On 1 January 2022, SBS Transit (SBST) retired the bulk of its Volvo B9TL (CDGE) fleet, along with some Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses.
These operational changes implemented by SBST are the result of a new Framework Agreement (or “FA”) announced by SBST and LTA in November 2021, in connection with the transition of the Downtown Line to the New Rail Financing Framework Version 2.
SBST had agreed to replace 241 of its own buses (comprising 144 double-decker buses and 97-single-deck buses) with newer government-owned buses, which are more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient to maintain.
| Original Registration Period | Useful Lifespan (Registration date till 1 Jan 2022, both dates inclusive) |
Lifespan (% of 17-year statutory lifespan) |
|
| Volvo B9TL (CDGE) | Jun 2006 – Sep 2006 | 15.3 – 15.5 years | 90 – 91.1 |
| Scania K230UB | Oct 2007 – Jan 2009 | 13 – 14.2 years | 76.5 – 83.5 |
Early Retirement Buses
Volvo B9TL (CDGE)
With the retirement of 144 Volvo B9TL (CDGE) buses from January 2022, there are only 20 buses left on revenue service, distributed among Ang Mo Kio Depot, Bedok North Depot, and Bukit Batok Bus Depot. A further two units remain allocated to Hougang Bus Depot for training duties (SBS7383A & SBS7385U).
Scania K230UB (Euro IV)
97 Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses were taken off revenue service in January 2022, with the majority of them from Ulu Pandan Bus Depot.
Several of these buses were with SPAD Registration for cross-border bus services 160 & 170. With the retirement of these buses, several MAN A22 and Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were prepared for SPAD Registration in April 2022.
Bus Scrapping
Similar to the previous batch of early retired Volvo B9TL (CDGE) buses, the retired buses will be sent for scrap at various scrapyards.
Reserved to RVS Global
20 of the retired Scania K230UB buses had a notice pasted on their windscreen which read “Reserved to RVS Global”. Some of these buses were spotted in Keppel in July 2022.
Replacement Bus Models
Double Deck
The retired Volvo B9TL (CDGE) buses are replaced by:
- MAN A95 Euro V Batch 3
- MAN A95 Euro 6 Batch 2
- Volvo B9TL (Wright Eclipse Gemini 2)
- Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3-Door)
These buses were transferred from other operators / LTA Bus Storage, or newly registered to SBS Transit in Q4 2021. In addition, there were several buses which were re-deployed across various SBS Transit bus depots.
List of Double-Deck Buses to SBS Transit for Fleet Replacement (Q4 2021) (Click to expand)
| Registration | Former Operator |
| MAN A95 Euro 6 Batch 2 | |
| SG6189M – SG6202H | SMRT Buses |
| SG6204C – SG6213B, SG6216T – SG6225S | LTA Storage |
| SG6226P, SG6233T – SG6235M, SG6239C & SG6240Y | N.A. (Newly registered to SBS Transit) |
| MAN A95 Euro V Batch 3 | |
| SG5841U, SG5847D, SG5851R, SG5852M, SG5856C – SG5858Y, SG5870K, SG5872E & SG5884X | SMRT Buses |
| Volvo B9TL (Wright Eclipse Gemini 2) | |
| SBS3509G, SBS3511Z, SBS3513T, SBS3514R, SG5108D – SG5118A, SG5438B – SG5440T, SG5536B, SG5537Z, SG5440M – SG5544C, SG5593K & SG5594H | Go-Ahead Singapore |
| SG5008J – SG5012X, SG5014R – SG5021U, SG5023P – SG5038Y | Tower Transit Singapore |
| Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3-Door) |
|
| SG6333M – SG6335H, SG6337C – SG6339Y, SG6342L – SG6344G, SG6347Z, SG6348X, SG6351K – SG6356Y & SG6358S – SG6365X | N.A. (Newly registered to SBS Transit) |
Single Deck
The retired Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses are replaced by:
The bulk of the retired Scania K230UB (Euro IV) buses are replaced by 68 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses. These buses were formerly used by SMRT Buses and Task Force 50.
In October – November 2021, 19 MAN A22 Euro V (Batch 3) buses formerly with SMRT buses were leased to SBS Transit. Some of these buses retain the SMRT Pixel Livery, with SBS Transit Logos pasted on the front, side and rear of the bus. 15 of these buses were allocated to Ulu Pandan Bus Depot, while 4 units were allocated to Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot.
10 MAN A22 Euro 6 buses were leased to SBS Transit in December 2021 and were allocated to Ulu Pandan Bus Depot. These buses are relatively new, having formerly leased to Tower Transit for the start of its Tendered Package term for the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.
