Jurong West Bus Package

The Jurong West Bus Package is one of fourteen bus packages under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM).

Incumbent SBS Transit Ltd
Present Contract Term Negotiated Contract (Contract PT212):
Sep 2016 – Sep 2024
Upcoming Contract Term
Tendered Package 1st Term (Contract PT218B):
1 Sep 2024 – 2029
Awarded Operator
SMRT Buses Ltd
Bus Services 179/179A, 181/181M, 182/182M, 185, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 247, 248/248M, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 405, 502/502A & 974
(26 bus routes)
Bus Depot Soon Lee Bus Depot
Bus Interchanges Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal

Under the BCM, bus routes are bundled into bus packages, consisting of a single bus depot, several bus interchanges/terminals, the bus routes and the buses themselves. With all bus infrastructure belonging to the Government, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would contract out the bus package, select a bus operator (through a competitive tendering process), and lease these assets to the new operator.

The successful tenderer operates these bus routes and collects fares on behalf of LTA, while maintaining the associated bus infrastructure (buses & onboard equipment, depots, interchanges & terminals). In return, the operator is awarded an operating fee from LTA and potential bonuses via an incentive framework.


PT218B – Jurong West Bus Package (1st Tendered Term: Sep 2024 to 2029):

The first tendered package term for the Jurong West Bus Package was put up for tender on 23 November 2022 together with the Bukit Merah Bus Package under Contract PT218: Bus Contracting – Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages.

Jurong West Bus Package was awarded to SMRT Buses Ltd on 18 August 2023.

Contract Details (1st Tendered Package Term):
Contract PT218: Bus Contracting – Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages
Jurong West Bus Package (PT218B)
Awarded Operator SMRT Buses Ltd
Duration Five years; with the option of 2 to 5 year extension based on good performance
Key Dates Tender Published 23 Nov 2022 | Closed 5 Apr 2023 | Awarded 18 Aug 2023
Commencing Operations 1 Sep 2024
Bus Services 179/179A, 181/181M, 182/182M, 185, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 247, 248/248M, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 405, 502/502A & 974
[26 bus services]
Anchor Bus Depot Soon Lee Bus Depot
Anchor Bus Interchange / Terminal Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal
Bidding Procedures:

As part of the bidding requirements, bus operators had the option to bid for either bus package (Bukit Merah / Jurong West) or for both packages that were up for tender under this contract (PT218).

When the tender closed on 5 Apr 2023, 6 operators made their bid under the contract.

Company Bukit Merah Bus Package – Price for 5 years
Jurong West Bus Package – Price for 5 years
Combined Bus Package – Price for 5 years
SMRT Buses Ltd $496,358,548.80 $411,533,323.80 $910,628,272.60
SBS Transit Ltd (Alternative) $476,457,752.81 $420,902,393.84 $895,778,967.55
SBS Transit Ltd (Base) $491,641,316.29 $429,656,171.78 $919,753,252.66
Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Alternative) $532,673,769.20 $426,965,612.42 $955,593,032.56
Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Base) $544,073,539.20 $443,481,072.00 $986,960,705.20
The Go-Ahead Group Limited (Alternative) $576,133,505.00 $479,010,698.00 $1,040,081,690.00
The Go-Ahead Group Limited (Base) $580,122,714.00 $485,927,362.00 $1,050,987,563.00
Transdev Group S.A. (Base) $598,810,542.79 $518,571,774.82 $1,075,030,145.48
National Express Group PLC $563,008,737.00 $536,058,617.00 $1,063,822,760.00
Transdev Group S.A. (Alternative) $597,463,961.99 $1,073,700,749.93
Contract Award:

Tender submissions were evaluated based on a two-envelope process looking at quality and price factors. The price submissions were only opened after the quality evaluation was completed, ensuring that the best value-for-money proposal was selected without compromising on quality.

On Friday, 18 August 2023, LTA announced SMRT Buses Ltd as the awarded operator of the Jurong West Bus Package. The LTA press release cited its reasons for picking SMRT Buses for the Jurong West Bus Package:

  • Highest total score for Jurong West Bus Package, taking into account both price and quality factors
  • Displayed an excellent understanding of the operational considerations for the Jurong West Bus Package
  • Compelling value-added proposals to improve service delivery, and environmental sustainability and promote public transport usage such as:
    • Proposal to deploy an AI-enabled CCTV system to identify commuters who need help
    • Leverage its WINK + application to promote the use of public transport and incentivise commuters to travel during off-peak periods
Transition of impacted workers

Current SBST employees from the Jurong West bus package will be protected by the Guidelines on Good Employment Practices in the Public Bus Industry and must be offered a job by SMRT, the incoming operator, at employment terms that are no worse off compared to current employment terms.

