Retired SBS Transit Scania K230UB buses were spotted within the premises of a warehouse building at Keppel in July 2022.
These buses are destined for The Bus Resort, an upcoming development located at Changi Village which broke-ground on 28 Aug 2022 and is scheduled to open in April 2023.
Background:
In January 2022, 97 Scania K230UB buses were retired early as part 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.
These buses were then laid up at bus depots (predominately from Ulu Pandan Bus Depot) from January 2022 and progressively scrapped. De-registration of these buses officially started in May 2022.
Retired Buses at Keppel:
These retired Scania K230UB buses were stripped of SBS Transit logos and revenue service equipment. They carry a notice implying that these buses are among 20 units reserved for RVS Global.
Although removed from revenue service and are currently under non-user lay-up status, the 3 buses spotted at Keppel (SBS8130G, SBS8050D & SBS8408G) have yet to be de-registered.
Subsequently, 8 more buses (SBS8045U, SBS8046S, SBS8121H, SBS8443D, SBS8062U, SBS8510T, SBS8210J & SBS8115B) were moved there.
As of 19 July 2022, the remaining laid-up Scania K230UB buses that were retired in January 2022 but are still registered are:
- SBS8045U, SBS8046S, SBS8049J, SBS8050D, SBS8054T, SBS8059E, SBS8060A, SBS8062U, SBS8066J, SBS8076E, SBS8115B, SBS8121H, SBS8130G, SBS8210J, SBS8257A, SBS8320A, SBS8408G, SBS8438U, SBS8443D & SBS8510T
(20 units)
All buses were officially de-registered on 19 October 2023.
RVS Global:
The RVS Global on the notice posted on the windscreen of these buses refers to RVS Allied Global Pte Ltd, a motor dealer in Singapore.
Sometime after the initial buses were shifted into the Keppel compound, additional signs were put up by RVS Allied Global advising against entering the buses.
The parked buses could be awaiting overseas export by sea. Previously, several retired SBS Transit Mercedes-Benz O405 buses were shipped to Bangkok for operations there.
On 28 August 2022, it was announced that 20 retired public buses would be used as accommodation rooms in The Bus Resort, located at Changi Village.
Modified Units / The Bus Resort:
In mid-August 2022, SBS8054T was towed into the compound. The bus was resprayed to a white livery with all interior fittings (seats, grabpoles, panels, etc.) removed.
Additional space was created in the cabin through the removal of most mechanical components such as: engine bay, air-conditioning unit & ducting, as well as the exit & entrance door.
A 2-step staircase was installed at the position of the original fuel tank, separating the lower half and upper half of the bus.
Gallery
See Also:
Reference:
Saw some of the KUB had green and white livery at Liannex… I wonder aft that it will be shipped elsewhere.
No. It will become one of the rooms at the new Bus Resort.
Location: The nearest Bus Stop is Keppel Workshop.
Once you reach the bus stop, walk further up and you will see the Scania buses
Okah!!!