Transport Happenings in 2015

2015 is a very important year in the public transport industry in Singapore, with various transport policies coming into effect as well as massive fleet replacements. This article serves as a guide as to what to look out for, involving Singapore's public transport, in 2015.

Fleet Replacement

2015 marks the year in which the majority of SMRT's and SBS Transit's older buses are due for de-registration. Thus, it is imperative that we take a look back at these iconic machines, which will soon no longer prowl the roads of Singapore.

A rare sight nowadays at Jurong East Temporary Interchange

The batch 1 Volvo Olympian (3-Axle) and the Volvo B10M Mark.IV (Duple Metsec) buses are scheduled to be completely phased out from SBS Transit's fleet by the end of 2015. The DM fleet has already been hit hard with only 7 units left on the road, SBS988B to SBS 996C. The batch 1 VO3X fleet has 24 buses remaining out of the original batch of 201 buses, with registrations ranging from SBS9356R to SBS9399S.

Sealed in the history books. The decommissioned Bedok Temporary Bus Interchange and TIB736T, a de-registered and scrapped bus.

With only two units left in revenue service, TIB795Y (Service 106) and TIB797S (Service 75), the converted air-con (CAC) variant of the Mercedes-Benz O405 (Hispano Carrocera) is an extremely rare sight on the roads of Singapore. The CAC received a lifespan extension back in 2012 which allowed it to run on the roads till mid-2015. However, with faster than expected delivery of new MAN NL323F (A22)s, the O405 CAC was progressively laid-up from revenue service during the months of December 2014 and January 2015, and are currently being scrapped.

TIB737R being towed from Kranji Depot to the nearby scrapyard.

New Operators

With the ending of the bidding process for the Land Transport Authority's pilot Bulim Bus Services package under the new Government Contracting Scheme, we can look forward to a new operator joining the public transport scene in Singapore.

With 26 bus services spanning from Clementi to Bukit Batok and to Jurong East, the Bulim Bus Services package is a huge responsibility to take over. Services included in the Bulim Bus Services package are as follows:

49, 66, 77, 78, 79, 96, 97, 98, 106, 143, 173, 177, 183, 189, 282, 284, 285, 333, 334, 335, 941, 945 and 947

Operators that have placed their bids to run the Bulim Bus Services package are:

1. Aedge Holdings (Singapore)
2. Busways Group (Australia)
3. Go-Ahead Group (United Kingdom)
4. Jinan Public Transportation Corporation (China)
5. Keolis (France)
6. SMRT Buses (Singapore)
7. SBS Transit (Singapore)
8. Tower Transit (United Kingdom)
9. Travel GSH and Jiaoyun Group (Singapore/Shanghai joint)
10. Veolia Transport RATP Asia (France)
11. Woodlands Transport (Singapore)

The speculated bus fleet will be comprised out of existing BSEP buses deployed in the affected areas. However, plans have not been finalized so do take this with a pinch of salt.

This article will be updated when more information is announced. (Last update: 22/1/15)