The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called a tender for the 2nd Tendered Package Term for the Seletar Bus Package on 30 October 2023, under Contract PT219: Bus Contracting – Seletar Bus Package.
Under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), bus routes were bundled into bus packages, consisting of a single bus depot, several bus interchanges, the bus routes and the buses themselves. With all bus infrastructure belonging to the Government, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would select a bus operator to run the bus package (through a competitive tendering process), and lease these assets to the new operator.
As part of the gradual transition which commenced in September 2016, all existing bus services in Singapore (previously operated by a long-standing duopoly between SBS Transit and SMRT Buses) were divided into 14 route packages. These existing routes remain operated by their incumbent operators under a negotiated contract model until their respective Bus Package has been tendered out.
Seletar Bus Package was awarded to SBS Transit in April 2017 as part of an open tender. SBS Transit was previously also the incumbent operator for 14 of the 26 bus services then under a negotiated contract since the start of the BCM in September 2016.
The first tendered package term began on 11 March 2018, with the handover of the remaining bus services operated by SMRT Buses under the previous negotiated contract completed by 25 March 2018.
In May 2022, SBS Transit announced within its 1st Quarter 2022 Business Update report that it had accepted LTA’s offer for a two-year extension for the Seletar Bus Package commencing on 11 March 2023.
As such, the new tendered package contract is expected to commence in March 2025.
Bus Services
Existing bus services covered by the Seletar Bus Package as of December 2023 are:
Services 24, 70/70M, 71, 76, 130, 133, 135, 138, 162, 261, 262, 265, 268, 269, 652, 668, 800, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 811, 812, 850E, 851, 851e, 852 & 860 (29 bus routes).
Bus Service 162M was withdrawn in December 2023 as part of the Thomson-East Coast Line 3 Bus Service Rationalisation with the amendment & shortening of Service 162 to loop at Sin Ming Drive. As such, Service 162M will not be part of the new package term come March 2025.
Tender Details
The tender closed on 4 March 2024, after an extension of a few days from the initial planned tender closing date on 29 Feb 2024.
Bidding Procedure
According to tender details as published on government procurement portal GeBIZ, bids were submitted by 5 hopeful operators. namely:
| S/No | Country | Tenderer |
| 1. | Hong Kong, China | Bravo Transport Holdings Limited |
| 2. | Spain | Nex Continental Holdings, S.L. |
| 3. | Local | SBS Transit Ltd |
| 4. | Local | SMRT Buses Ltd |
| 5. | Local | Tower Transit Singapore Pte. Ltd. |
Tender Award
Main Article: SBS Transit retains Seletar Bus Package for a Second Tendered Term
On 19 July 2024, LTA awarded the contract to SBS Transit Ltd.
Reference
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I hope SMRT wins this or at least TTS
I hope anyone except SBST wins this. If LTA is serious about “breaking apart monopoly in the bus industry”, then it only makes sense to award it to any of the three smaller companies.
If TTSG wins, it will be good since the whole of Yishun will now be back to just one operator operating all routes instead of the mess now, though this will mean that Yishun routes will be under different depots.
Second best is if GASG wins. This will give it a chance to also operate bendy buses as part of its portfolio and implement the innovations it did for Loyang.
Aimai? Musical chair.
Historically, this bus package north was SMRT bus routes, south was SBST bus routes.
SBST operate one term already. Next term can let SMRT operate. Then after that let GA or TT operate, depending on the situation at that time.
Like do for show only.
Okay la. Actually, if there ain’t much problem, the incumbent operator should just stay on.
You know change operator need how much capital?
Just like petrol station like that. Usually the same operator forever. The only exception is when the operator ownself don’t want, then purposely bid out of the norm (in the case of BCM, purposely bid too high) to lose the contract to other operators.
So, after much elaboration, I am quite certain that the incumbent BCM operators will hold onto their contracts.
In this case, the Seletar bus package will probably continue with SBST.
“If there ain’t a problem, don’t need to fix it.”
Got much better things to do mann. This ain’t horse betting.
Bus services 162 and 162M might be withdrawn and removed from Selatar Bus Package.
Yes, that’s quite likely the case. I discussed this in one of my videos https://youtu.be/T4UjZz95YpA?si=Tsqmmp9SUxjfvONn
If 169, 801 and 825 from Sembawang package can be swapped for 851 and 852 it would make lots of sense. That way, all production batch BYD buses, including the C6 minis can be garaged at SEDEP.
I hope SBST wins it back and if really another company plz let it be tower transit. I honestly find this two company the best so far.
SBST should win the package again and I can say this because I have taken half the bus services under the package and had never fail to disappoint me