Scheme B Bus Services

Scheme B Bus Services (part of Supplementary Bus Services) complement existing basic bus services by providing additional capacity primarily during peak hours. These services are provided by private bus operators, such as private-hire or school bus operators.

Born out of the Supplementary Public Transport Scheme implemented in 1974, the scheme allowed school bus operators to provide revenue-earning service during the peak hours after fulfilling their obligations to school students, while also reducing the pressure on then-overcrowded SBS buses.

These bus services are subject to a different regulatory framework as compared to regular basic and basic-plus bus routes operated by public transport operators. Information on these bus services (exact routing, fares and departure times) is not readily published, making them notoriously difficult to find. While these reflect greater flexibility on the part of private bus operators, these services often go unnoticed by the general public due to low outreach and infrequent departures.

As of January 2023, the Land Transport Authority no longer issues new bus service licences for new Scheme B bus services [Link].

Definition & Licensing

Scheme B bus services are cited under the Bus Services Industry (Non‑Regular Route Service) Order 2016, which defines them as follows:

“scheme B bus service” means a bus service consisting of the carriage of passengers to supplement regular route services on buses operated by any holder of a Class 1 bus service licence during the following hours on days that are not public holidays:

1. from 6.00 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. and from 4.15 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on weekdays;
2. from 6.00 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. and from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. on Saturdays;

Scheme B bus services are licensed for a six month period on a per-bus basis. According to the Public Transport Council’s Annual Reports, 9 such supplementary bus services (Scheme B/Mini Aircon/Race Course) were licensed during FY2014/15, but only 6 such services were licensed as of 21 January 2016, the day before regulation of bus services was transferred from PTC to LTA. The LTA is not known to

List Of Scheme B Bus Services:

As of 2024, two Scheme B bus services are spotted in operation.

Since there was no readily available and updated information about these bus services, the Land Transport Guru Admin Team would appreciate more information about these Services. If you have information about these services, please contact us by filling out the form below. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

History:

Licensing:

Scheme B bus services were introduced under the Supplementary Public Transport Service scheme implemented in 1974. The urgent need for these routes stemmed from the chronic overcrowding of Singapore Bus Services (SBS) routes, due to the frequent breakdown of buses. In early 1974, only 1,400 of SBS’ fleet of 2,000 buses were operating, a situation described by Minister for Communications Mr Yong Nyuk Lin as a “sorry state of affairs”.

As the regular reporting/dismissal time of primary schools in Singapore partially fell outside the typical office peak hours of 7.30 am–9.00 am and 5.00 pm–6.30 pm, there was an opportunity to use school buses to relieve SBS bus crowds while supplementing the income of school bus drivers. However, they were permitted to offer these services only after fulfilling their responsibilities to the students

An initial 1,000 licenses would be allocated under Scheme B, which would allow vehicles to operate only during peak hours along specified routes, charging 10, 20 or 30 cents per passenger per trip.

Two vehicle categories were allowed—all types of buses (school/private buses), and the other for lorries and goods vehicles. Two groups of scheduled services were offered — one facilitated travel from residential areas to the city centre, and the other connected residential areas to industrial zones. Lorries were also limited to only plying the industrial routes. Response from owners of lorries was also weak, owing to the short six-month operating permit, and the need to modify their lorries with seating planks.

Each permit for Scheme B is issued for a six-month period, at a fee of $60. The permit is limited to one specific route, and the holder of such a permit shall only ply on the route indicated within the permit. A further $1000 cash bond (later reduced to $500) was required by the Registry Of Vehicles (ROV), which would be forfeited in whole or in part, should license owners breach any of the conditions in the permits.

Under Scheme B, Besides Scheme B which duplicated existing SBS routes, there was also Scheme A, which permits school buses, lorries, vans/station wagons and private buses to provide transport for adult workers between their homes and their workplaces on a monthly contract. These rates were negotiated between employers and bus operators, and there were no restrictions on their operating hours, but they were not allowed to pick up commuters at bus stops or collect fares. Scheme A services have largely stopped operating, owing to improvements in basic bus services and the rail network, and have been superseded by point-to-point employee shuttles contracted to private bus operators.

Start of Operations:

Scheme B services commenced on 4 March 1974, plying 34 limited-stop express routes parallel to existing SBS services. These buses charged stage fares similar to SBS services (but usually slightly cheaper), and had a conductor onboard. Starting the next day, Scheme B vehicles were also allowed to use reserved bus lanes.

Initially only allowed to offer point-to-point rides between their specified termini, this restriction resulted in weak demand of only a handful of passengers. Scheme B buses were subsequently allowed to stop at the first two bus stops nearest to their terminal points to board/alight passengers as of 13 March 1974, and demand grew as a result.

Where possible, Scheme B services had dedicated stopping points about 20 m away from the existing public bus stop; a measure intended to reduce congestion. Scheme B fares were also set slightly lower than regular SBS services, hence giving commuters the option to travel for less, especially for longer distances.

The scheme initially started with 259 vehicles — 236 school buses, 17 private hire buses, and 6 lorries. The services proved popular within days, with commuters welcoming the limited-stop ride, and operators satisfied with the increase in earnings as a result. Applications poured in from school bus drivers, and as of 25 March 1974, the total number of vehicles taking part in Scheme B increased to 306.

Some of these Scheme B routes were 2, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 30,888.

The Straits Times reported that Scheme B operators spent over $5 million in 1977 to recondition over 100 buses to compete with SBS, including buying up 36 old Bedford buses that were disposed of by SBS to motor trading firms. Bus crews were also paid a portion of their daily collections as bonuses on top of regular wages to further drive competition, and bus inspectors were employed to enforce fare collection.

