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
just have SBS Transit retain Bukit Merah and Jurong West.
– The crossborder services in Bukit Merah are likely entitled to stay under SBS( idk tbh whether that’s the case)
– SBS has operated the industrial services that plies the Tuas region for years now, having a new bus operator just wouldn’t be ideal or the most reasonable approach
They can have Bt Merah all they want but please gave other operators like GA a chance to operate JW..If this kind of mindset you have,Then other operators won’t have chances for other packages too.Let it be the fair competition not any emphatic or “old bird” kind of thing.
The first point on SBST retaining BM is good.
But the second point on losing Tuas and being unfamiliar just doesn’t quite make sense. TTSG and GASG started out taking over SBST routes, operating in a new environment but look at how far they have come in just 6 years. So actually if SBST loses JW, it won’t really be unreasonable nor unfamiliar. In fact, I am hoping that either TTSG or GASG gets JW.
I prefer JR in SMB hands and CLE in TTS control. SBST can keep its contracts for South, Central and East regions (BM, Seletar, Bishan, Serangoon, Bedok and TAM).
Second that,For SBST if they lose JW won’t make them go burst.They have the rail,Media and guaranteed 6-7 bus packages in their hand.SMRT also can survive with CCK & WDL together with their Stride,Rail businesses.This time round give chance to GAS for the sole operator with only a bus contract since 2016.TTSG & SMRT can try their luck on SKG,WL & CCK.
crossborder needs new operators, always with sbst is so boring.
If other operators win JW,I think the 8 A95 3-Doors will be transfer to Bukit Batok Depot.
I prefer GAS bag the Jurong West package and SBST retain Bukit Merah.SMRT will be operating the RTS cross border rail in future.SMRT should just stay with 2 bus packages.Their bus runtime planning is poor and cutting BC break and meal times is their specialty.Let SMRT run Woodlands and Sengkang only.CCK can award to either GAS or TTS.
I think SMB for WL/CCK/JR contracts and GA for HG contract. It makes a lot of sense for LY and HG depots to be managed by one single operator so as to allow cross-regional deployment on 85/117/136.
If GA bag SK,There will be more dead mileage for off service example for service 51(JE) & 151(KR).If they win JW it almost the same like Loyang can still maintain single depot control.JW CBD bound service is only Express 502.
That will be the best arrangement. In fact, I hope GA can go on and win Seletar and Bedok or Tampines, since these are all side by side LY and HG, making cross-deployments easier.
SMRT is the only operator with no tender packages as SMRT only has negotiated packages
I think SMRT really needs to win Bukit Merah and Jurong West package
Seletar is going to tender soon so SMRT should also win that
Losing AMDEP was already a big loss for smrt
Otherwise SMRT is seriously gonna lose in bus industry
Also KJDEP is gonna go for tender soon so this makes it more important
also i dont like bcm because it prevents smrt from buying bendies
KJ and WL may get extended under TEL NRFF for all we know.
That’s why but no unofficial statement about that too…To be frank I prefer they tendered out Seletar over Bukit Merah.I don’t think LTA will award BM to other operators let along new one.This is all wayang only after some people voice out their unhappiness over the extended of 5 contracts.LTA in the first place shouldn’t done that.
clearly it’s very unlikely to see these 2 bus packages with any other operator other than SBS Transit. however I would be keen to see a scenario where SBS Transit doesn’t get a win..
TTS or GAS get Jurong West
TTS or SMRT get Bukit Merah
TTS definitely would be the strongest candidate for both these packages besides SBS