A Double-Decker Bus was spotted on test at Changi Airport on Wednesday morning, 26 June 2019.
A SMRT Volvo B9TL bus, SG5517G, was photographed at the Departure Hall of Changi Airport Terminal 3. It is said that the trial was conducted together with the Land Transport Authority and Changi Airport Group. (Photo: Behold Our Outstanding Buses Singapore)
https://www.facebook.com/BOOBSG/photos/p.1529253883877679/1529253883877679/
Double-decker buses should be deployed on airport services to cater to the high loading levels. However, airport bus services only can use single-deck and articulated (bendy) buses due to height limits at the basement of Changi Airport PTB 1, 2 and 3.
Increased ridership has caused overcrowding problems on these bus services, notably SMRT Bus Service 858 and SBS Transit Bus Service 53. SMRT Buses deployed MAN A24 bendy buses since late-2015 to cope with high loading levels. Following the opening of JEWEL Changi Airport, more bendy buses were deployed, and buses operated additional trips from Changi Airport in the evening.
Road infrastructure has to be made double-decker friendly first before such buses can be deployed on airport services. While the departure halls of Terminal 1 and 3 are able to cater to double-deckers, there is a 4.0m height limit on the slip road entering Terminal 2 Departure Hall. In addition, buses will have to ply a circuitous route involving U-Turns to get in between departure halls.
Hopefully, double-deckers can be deployed on airport services in the near future for a more comfortable journey!
Contingency Plan
Currently, public buses serving Changi Airport may be diverted to call at the departure halls of Terminals 1, 2 & 3 if the basement is closed due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. accident or vehicle breakdown).
Terminal 3 Departure Hall
During the Early Closure, Late Opening & Sunday Closures on the East-West Line from January 2018 to April 2018, Shuttle 8 and Express 12Â buses used Terminal 3 Departure Hall Gate 8 as a Pick-Up and Drop-Off Point.
When is LTA going to introduce double deckers in Changi Airport services?
I think LTA shld buy more bendy buses esp for airport services
Yes but only when demands meet or when the man a24 is reaching to the end of their lifespan
If Double Decks were to ply Changi Airport, they would have to ply the Departure Halls of Terminals 1 and 3 and the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2. This is the only DD-friendly route in terms of 4.5m height clearance. The existing T4 public bus stop should be DD friendly too. By estimation, the roads along this entire route should provide sufficient turning radius for a DD bus. However, this is just by ESTIMATION. If the above mentioned Departure and Arrival Halls can be modified to accommodate public buses (ie the space in front of a few of the Departure/Arrival doors are reserved for them), DDs would have no problem plying Changi Airport and we can then look forward to much more comfortable rides to Changi Airport 🙂 The existing basements can in turn be repurposed too!
Don’t be suprised if 858M is from Sembawang-Airport using all the departure halls and using all DDs.