The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called for a tender for the Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages on 23 November 2022, under Contract PT218: Bus Contracting – Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages.
The Jurong West Bus Package is the sixth contract to be launched for competitive tendering under the Bus Contracting Model. The Bukit Merah Bus Package is currently up for its second tendered term under the bus contracting model.
Under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), bus routes were bundled into bus packages, consisting of a single bus depot, several bus interchanges, the bus routes and the buses themselves. With all bus infrastructure belonging to the Government, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would select a bus operator to run the bus package (through a competitive tendering process), and lease these assets to the new operator.
As part of the gradual transition which commenced in September 2016, all existing bus services in Singapore (previously operated by a long-standing duopoly between SBS Transit and SMRT Buses) were divided into 14 route packages. These existing routes remain operated by their incumbent operators under a negotiated contract model until their respective Bus Package has been tendered out.
Bukit Merah Bus Package
Bukit Merah Bus Package was awarded to SBS Transit in February 2018 as part of an open tender. SBS Transit was previously also the incumbent operator under a negotiated contract since the start of the BCM in September 2016.
As of November 2022, existing bus services covered by the Bukit Merah Bus Package are:
Services 5, 16/16M, 57, 93, 120, 121, 122, 123/123M, 131, 145, 160/160M, 170/170X, 195, 198, 272, 273 & 400 (17 bus routes)
Jurong West Bus Package
Jurong West Bus Package has been operated by SBS Transit under a negotiated contract since the start of the BCM in September 2016.
As of November 2022, existing bus services covered by the Jurong West Bus Package are:
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)
Combined Bus Package Tender
Similar to the previous combined Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package tender in November 2019, tenderers may submit bids for either of both of the items:
- Bukit Merah Bus Package
- Jurong West Bus Package
- Bukit Merah & Jurong West Bus Package
Tenderers
As of tender closing date, 6 companies have submitted bids for this tender. These are:
- Go Ahead Singapore Pte Ltd
- National Express Group PLC
- SBS Transit Ltd
- SMRT Buses Ltd
- Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd
- Transdev Group S.A.
Tender Award
Main Article: SBS Transit and SMRT Buses awarded Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages
On 18 August 2023, LTA awarded the contracts to the following operators:
- Bukit Merah Bus Package – SBS Transit Ltd
- Jurong West Bus Package – SMRT Buses Ltd
If this process is truly democratic, and if the Jurong West bus package will go to a bus operator that is not SBS Transit, I wonder which bus depot will replace the Soon Lee bus depot that is owned by SBS Transit.
Probably have la, just that the tender came out before the LTA press release.
Whoever released it prematurely will probably get wack.
Rlly hope SMRT gets Jurong West. Tho Bukit Merah it’s best for SBST
I think by next year,Choa Chu Kang,Woodlands and Sengkang contracts will also put up for biddings.
Why is 174 not under JW when it srarts from Boon Lay?
Forget about Bukit Merah unless LTA want other operators to operate cross-border service.If LTA decided to put 160 & 170 into Clementi packages then it will be different stories.This time around LTA should award at least Jurong West to GAS.