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).
| Incumbent | SMRT Buses Ltd |
| Present Contract Term | Negotiated Contract (Contract PT213): 01 Sep 2016 – 04 Sep 2021 (extended by 1 year from 2020) |
| Current Term Bus Services (PT213) | 167, 169, 171, 656, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859/859A/859B, 882, 883/883M, 963, 963e, 963R, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981, NR1 & NR2 Operated by Tower Transit under a negotiated contract – 663 (26 bus routes) Note: Express 167e withdrawn in December 2020 |
| Upcoming Operator |
Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd (Tower Transit) |
| Upcoming Contract Term |
Tendered Package 1st Term (Contract PT217): 05 Sep 2021 – 2026 |
| Upcoming Term Bus Services (PT217) | 167, 169, 171, 656, 663, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859/859A/859B, 882, 883/883M, 963, 963e, 963R, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981, N1 & N2 (26 bus routes) Note: Express 167e withdrawn in December 2020 |
| Bus Depot | Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot / Mandai Bus Depot |
| Bus Interchanges | Sembawang Bus Interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange, Lorong 1 Geylang 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.
This package comprises bus services mainly originating from Sembawang Bus Interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange and Woodlands Bus Interchange, 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.
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 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 a negotiated contract.
| Contract PT213: Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package (Negotiated Contract) | |
| Operator | SMRT Buses Ltd |
| Duration | 01 Sep 2016 – 04 Sep 2021 (extended by 1 year) |
| Bus Services |
167, 169, 171, 656, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859/859A/859B, 882, 883/883M, 963, 963e, 963R, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981, NR1 & NR2 Operated by Tower Transit under a negotiated contract – 663 (26 bus routes) |
| Handover Date | Transitioned to Tendered Package 1st Term (PT217): Progressively from 05 Sep 2021 |
| Anchor Bus Depot | Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot |
| Anchor Bus Interchange / Terminal | Sembawang Bus Interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange, Yishun Temporary Bus Interchange (former), Lorong 1 Geylang Bus Terminal |
Bus Services:
All bus services, except City Direct 663, are operated by SMRT Buses under the Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package negotiated contract till 2021:
| Service | Route | Type |
| 167 | Sembawang ↔ Bukit Merah | Trunk |
| 169 | Woodlands ↔ Ang Mo Kio | Trunk |
| 171 | Yishun ↺ Upper Bukit Timah Road | Trunk |
| 656 | Canberra Road ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road | City Direct |
| 663 | Yishun Avenue 6 ⇄ Shenton Way / Anson Road | City Direct |
| 825 | Yio Chu Kang ↺ Lentor Loop | Trunk |
| 853 | Yishun ↔ Lorong 1 Geylang | Trunk |
| 854 | Yishun ↔ Bedok | Trunk |
| 854e | Yishun → Bedok | Express |
| 855 | Yishun ↔ HarbourFront | Trunk |
| 856 | Yishun ↔ Woodlands | Trunk |
| 857 | Yishun ↺ Temasek Avenue | Trunk |
| 858 | Woodlands ↺ Changi Airport | Trunk |
| 859 | Sembawang ↺ Yishun | Trunk |
| 882 | Sembawang ↺ Sembawang Road | Trunk |
| 883 | Sembawang ↺ Yishun Central 2 | Trunk |
| 963 | Woodlands ↔ HarbourFront | Trunk |
| 963e | Woodlands ⇄ HarbourFront | Express |
| 963R | Woodlands ↔ Resorts World Sentosa | Express |
| 965 | Woodlands ↺ Sengkang | Trunk |
| 966 | Woodlands ↺ Marine Parade Road | Trunk |
| 969 | Woodlands ↔ Tampines | Trunk |
| 980 | Sembawang ↔ Lorong 1 Geylang | Trunk |
| 981 | Sembawang ⇄ Senoko Loop / Senoko Road | Trunk |
| NR1 | Resorts World Sentosa → Yishun Ring Road | Night |
| NR2 | Marina Centre → Sembawang Drive | Night |
Note:
- Bus Service 663 is operated by Tower Transit under Negotiated Contract until its handover to 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.
| Service | Route | Type |
| 169A | Woodlands → Yishun Avenue 2 (Opp Yishun Stn) | Short Trip |
| 169B | Woodlands → Woodlands Avenue 8 (Bef Admiralty Rd West) | Short Trip |
| 853M | Yishun ↔ Upper East Coast | Supplementary |
| 856A | Woodlands → Woodlands Centre Road (W’lands Train Checkpt) | Short Trip |
| 857A | Yishun → Yio Chu Kang Road (Opp Sunrise Gdns) | Short Trip |
| 858A | Woodlands → Yishun Avenue 2 (Opp Yishun Stn) | Short Trip |
| 858B | Jalan Kayu (Bef Seletar Camp G) → Jalan Kayu (Aft Seletar Camp G) | Short Trip |
| 859A | Sembawang ↺ Admiralty Link | Short Trip |
| 859B | Sembawang ↺ Sembawang Crescent | Short Trip |
| 882A | Sembawang → Montreal Link (Blk 592A) | Short Trip |
| 883A | Sembawang → Canberra Way (Blk 129A) | Short Trip |
| 883B | Yishun Ave 2 (Yishun Stn) → Sembawang Rd (Opp Blk 590C) | Short Trip |
| 883M | Sembawang ↺ Sembawang Road | Supplementary |
| 965A | Woodlands → Yishun Avenue 2 (Opp Yishun Stn) | Short Trip |
| 969A | Tampines → Yishun Avenue 2 (Yishun Stn) | Short Trip |
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.
| Tranche | Transition Date | Bus Services | No. of Routes |
| 1 | 5 September 2021 | TBC | TBC |
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 (28 Sep): City Direct 663 added to the Bus Package, operated by Tower Transit
- 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 (12 Jan): Supplementary Bus Service 883M added to the bus package.
- 2020 (08 Apr): Bus Services 167e, 663, 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, 663, 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
External Links & References:
Back to Bus Contracting Model
Page 2 – Sembawang – Yishun Bus Package 1st Tendered Package Term (PT217)