Bulim Bus Package

Refer to Page 2 for details about the 1st term of the Bulim Bus Package (29 May 2016 – 28 May 2021).

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

Incumbent	Tower Transit Singapore
Present Contract Term	Tendered Package 2nd Term (Contract PT217A): 29 May 2021 – 2026
Bus Services	41, 49, 66, 77, 78, 79, 96, 97, 97e, 98/98M, 106, 143/143M, 173, 177, 183, 189, 282, 284, 285, 333, 334, 335, 651, 653, 657, 941, 944, 945, 947, 990 (30 bus routes)
Bus Depot	Bulim Bus Depot
Bus Interchanges	Jurong East Bus Interchange, Bukit Batok Bus Interchange Venture Drive Bus Interchange (U/C)

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.

As for the Bulim Bus Package, most bus routes originate from Jurong East, Bukit Batok and Clementi Bus Interchanges, and terminate at Bedok, Boon Lay, Marina Centre, Shenton Way and Toa Payoh.

Tower Transit has been the incumbent operator since May 2016 and will remain so until at least 2026.

Note: The Land Transport Authority announced that Bulim Bus Package had 29 bus routes in September 2020. However, City Direct 651 remains to be operated by Tower Transit & City Direct 663 was transferred to the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package on 5 September 2021.

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PT217A – Bulim Bus Package (Current Term: 2021 to 2026):

The second term tendered contract for the Bulim Bus Package was put up for tender in November 2019 together with the Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package under Contract PT217.

In September 2020, Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd secured the Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package & Bulim Bus Package combined tender, based on a tender sum of $1.025 billion over five years.

Bus routes will continue to be based out of Bulim Bus Depot.

Contract Details (2nd Term):

Contract PT217: Bus Contracting – Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages
Bulim Bus Package (PT217A)
Awarded Operator	Tower Transit (Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd)
Duration	Five years, with option of 2 year extension based on good performance
Key Dates	Tender Published 29 Nov 2019 | Closed 30 Mar 2020 | Awarded 30 Sep 2020
Commenced Operations	29 May 2021 (31 Bus Routes)
Current Bus Services	41, 49, 66, 77, 78, 79, 96, 97, 97e, 98/98M, 106, 143/143M, 173, 177, 183, 189, 282, 284, 285, 333, 334, 335, 651, 653, 657, 941, 944, 945, 947, 990 [30 Bus Routes]
Handover Date	5 September 2021 (transferred to Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package) – Service 663
Anchor Bus Depot	Bulim Bus Depot
Anchor Bus Interchange / Terminal	Jurong East Bus Interchange, Bukit Batok Bus Interchange, Venture Drive Bus Interchange (U/C)

Bidding Procedures:

As part of the bidding requirements, bus operators had the option to bid for either bus package (Bulim / Sembawang-Yishun) or for both packages that were up for tender under this contract (PT217).

When the tender closed on 30 Mar 2020, 6 operators made their bid under the contract.

Bid Prices:

Notes:

• The price for five years comprises one-off pre-operation costs, as well as the total service fee and lease charges for assets provided by LTA (excluding any adjustment for inflation, change in wage levels and fuel costs, service variation or incentive payment during the contract period).
• *SBS Transit’s alternative proposal differs from the base proposal by having fewer bus captains and lower non-revenue mileage, to be achieved by launching buses from other bus depots under its negotiated contracts. This is similar to SBS Transit’s existing arrangements at Ulu Pandan Bus Depot.

Contract Award:

On 30 September 2020, LTA awarded Tower Transit both Bulim & Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages. Tender submissions were evaluated based on a two-envelope process which looked at both quality and price factors. The price submissions were only opened after the quality evaluation was completed. The LTA press release indicated their reason for award:

TTS was awarded the contract for the combined package, because it received the highest total score taking into account both price and quality factors in its proposal. TTS demonstrated an excellent understanding of the operational considerations and a strong commitment towards enhancing inclusivity and commuter experience on public transport through the following:

a) Its strong competence in bus service scheduling that will enable the optimal deployment of buses and resources;

b) Its plan to work with the relevant agencies, such as the Public Transport Council and social service agencies, to introduce a Public Bus Confidence Course to familiarise the elderly and less mobile commuters with use of our public bus services;

c) Its plan to hire more persons with disabilities as its customer experience and inclusivity officers to leverage their personal experience in challenges faced by this group of commuters on public buses. This will help identify gaps and enhance inclusivity for bus infrastructure and services; and

d) Its commitment to concentrating its recruitment efforts on building a stronger Singaporean core.

