Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package

Congratulations to Tower Transit Singapore on being awarded the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package!

Refer to Page 2 for details on the tendered contract for the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package, which was awarded to Tower Transit on 30 September 2020.

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

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.

This package comprises bus services mainly originating from Sembawang Bus Interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange and Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub, with a handful originating at Yio Chu Kang, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Centre.

Bus operations for the Tendered Package would be based out of the new Mandai Bus Depot, located off Mandai Road and integrated with Mandai Train Depot.

With Tower Transit awarded as the operator for the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package for the Tendered Package term, it will take over bus services in the bus package operated by SMRT Buses progressively from 5 September 2021.

Bus Services 110, 652 & 670, which were not part of the announced bus routes of the upcoming Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package (Tendered Contract) term from September 2021, are expected to be transferred to other bus packages.

PT213 – Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package (Negotiated Contract Term: 2016 to 2021):

As part of the Bus Contracting Model which was fully implemented in September 2016, LTA entered into a Negotiated Contract with SMRT Buses to operate bus services under the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package until the awarded operator for the open tender of the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package takes over operations in September 2021.

When initially announced in 2016, the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package was originally slated to transition into the Tendered Contract in September 2020. However, it is believed that LTA negotiated another year of operations with SMRT Buses till September 2021 until Tower Transit takes over over operations.

With Tower Transit being the awarded operator, all bus services under this bus package (except 110, 652 & 670) will have a change in operator from SMRT Buses to Tower Transit at the end of the Negotiated Contract, except City Direct 663 which is already operated by Tower Transit under the Bulim Bus Package. The 3 services are expected to be transferred to other bus packages.

Bus Services:

Note:

• Bus Services 110, 652 & 670 are expected to be transferred to other bus packages upon the commencement of the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package (Tendered Contract), which is expected in September 2021.

Short Trip & Supplementary Bus Services

These services do not add to the overall service count.

Transition to Tendered Package Contract

Following the end of the negotiated contract for Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package, Tower Transit will progressively take over bus services from SMRT Buses, except City Direct 663 which is already operated by Tower Transit, in several tranches to be announced by LTA from 5 September 2021.

Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package – Negotiated Contract (PT213) Timeline

• 2016 (11 Aug): Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package mentioned as one of 11 Negotiated Contract (NC) Packages operated by SMRT Buses.
• 2017 (17 Apr): City Direct 656 added to the Bus Package
• 2017 (22 Oct): Bus Service 110 added to the Bus Package
• 2018 (13 Aug): Renumbering of Express Services 854E & 963E to 854e and 963e respectively
• 2018 (25 Nov): Express Service 167e added to the Bus Package
• 2019 (08 Sep): Bus Service 853# renumbered to 853M
• 2020 (06 Jan): City Direct 652 added to the Bus Package
• 2020 (12 Jan): Supplementary Bus Service 883M added to the bus package
• 2020 (30 Mar): City Direct 670 added to the Bus Package
• 2020 (08 Apr): Bus Services 167e, 652, 670 NR1 & NR2 temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
• 2020 (15 Apr): Bus Services 854e, 963e & 963R temporarily suspended due to Singapore COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures.
• 2020 (02 Jun): Resumption of Bus Services 167e, 652, 670, 854e & 963e. Bus Services 963R, NR1 & NR2 remain suspended.
• 2020 (30 Aug): Bus Service 171 shortened to loop at Upper Bukit Timah Road (Bukit Panjang MRT)
• 2020 (23 Nov): Bus Service 883B extended to Sembawang Rd (Opp Blk 590C)
• 2020 (14 Dec): Express 167e removed from the Bus Package following its withdrawal
• 2021 (11 Apr): Short Trip Service 857B re-numbered from trips of Service 857 that terminate at Temasek Ave (Promenade Stn); Short Trip Service 966A re-numbered from trips of Service 966 that terminate at Marine Parade Rd (Opp Parkway Parade)

External Links & References:

• Bus Industry to complete transition to BCM on 1 Sep 2016 – LTA

Back to Bus Contracting Model

Page 2 – Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package 1st Tendered Package Term (PT217)