The Jurong West Bus Package is one of fourteen bus packages under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM).
| Incumbent | SBS Transit Ltd |
| Present Contract Term | Negotiated Contract (Contract PT212): Sep 2016 – Sep 2024 |
| Upcoming Contract Term |
Tendered Package 1st Term (Contract PT218B): 1 Sep 2024 – 2029 |
| Awarded Operator |
SMRT Buses Ltd |
| Bus Services | 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) |
| Bus Depot | Soon Lee Bus Depot |
| Bus Interchanges | Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal |
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.
PT218B – Jurong West Bus Package (1st Tendered Term: Sep 2024 to 2029):
The first tendered package term for the Jurong West Bus Package was put up for tender on 23 November 2022 together with the Bukit Merah Bus Package under Contract PT218: Bus Contracting – Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages.
Jurong West Bus Package was awarded to SMRT Buses Ltd on 18 August 2023.
Contract Details (1st Tendered Package Term):
| Contract PT218: Bus Contracting – Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages |
|
| Jurong West Bus Package (PT218B) |
|
| Awarded Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd |
| Duration | Five years; with the option of 2 to 5 year extension based on good performance |
| Key Dates | Tender Published 23 Nov 2022 | Closed 5 Apr 2023 | Awarded 18 Aug 2023 |
| Commencing Operations | 1 Sep 2024 |
| Bus Services | 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 services] |
| Anchor Bus Depot | Soon Lee Bus Depot |
| Anchor Bus Interchange / Terminal | Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal |
Bidding Procedures:
As part of the bidding requirements, bus operators had the option to bid for either bus package (Bukit Merah / Jurong West) or for both packages that were up for tender under this contract (PT218).
When the tender closed on 5 Apr 2023, 6 operators made their bid under the contract.
| Company | Bukit Merah Bus Package – Price for 5 years |
Jurong West Bus Package – Price for 5 years |
Combined Bus Package – Price for 5 years |
| SMRT Buses Ltd | $496,358,548.80 | $411,533,323.80 | $910,628,272.60 |
| SBS Transit Ltd (Alternative) | $476,457,752.81 | $420,902,393.84 | $895,778,967.55 |
| SBS Transit Ltd (Base) | $491,641,316.29 | $429,656,171.78 | $919,753,252.66 |
| Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Alternative) | $532,673,769.20 | $426,965,612.42 | $955,593,032.56 |
| Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Base) | $544,073,539.20 | $443,481,072.00 | $986,960,705.20 |
| The Go-Ahead Group Limited (Alternative) | $576,133,505.00 | $479,010,698.00 | $1,040,081,690.00 |
| The Go-Ahead Group Limited (Base) | $580,122,714.00 | $485,927,362.00 | $1,050,987,563.00 |
| Transdev Group S.A. (Base) | $598,810,542.79 | $518,571,774.82 | $1,075,030,145.48 |
| National Express Group PLC | $563,008,737.00 | $536,058,617.00 | $1,063,822,760.00 |
| Transdev Group S.A. (Alternative) | $597,463,961.99 | — | $1,073,700,749.93 |
Contract Award:
Tender submissions were evaluated based on a two-envelope process looking at quality and price factors. The price submissions were only opened after the quality evaluation was completed, ensuring that the best value-for-money proposal was selected without compromising on quality.
On Friday, 18 August 2023, LTA announced SMRT Buses Ltd as the awarded operator of the Jurong West Bus Package. The LTA press release cited its reasons for picking SMRT Buses for the Jurong West Bus Package:
- Highest total score for Jurong West Bus Package, taking into account both price and quality factors
- Displayed an excellent understanding of the operational considerations for the Jurong West Bus Package
- Compelling value-added proposals to improve service delivery, and environmental sustainability and promote public transport usage such as:
- Proposal to deploy an AI-enabled CCTV system to identify commuters who need help
- Leverage its WINK + application to promote the use of public transport and incentivise commuters to travel during off-peak periods
Transition of impacted workers
Current SBST employees from the Jurong West bus package will be protected by the Guidelines on Good Employment Practices in the Public Bus Industry and must be offered a job by SMRT, the incoming operator, at employment terms that are no worse off compared to current employment terms.