List of Single-Deck Buses to SBS Transit for Fleet Replacement (Q4 2021) (Click to expand)| Registration | Former Operator |
| MAN A22 Euro V (Batch 3) | |
| SG1703L – SG1705G, SG1709X – SG1711M, SG1713H – SG1716A, SG1722G, SG1723D, SG1738L & SG1743X – SG1746M | SMRT Buses |
| SG1747K & SG1748H | LTA Storage |
| MAN A22 Euro 6 |
|
| SG1839D, SG1847E, SG1859X, SG1860R, SG1862K – SG1867Y | LTA Storage |
| Mercedes-Benz Citaro |
|
| SG1030U – SG1050L, SG1103T, SG1104R, SG1113P, SG1143C, | SMRT Buses |
| SG1020Z – SG1022T, SG1028C, SG1029A, SG1117D – SG1119Z, SG1121R – SG1123K, SG1128Y – SG1130P, SG1134D – SG1137X, SG1142E, SG1196A, SG1198U –Â SG1201T, SG1209Y – SG1227U | LTA Storage |
there may be plans for bus service 123 to have the alexander dennis 3-door buses.
I am looking forward
Hope to see better buses on service 410G
Every trip is like Scanias
Sooooo boring
You say that then in the future, you will get bored with the new buses. Now spam with Scanias, in the future all electric.
and scanias are trash
soooooooo loud and uncomfortable
Loud? Agree but B9TL CDGES AND OC500LE also Loud. Uncomfortable, i think its ok unlike those Citaros which in term of comfort is way worst. Scania Aircon also not that bad
B9TL can do another 5 years.
I guess they bought too many MAN and hence has to justify it by retiring the B9TL.
B9TL CDGE is lifespan ends on 2023, the remaining twenty will stay till the end. For B9TL Wright, Batch 1 will likely retired between 2025-2027 since they arrived between 2010-2011. And to ur question, i guess they did adding to the new 3 Door MAN and Alexander Dennis Buses. Although there might be a reason why twenty CDGES are still in service.
But I Suspect that MAN A95 Euro 6 Batch 1 DD Buses Will Be Replacing the CDGE B9TL Buses In the Future
I think that K230UB Euro IV should make the cut, but CDGE does not make a lot of sense.
LTA should just have taken back SBS-spec buses from SMRT, TTS and GAS and redistribute the SG-reg MAN buses to them instead of giving so many MAN buses to SBST. Looks and feels unfair to the three of them.
LTA only took the SG PLATED B9TL WEG2 from TTS and GAS, these buses were covered from the new MAN A95 3 door as well as the ADL 3 Door buses. If you look at the point of view, theres no difference in taking the SG plated or Sbs plated citaros or B9TLs. As for the MAN buses, Majority of the MAN A95 Euro 5 and some MAN A95 Euro 6 Batch 2 came from SMRT and some MAN A95 E6 from TTS. The only one who really lost the most is SMRT, they also transfer alot of the SG Plated Citaros as well. I suspect SMRT would receive the most buses from the next batch of new buses in the future. As for MAN A95 E6 batch 2, Majority were newly registered to SBS so its not that bad. Btw LTA wanted a mix of different bus models on different routes operated by the companies. They dont want to give SBS all the B9TL WEG2 to replace CDGE. Dont worry, likely if SMRT/GAS/TTS Wins one of SBS package, they likely from transfer some of the MAN buses back
I agree, however a lot of units were spare after the 3-door buses come (the ADE500 3 Door, in fact). SMRT did not get a majority of buses in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Only around 17 to 18 buses were given to SMRT in fact, so SMRT loses the most. But I have to comtemplate, most of the buses were brought via LTA for SBW-YIS package, and Tower Transit did not take in the spare buses and leased 6231, 6232, 6247, and 20 ADE E500 3-Door, so I think TTS has a lesser impact overall.
Bus service 131
Man A22 euro 6 buses are gone since opening of borders
Not true the scania K230UB they just keep somewhere and now these models are back for bus service 131!!!
I wonder why they pull out MAN22 EURO 6 for bus service 131
PLS GIVE A GOOD REASON???
I think i know. You know how cross border services 160 & 170 only uses Citaros & MAN A22 buses. Well 170 got all Citaros while 160 got the Euro 5 & 6 MAN A22. These MAN A22 buses were transfer from other local bus routes like 5, 16 & 131. In exchange 131 receive the Euro V KUBS & some cross border 160 Euro IV Kubs that had yet to be retired. There are still some MAN A22 on 131 though
And most of it are deployed to Bedok North Depot for Tampines , Bedok bus services. West area limited MAN A95