Transitioning of Buses

In March 2024, 10 Scania K230UB buses were transferred from SBS Transit to SMRT Buses to facilitate training and familiarisation of Bus Captains and Technicians in the lead up to the operations of Jurong West Bus Package by SMRT Buses in September 2024.

Jurong West Bus Package – First Tendered Package Term (PT218B) Timeline
  • 2023 (18 Aug): Contract awarded to SMRT Buses Ltd
See Also
References:

PT212 – Jurong West Bus Package (Negotiated Contract Term: 2016 to 2024):

As part of the Bus Contracting Model which was fully implemented in September 2016, LTA entered into a Negotiated Contract with SBS Transit to operate bus services under the Jurong West Bus Package until the awarded operator for the open tender of the Jurong West Bus Package takes over operations. This was announced to be in Year 2024 by LTA in 2016.

Contract PT212: Jurong West Bus Package (Negotiated Contract)
Operator SBS Transit Ltd
Duration 1 Sep 2016 – Sep 2024
Bus Services
179/179A, 181/181M, 182/182M, 185, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 247, 248/248M, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 405, 502/502A & 974
(26 bus routes)
Handover Date Sep 2024 – to Contract PT218B operated by SMRT Buses Ltd
Anchor Bus Depot Soon Lee Bus Depot
Anchor Bus Interchange / Terminal Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal
Bus Services:

Jurong West Bus Package contains 26 existing bus services operated by SBS Transit. All services will be transferred to SMRT Buses in September 2024 as part of the first tendered term of the Jurong West Bus Package.

Service Route Type
179 Boon Lay ↺ Nanyang Drive Trunk
181
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 3 Trunk
182
Joo Koon ↺ Tuas South Avenue 9 Trunk
185
Soon Lee Bus Park Buona Vista Trunk
192
Boon Lay Tuas Trunk
193
Boon Lay Tuas Trunk
194
Boon Lay ↺ Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim Trunk
199
Boon Lay ↺ Nanyang Crescent Trunk
240
Boon Lay ↺ Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim Feeder
241
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Street 91 Feeder
242
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 5 Feeder
243G
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 5 Feeder
243W
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 5 Feeder
246
Boon Lay ↺ Boon Lay Drive Trunk
247
Tuas ↺ Tuas Bay Link Trunk
248
Tuas ↺ Tuas South Avenue 14 Trunk
249
Boon Lay ↺ Jalan Samulun Trunk
251
Boon Lay ↺ Shipyard Road Trunk
252
Boon Lay ↺ Joo Koon Road Trunk
253
Joo Koon ↺ Benoi Road Trunk
254
Joo Koon ↺ Tuas Avenue 11 Trunk
255
Joo Koon ↺ Gul Crescent Trunk
257
Joo Koon ↺ Pioneer Sector 2 Trunk
258
Joo Koon ↺ Jurong West Street 64 Trunk
405
Boon Lay ↺ Old Choa Chu Kang Road Trunk
502
Soon Lee Bus Park ↺ Central Boulevard Express
974 Joo Koon ↺ Upper Bukit Timah Road Trunk

Notes:
Bus Services 243G & 243W are counted as 1 Service (243).

Short Trip & Supplementary Bus Services

These services do not add to the overall service count.

Service Route Type
179A Boon Lay ↺ Nanyang Drive
Skips Jurong West Street 63 & Pioneer Road North
Supplementary
181M
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Street 23 Supplementary
182M
Joo Koon ↺ Tuas South Avenue 9 Supplementary
240A
Corporation Drive (Blk 65) → Boon Lay Way (Lakeside Stn) Short Trip
240M
Boon Lay Way (Lakeside Stn) ↺ Jurong West Street 64 Supplementary
241A
Jurong West St 91 (Blk 962) → Jurong West St 63 (Pioneer Stn Exit B) Short Trip
248M Tuas ↺ Tuas South Way Supplementary
502A
Soon Lee Bus Park → Central Boulevard (Downtown Stn Exit E)
Skips Jurong East
Short Trip
974A Joo Koon → Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 (Lot 1/Choa Chu Kang Stn) Short Trip

 


Jurong West Bus Package – Negotiated Contract (PT212) Timeline
  • 2016 (11 Aug): Jurong West Bus Package mentioned as one of 11 Negotiated Contract (NC) Packages, and operated by SBS Transit.
  • 2017 (18 Jun): Bus Service 256 removed from the bus package following the withdrawal of the bus service.
  • 2020 (08 Apr): Bus Services 502 & 502A temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
  • 2020 (02 Jun): Resumption of Bus Services 502 & 502A
  • 2021 (29 May): Bus Service 974 added to the bus package, transferred after the first tendered package term of Bulim Bus Package
  • 2021 (26 Sep): Bus Service 248M added to the bus package

External Links & References:

Back to Bus Contracting Model