Jurong West Bus Package – First Tendered Package Term (PT218B) Timeline
- 2023 (18 Aug): Contract awarded to SMRT Buses Ltd
See Also
- Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages put up for tender
- SBS Transit and SMRT Buses awarded Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages
References:
- LTA Awards Bukit Merah and Jurong West Bus Packages to SBS Transit and SMRT Buses – Land Transport Authority
- SMRT awarded Jurong West Bus Package, to operate 26 routes in the area from Sep 2024 – SMRT Corporation
PT212 – Jurong West Bus Package (Negotiated Contract Term: 2016 to 2024):
As part of the Bus Contracting Model which was fully implemented in September 2016, LTA entered into a Negotiated Contract with SBS Transit to operate bus services under the Jurong West Bus Package until the awarded operator for the open tender of the Jurong West Bus Package takes over operations. This was announced to be in Year 2024 by LTA in 2016.
| Contract PT212: Jurong West Bus Package (Negotiated Contract) | |
| Operator | SBS Transit Ltd |
| Duration | 1 Sep 2016 – Sep 2024 |
| Bus Services |
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) |
| Handover Date | Sep 2024 – to Contract PT218B operated by SMRT Buses Ltd |
| Anchor Bus Depot | Soon Lee Bus Depot |
| Anchor Bus Interchange / Terminal | Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal |
Bus Services:
Jurong West Bus Package contains 26 existing bus services operated by SBS Transit. All services will be transferred to SMRT Buses in September 2024 as part of the first tendered term of the Jurong West Bus Package.
| Service | Route | Type |
| 179 | Boon Lay ↺ Nanyang Drive | Trunk |
| 181 |
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 3 | Trunk |
| 182 |
Joo Koon ↺ Tuas South Avenue 9 | Trunk |
| 185 |
Soon Lee Bus Park ↔ Buona Vista | Trunk |
| 192 |
Boon Lay ↔ Tuas | Trunk |
| 193 |
Boon Lay ↔ Tuas | Trunk |
| 194 |
Boon Lay ↺ Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim | Trunk |
| 199 |
Boon Lay ↺ Nanyang Crescent | Trunk |
| 240 |
Boon Lay ↺ Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim | Feeder |
| 241 |
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Street 91 | Feeder |
| 242 |
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 5 | Feeder |
| 243G |
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 5 | Feeder |
| 243W |
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Avenue 5 | Feeder |
| 246 |
Boon Lay ↺ Boon Lay Drive | Trunk |
| 247 |
Tuas ↺ Tuas Bay Link | Trunk |
| 248 |
Tuas ↺ Tuas South Avenue 14 | Trunk |
| 249 |
Boon Lay ↺ Jalan Samulun | Trunk |
| 251 |
Boon Lay ↺ Shipyard Road | Trunk |
| 252 |
Boon Lay ↺ Joo Koon Road | Trunk |
| 253 |
Joo Koon ↺ Benoi Road | Trunk |
| 254 |
Joo Koon ↺ Tuas Avenue 11 | Trunk |
| 255 |
Joo Koon ↺ Gul Crescent | Trunk |
| 257 |
Joo Koon ↺ Pioneer Sector 2 | Trunk |
| 258 |
Joo Koon ↺ Jurong West Street 64 | Trunk |
| 405 |
Boon Lay ↺ Old Choa Chu Kang Road | Trunk |
| 502 |
Soon Lee Bus Park ↺ Central Boulevard | Express |
| 974 | Joo Koon ↺ Upper Bukit Timah Road | Trunk |
Notes:
Bus Services 243G & 243W are counted as 1 Service (243).
Short Trip & Supplementary Bus Services
These services do not add to the overall service count.
| Service | Route | Type |
| 179A | Boon Lay ↺ Nanyang Drive Skips Jurong West Street 63 & Pioneer Road North |
Supplementary |
| 181M |
Boon Lay ↺ Jurong West Street 23 | Supplementary |
| 182M |
Joo Koon ↺ Tuas South Avenue 9 | Supplementary |
| 240A |
Corporation Drive (Blk 65) → Boon Lay Way (Lakeside Stn) | Short Trip |
| 240M |
Boon Lay Way (Lakeside Stn) ↺ Jurong West Street 64 | Supplementary |
| 241A |
Jurong West St 91 (Blk 962) → Jurong West St 63 (Pioneer Stn Exit B) | Short Trip |
| 248M | Tuas ↺ Tuas South Way | Supplementary |
| 502A |
Soon Lee Bus Park → Central Boulevard (Downtown Stn Exit E) Skips Jurong East |
Short Trip |
| 974A | Joo Koon → Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 (Lot 1/Choa Chu Kang Stn) | Short Trip |
Jurong West Bus Package – Negotiated Contract (PT212) Timeline
- 2016 (11 Aug): Jurong West Bus Package mentioned as one of 11 Negotiated Contract (NC) Packages, and operated by SBS Transit.
- 2017 (18 Jun): Bus Service 256 removed from the bus package following the withdrawal of the bus service.
- 2020 (08 Apr): Bus Services 502 & 502A temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
- 2020 (02 Jun): Resumption of Bus Services 502 & 502A
- 2021 (29 May): Bus Service 974 added to the bus package, transferred after the first tendered package term of Bulim Bus Package
- 2021 (26 Sep): Bus Service 248M added to the bus package
External Links & References:
Back to Bus Contracting Model