) - SgWiki".
  22. ↑ "Wheelchair-Accessible Bus Services". www.sbstransit.com.sg. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  23. ↑ Kok, Yufeng (10 April 2023). "Tender called for 400 electric buses in the largest purchase of its kind by LTA". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  24. ↑ "Singapore, LTA awarded 360 e-buses to BYD and Zhongtong". Sustainable Bus. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  25. ↑ "Another 10 electric public buses to ply Singapore roads from December". The Straits Times. 23 October 2024. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "Transport Arrangements for the Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures". Land Transport Guru. 14 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Post-Circuit Breaker – Resumption of Public Transport Services". Land Transport Guru. June 2020.
  28. ↑ "Post-Circuit Breaker – Suspension of Bus Services". Land Transport Guru. 29 May 2020.
  29. ↑ "Resumption of Service 401 from Saturday, 4 June 2022 - SBSTransit". www.sbstransit.com.sg. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  30. ↑ "Services CT8, CT18, 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N & 6N to be discontinued from Thursday, 30 June 2022 - SBSTransit". www.sbstransit.com.sg. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  31. ↑ "Discontinuation of bus services and night riders". www.smrt.com.sg. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  32. ↑ "Discontinuation of Bus Service 963R". 16 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "Discontinuation of Night Rider Services". 16 June 2022.
  34. ↑ 吴依瑾, 文 / (11 August 2020). "车长劝戴好口罩不果 "铁齿叔"爆粗吐口水". 早报 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  35. ↑ "Man who used neck warmer as face mask challenges bus driver for stopping him, likens himself to Rosa Parks". AsiaOne. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  36. ↑ Yong, Clement (16 September 2020). "'This is repugnant and must stop,' says SBS Transit after bus driver assaulted by commuter for enforcing mask rule". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  37. ↑ 潘靖颖, 文 / (6 October 2020). "酒醉打巴士车长 退休中校监六周". 早报 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  38. ↑ "ST Engineering quits Autonomous Bus development | Land Transport Guru". 30 June 2023.
  39. ↑ "A hands-on approach to hands-off vehicles".
  40. ↑ "Self-driving public buses to be deployed on service 191 and 400 as part of LTA trial". CNA. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  41. 1 2 Kok, Yufeng (30 July 2024). "Up to $900m to be invested in new initiative to improve Singapore's public bus network". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  42. ↑ "First service under new bus enhancement programme begins operations". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  43. ↑ "New feeder service to improve connectivity in Tampines". The New Paper. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  44. ↑ "Singapore, LTA awarded 360 e-buses to BYD and Zhongtong". Sustainable Bus. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  45. ↑ "4 of these smol e-buses with 1 door in whole of S'pore, plying roads in Yio Chu Kang". mothership.sg. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  46. 1 2 3 "At least 60 electric buses to be deployed from early next year: LTA". Yahoo News. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  47. ↑ "New fleet of 20 fast-charging electric buses to enter service". CNA. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Yung, Stanley (January 2017). Transformation of Singapore Buses. Hong Kong: BSI Hobbies (Hong Kong) Co. ISBN   978-962-8414-88-8.
  49. ↑ "Early Retirement of Volvo B9TL (CDGE) and Scania K230UB buses (2022) | Land Transport Guru". 19 January 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  50. ↑ Tan, Christopher Tan (11 October 2017). "50 Volvo hybrid buses to join public fleet next year". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  51. ↑ Kok, Yufeng (25 November 2023). "360 more electric buses to hit the roads from Dec 2024 in biggest purchase by LTA". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  52. ↑ "Stewarding Public Transport and Charting New Frontiers of Excellence | SMRT". www.smrt.com.sg. Retrieved 24 August 2024. SMRT Buses was awarded the contract for the Jurong West Bus Package in August 2023. Starting from 1 September 2024, SMRT Buses will serve commuters along 26 service routes for five years

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