 

The implementation of the second term of the Bulim Bus Package would require the transition of the 3 existing bus services operated by SMRT Buses (653, 657 & 944) to Tower Transit progressively from End May 2021. Tower Transit would continue operations from Bulim Bus Depot and manage Bukit Batok and Jurong East Bus Interchanges as the anchor operator.

In a press release by SeaLink Travel Group Limited, which wholly owns subsidiary Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd, the contract commencement date for Bulim Bus Package was stated to be on 30 May 2021. However, based on the transfer of bus service 944 from SMRT Buses to Tower Transit on 29 May 2021 instead for the Bulim Bus Package, the contract term would have commenced on that day instead.

As part of Tower Transit’s bid for Contract PT217: Bus Contracting – Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages, bus services under these bus packages may be garaged at either Bulim Bus Depot or Mandai Bus Depot.

City Directs 651 & 663:

When announced by the Land Transport Authority in September 2020, City Direct 651 was not included in the Bulim Bus Package. However, Tower Transit continues to operate the service from 29 May 2021.

City Direct 663 was announced to be part of the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package by the Land Transport Authority in September 2020, which Tower Transit would commence operations from 5 September 2021. As Tower Transit continues to operate the service from 29 May 2021, it was temporarily operated under the Bulim Bus Package until its transfer.

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Bus Services

Short Trip & Supplementary Bus Services

These services do not add to the overall service count.

 

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Bus Models & Fleet

Tower Transit operates a fleet of the following bus models under the 2nd term of the Bulim Bus Package (PT217).

Single Deck Buses

• Mercedes-Benz Citaro
• Yutong E12
• MAN A22 (Euro V)

Double Decker Buses

• Volvo B9TL
• Alexander Dennis Enviro500
• MAN A95 (3-Door)
• Yutong E12DD

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Transition Dates:

Only 3 bus services (653, 657 & 944) are affected by operator transfer from SMRT Buses to Tower Transit for this term of the Bulim Bus Package.

Tower Transit commenced operating Bus Service 944 on Saturday 29 May 2021 under the second tendered package term of the Bulim Bus Package.

As City Direct bus services do not operate on Weekends & Public Holidays, Tower Transit commenced operating Services 653 & 657 on Monday 31 May 2021 instead.

Implementation Date	Bus Services	No. of Routes
29 May 2021	41, 49, 66, 77, 78, 79, 96, 97, 97e, 98/98M, 106, 143/143M, 173, 177, 183, 189, 282, 284, 285, 333, 334, 335, 651, 653, 657, 663, 941, 944, 945, 947, 990	31

Handover Dates:

Date	Onward Bus Package	Onward Operator	Bus Services	No. of Routes
5 Sep 2021	Sembawang-Yishun	Tower Transit	663	1

 

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Scope of Operations:

As part of the tender, the awarded operator would be required to fulfill responsibilities as such:

1. Operate bus services under the bus package in accordance with specified EWT performance standards
2. Operate and maintain the buses and their onboard equipment provided by LTA
3. Operate and maintain the allocated Anchor Bus Interchanges & Bus Depot, including all equipment and systems provided therein
4. Charge and collect the fares approved by the Public Transport Council, on behalf of the Government
5. Provide bus service information at all bus stops and bus interchanges served by the bus services under the package
6. Provide customer management services, such as lost and found service, and a hotline for commuter feedback and enquiries.

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Bulim Bus Package (PT217A) Timeline

• 2019 (29 Nov): 2nd Term for Bulim Bus Package released with a combined contract for Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.
• 2020 (30 Mar): Tender closed with 6 bids received.
• 2020 (30 Sep): Contract awarded to Tower Transit (both Bulim & Sembawang – Yishun Bus Packages)
• 2021 (29 May): Commencement of 2nd Term for Bulim Bus Package; Services 653, 657 & 944 transferred from Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang Bus Package
• 2021 (05 Sep): City Direct 663 transferred to Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package

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Reference

• LTA Awards Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages to Tower Transit – Land Transport Authority
• SeaLink awarded contracts for bus services in Singapore – SeaLink Travel Group

Back to Bus Contracting Model

Page 2 – Bulim Bus Package 1st Term (PT200)