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Bus Service 162M was withdrawn in December 2023 as part of the Thomson-East Coast Line 3 Bus Service Rationalisation with the amendment & shortening of Service 162 to loop at Sin Ming Drive.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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Seletar package should serve bidader interchange , under sbstransit will be able to provide more service regarding the area should serve Service 44, 108, 146, 148 406,and 407 for the area 406,and 407 serve like feeder service from bidader to aljunied area and provides residents from the area to bidader interchange
I suggest if all Yishun Feeders and services 850E, 851, 852 Transfer to Sembawang Yishun Package under tower Transit so Yishun can have more anchor operator services
And YCK AND AMK Services still stay in seletar also 860 should stay in Seletar since it loops at Yishun from YCK
Services 13, 25, 72, 73, 136, 169, 825 should be under Seletar Bus Package
Suggestions on New Services under Seletar Bus Package:
SBST 861: From Ang Mo Kio to Boon Lay, Via Marymount Road, Thomson Road, Whitley Road(PIE), Farrer Road, North Buona Vista Road, Commonwealth Avenue West, Jurong Gateway Road & Boon Lay Way
SBST 862 Ang Mo Kio Depot to Bukit Batok Depot (Clementi Bus Package)
Via Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, Sing Ming Avenue, Upper Thomson, Lornie Highway, PIE, Bukit Batok Street 23
If SBS Transit wins Seletar, Ang Mo Kio Depot might be abolished and some AMDEP Services can garage at SEDEP if SBS Transit wins Seletar only.
Frankly i prefer Go-Ahead bag Seletar and Tower takes Sengkang.Service 851,851e & 852 can exchange with service 853/M,854 & 854e with Tower’s Sembawang-Yishun package.No need for dual control.
For Sengkang,Tower can deploy dual
Control for service 51(Sengkang West/Bulim)…151(Sengkang West/Bulim) but 151 Bulim side need to refuel and overnight parking @ Jurong East Int.
Let’s hope 136, 169, 801 and 825 joins the package while 850E, 851 and 852 goes to sembawang-Yishun
136 should be straight swapped with 117 ideally.
136 should be in Sengkang-Hougang or Seletar…117 should be in Sembawang-Yishun.
169 fine as it is…Serve Senoko quite near to Mandai Depot also.136,801,825 to Seletar,853/M & 854,854e to Seletar with 850E,851,851e & 852 to Sembawang-Yishun.