2020 Outlook for Public Transport

As 2020 gears off with a fresh start, lets take a look at the upcoming developments in the public transport industry for the year.


Opening of Thomson-East Coast Line

The first phase of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will open on Friday, 31 January 2019. Spanning just three stations (Woodlands NorthWoodlands and Woodlands South), the line will offer greater connectivity within the Woodlands estate. Woodlands Station will be an interchange station with the existing North South Line.

The opening of the TEL will also mark the start of operations for Mandai Depot, which will stable and maintain CT251 trains deployed on the line.

The second phase, running between Springleaf and Caldecott, is also expected to open later this year, but might be further delayed.


Launch of Electric Buses and 3-Door Double Decker Buses

60 electric buses procured in 2018, as well as 100 3-Door double-decker buses procured by LTA, are expected to enter revenue service this year.

Main Articles: STE-Linkker Autonomous Electric Bus & ST Engineering STROBO Series 12 Bus

ST Engineering Land Systems announced in April 2017 that it was developing two autonomous buses for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that will undergo public road trials by mid-2020. The company signed a partnership agreement with the LTA to harness autonomous vehicle technology as part of mobility concepts such as mobility-on-demand and autonomous buses.


New Integrated Transport Hubs

Bidadari and Woodlands Integrated Transport Hubs are expected to open this year. The former will be the first air-conditioned underground bus interchange beneath public housing flats, integrated within Woodleigh Village and seamlessly connected to Woodleigh MRT Station via an underground link. Woodlands ITH, which utilizes the original land Woodlands Bus Interchange, has been undergoing extensive renovation and upgrading works, including an air-conditioned concourse.

Gali Batu Bus Terminal and the second Jurong East Temporary Bus Interchange is expected open this year.


Transfer of City Direct Bus Operators

City Direct Bus Services 651, 652, 671 & 672 will be transferred to Public Transport Operators in January 2020, leaving only Services 666, 667, 668 and 670 under Private Bus Operators. The remaining services are expected to follow suit, either withdrawn or transferred to PTOs.

Retirement of Non-WAB Buses

In achieving a 100% wheelchair-accessible public bus fleet by 2020, the Volvo B10TL and Mercedes-Benz O405G are expected to retire early ahead of their lifespan expiry dates.

12 thoughts on “2020 Outlook for Public Transport

  • 6 April 2020 at 6:48 PM
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    Again,Why is it troublesome for other operators to operate Sengkang-Hougang?If other than SBST won that package,They can temporarily move to Hougang Depot and just wait for a couple of years to move to Sengkang West what..SBST can always move their training school to other available depot.The CDGE bus assembly is not part of BCM also what.Unless you’re talking something like status quo packages like the Bukit Merah & Woodlands where there is cross border service involved

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  • 27 January 2020 at 10:26 PM
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    Last Hoping LTA Will be buying 200 Three Door Volvo B8L With Gemilang Bodied and 12.9 Metres

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    • 6 April 2020 at 6:44 PM
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      If the 100 three doors prove sucess and 100% can replace the bendy buses only then LTA will consider Volvo B8L three door 12.5m and not 12.8 or 13m..

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  • 2 January 2020 at 9:12 PM
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    So meaning biggest sure confirm win?Like that where is your integrity of having open tender?I understand cross border service will stay with incumbent operators but again anything is possible..Just that LTA is full of ex-SBST bus fans afterall

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  • 2 January 2020 at 11:21 AM
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    TEL2 slated to open by Q3 this year anyway.

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  • 2 January 2020 at 9:16 AM
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    This i really hope new multi-modal Operator can win Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun packages.
    For Sengkang-Hougang,Let SMRT win and Loyang will have Firstgroup or other European operator take over.Bedok & Bukit Merah can stays with SBS Transit.SMRT retain Woodlands and the new operator wins Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang and Seletar respectively.2024 Tampines & Jurong West stays with SBS Transit,SMRT wins Serangoon-Eunos while SBST retain Clementi & Bishan-Toa Payoh respectively.
    I also hope that LTA start tender out rail contracts in future.Let SBS Transit take over NorthSouth Line & Bukit Panjang LRT in exchange for NorthEast Line & Sengkang-Punggol LRT.Circle Line & Thomson-East Coast Line stays with SMRT while SBST retain Downtown Line.Jurong Region Line & Cross Island Line can award to foreign operators,Who knows they might maintain the metro better than locals?Lastly hoping LTA can consider buy 50 MAN NG363F Euro VI & 50 MB Citaro G Hybrid as well as 50 MB Citaro Hybrid Euro VI.

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    • 2 January 2020 at 2:09 PM
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      Dream on. Sengkang-Hougang package most likely still SBST seeing how the main depot HGDEP is still SBST based and biggest. Though there’s a new depot built for this package off Sengkang, however, this package will get tendered before the completion of that depot. If other operators wins that package, there is just going to be major re-shuffling around and that’s too troublesome.

      Seeing how UPDEP and SEDEP was SBST control upon completion before their package was tendered out, that’s why both packages fell under SBST.

      Yishun-Sembawang has a high chance of switching operators depending on who is going to take charge of the almost completed Mandai depot. Or if it’s going to be vacant even after completion, LTA is likely awarding that to GAS, TTS or a new operator bidder.

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      • 3 January 2020 at 1:50 PM
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        If Mandai under SMRT I hope to be there for open day.

        Also, the wage theft lawsuits filed against SBST may give them bad press and result in them losing Hougang. It would be ideal if GAS got both Loyang and Hougang.

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        • 9 January 2020 at 5:47 PM
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          Just a minor case. Won’t affect their tendering process.

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    • 17 January 2020 at 10:36 AM
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      This is hilarious/ironic considering your prior post about having an open tender.

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