Lunchtime operations were allowed some time in the 1970s (date unsure). As of July 1978, Private hire buses (PH-plate) could operate from 6.30am-9.45am, 11.30am-2pm, and 4.15pm-7.30pm School buses (CB-plate) could operate from 7.30am-9.45am and 4.15pm-6.30pm.

On 1 October 1979, fares were increased to between 30 cents and 50 cents for adult commuters.

1980s:

From 1 August 1980, Scheme B services were made to suspend lunchtime operations, as the ROV felt that this would reduce noon-day traffic jams. Conductors were initially employed but later switched to one-man operation (OMO) with fare payment at boarding in the 1980s.

From 1 December 1981, SBS and the Singapore Bus Owners’ Associated embarked on a pilot scheme to have 30 Scheme B buses ply 8 SBS routes, freeing up 30 SBS buses which could be re-assigned to full-day duties on other services. The Scheme B buses will start from the same route terminals, use the same service number, and be dispatched and controlled by SBS timekeepers to avoid competition.

The services involved in the trial were SBS services 77 and 136 in Ang Mo Kio, 26 and 32 in Bedok, 185 and 186 in Clementi, and 60 and 61 in MacPherson. Scheme B buses would ply only from 6am to 8am and from 4pm to 8pm, which Services 60 and 61 plying up to 9pm.

Following the success of this pilot, from 2 August 1982, the scheme was expanded to twelve more SBS routes. These services are OMO 6, OMO 301 and 40 in Bedok, OMO 71, OMO 303 and OMO 102 in Serangoon, OMO 162, OMO 305 and hybrid 132 in Ang Mo Kio, and OMO 201, OMO 306 and 177 in Bukit Timah.

Between 1981 and 1983, Scheme B bus operators ran four bus services connecting the residential towns of Ang Mo Kio (727), Toa Payoh (737), Kallang Basin (747) and Queenstown (757) with the newly-opened Changi Airport. These services were jointly operated with Singapore Shuttle Bus (SSB), and were the subject of passenger complaints for unreliable service. SSB blamed the Scheme B operators, accusing them of cutting corners by reducing the frequency of buses when they found the bus services to be unprofitable (see: History of Changi Airport Bus Services).

From 27 December 1983, the number of Scheme B services at Toa Payoh was reduced from 12 to 8, with CBD routes reduced from 7 to 4, and industrial routes reduced from 5 to 4, in tandem with SBS’ 1983 Toa Payoh Bus Plan, which simplified bus routes around Toa Payoh.

From 2 January 1985, the majority of Scheme B buses switched to one-man-operation (OMO), replacing the need for a bus conductor to collect fares and issue tickets. More than 400 buses were fitted with fare collection boxes, with 40 more buses expected to join OMO services on 15 January.

Scheme B also took over four unidirectional peak-hour services which were discontinued by SBS in October 1987. Services 247A, 249A, 250A and 251A operated as unidirectional peak-hour services from Boon Lay Garden Bus Terminal to the Jurong & Tuas Industrial Estates, replacing lost transport links when many existing services were amended to the then-newly opened Jurong Bus Interchange.

In 1997, all existing Scheme B bus routes were renumbered into the 6XX series.

Scheme B bus services were reflected on the old bus stop poles on white background metal plates. When the bus stop poles were all replaced in 2009 by LTA, the bus services reflected on these poles initially did not include the Scheme B bus services; they were only reflected in October 2014.

Scheme B’s prominence had also greatly diminished due to significant improvements in the bus and rail network over the subsequent decades, leading to a declined need for these services, and concerns that further competition along SBS’ only profitable routes amid the growth of the MRT network would lead to further loss of revenue. SBS contended that it naturally had higher operating costs, as it needed to operate services across the day, including less-profitable off-peak periods and weekends, and maintain service along other unprofitable routes.

The number of Scheme B services dropped from 55 in 1974 to just 36 in 1992. As of 2005, only 14 such services existed, employing around 50 buses. In 2023, only 3 such services remain.

Known Scheme B services: (all routes no longer in operation)

For Changi Airport routes: see History of Changi Airport Bus Services

External Links & References

• 50 Years Of Transportation In Singapore: Achievements And Challenges (Tien Fang Fwa, 2016)
• Bus Services Industry (Non-Regular Route Service) Order 2016 – Singapore Statutes Online (agc.gov.sg)
• LORRIES, VANS TO THE AID – The Straits Times, 9 January 1974
• 50 ROUTES FOR THE LORRYBUS – The Straits Times, 11 January 1974
• Public warms up to school buses – The Straits Times, 6 March 1974
• 50 join the Scheme B service – New Nation, 25 March 1974
• ALL-OUT BID BY SCHEME ‘B’ BUSES TO GET PASSENGERS – The Straits Times, 28 September 1977
• SCHEME B BUSES STEP UP SERVICES – The Straits Times, 16 January 1978
• SBS hike boon for Scheme B operators – The Straits Times, 9 July 1978
• Scheme B, Shuttle Service bus fares to go up – The Straits Times, 26 September 1979
• New scheme frees 30 buses – The Straits Times, 13 November 1981
• Fewer Scheme B buses from Toa Payoh – The Straits Times, 17 December 1983
• Scheme B buses to go OMO in January – The Straits Times, 13 September 1984
• 400 Scheme B buses go OMO on Jan 2 – The Straits Times, 28 December 1984
• Supplementary bus services may be cut – Singapore Monitor, 8 June 1985
• SBS ends 4 Jurong runs – The Straits Times, 2 October 1987