The Jurong West Bus Package will be progressively taken over by SMRT Buses in September 2024.
The transfer of bus services will take place across two tranches as detailed below. This gradual transition process allowed the incoming operator to build up its operational competency in stages while minimising any potential effects on commuters.
| Former Term (PT212) | Upcoming Term (PT218B) | |
| Bus Operator | SBS Transit Ltd | SMRT Buses |
| Contract Term | Negotiated Contract: 01 Sep 2016 – 15 Sep 2024 |
Tendered Package 1st Term: 01 Sep 2024 – 2029 |
| Bus Services | 179/179A, 181/181M, 182/182M, 185, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 247, 248/248M, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 405, 502/502A & 974 (26 bus routes) |
|
| Bus Depot | Soon Lee Bus Depot | |
| Bus Interchanges | Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas Bus Terminal | |
Under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), bus routes are bundled into bus packages, consisting of a single bus depot, several bus interchanges/terminals, the bus routes and the buses themselves. With all bus infrastructure belonging to the Government, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would contract out the bus package, select a bus operator (through a competitive tendering process), and lease these assets to the new operator.
The successful tenderer operates these bus routes and collects fares on behalf of LTA, while maintaining the associated bus infrastructure (buses & onboard equipment, depots, interchanges & terminals). In return, the operator is awarded an operating fee from LTA, and potential bonuses via an incentive framework.
The Jurong West Bus Package is one of fourteen bus packages under the BCM, and the sixth package to be tendered out.
Bus services in the Jurong West Bus Package mainly originate from Boon Lay & Joo Koon Bus Interchanges, as well as Tuas Bus Terminal.
As the awarded operator, SMRT Buses will take over the 26 existing bus services operated by SBS Transit in two tranches on 1 September 2024 & 15 September 2024.
Bus operations for the Tendered Package would be based out of the existing Soon Lee Bus Depot, which was sold by former operator SBS Transit to the Land Transport Authority in September 2024.
Special Wrap
A special advertisement wrap was done up on several Volvo B9TL Wright buses for the takeover event.
Transitioning Dates
Similar to previous bus packages, bus services under the Jurong West Bus Package will be transferred to SMRT Buses in stages, starting from Sunday, 1 September 2024.
| Tranche | Implementation Date | Bus Services | No of Routes |
| 1 | 1 Sep 2024 | 179/179A, 181/181M, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 249, 251, 252 & 405 | 15 |
| 2 | 15 Sep 2024 | 182/182M, 185, 247, 248/248M, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 502/502A & 974 | 11 |
| Total: 26 | |||
Operator Logo
In late August 2024, the operator logo on buses (SBS Transit) to be handed over to SMRT Buses were removed progressively.
Training Fleet
To facilitate the training of SMRT Buses staff to the Scania K230UB buses for the Jurong West Bus Package, 10 buses from SBS Transit were transferred to SMRT Buses in March 2024.
Main Article: Transfer of Scania K230UB Buses to SMRT Buses
Bus Fleet
SMRT Buses operates the following bus models from Soon Lee Bus Depot as part of the Jurong West Bus Package:
Single Deck Buses
Double-Deck Buses
Back to Jurong West Bus Package
I hope SMRT will print service guides.
The other day, I take 258 pass by Soon Lee Bus Depot, the depot still got the SBST “livery”. Needless to say, most probably will have repair and redecorations at Soon Lee Depot to make it good as new, or refurbished condition. After all, the depot will still be in used for around five more years. Five years of usage, can justify a new layer of paint at Soon Lee Bus Depot.
Will be like Bukit Batok Bus Interchange that time in 2006, after Tower Transit took over.
One way or another, it’s going to be a refreshed experience.
LTA should instruct SMRT to return all the KUBs and B9TL to SBST while leasing all the remaining A22s from storage and in exchange for some A22s and A95s from SBST. They should also withdraw some buses (maybe some E500s) from KJDEP, since KJDEP is overcrowded with spare SDs and DDs.
The MAN buses are SMRT’s flagship models after all.
So,For the the time being SBST also operates the remaining 11 svc in the same depot.
Based on my observations, my instinct tells me that,
1. Bus models that used to be exclusively on SMRT buses may come into the Jurong West Package. Eg: ADL E500 original.
2. SMRT may potentially change out the SBS plated buses with SG plated and SMB plated buses. Although in the beginning, will have to adopt SBS plated buses to be in the Jurong West Package.
3. Route rationalization may happen in Jurong West package. This may explain why SMRT base bid is more than $10,000 lower than the next lowest base bid (which is by SBST). Because observably, SBST has been running excess capacity on Jurong West bus package routes, especially the Jurong Industrial services.
4. SMRT winning Jurong West bus package should not be linked to Jurong Region Line. It should be based entirely on merit. It does not mean SBST going to win Jurong Region Line. LTA already made clear they looking for foreign minority participation. If SMRT managed to bring Taipei Metro in to submit a bid to operate Jurong Region Line, it may turn out to be a higher quality proposal than SBST sold bid for the line (which could be just: because SBS currently only two lines). (Speaking of which, SBST got actively try to nego with Hong Kong MTR, Paris Metro, Sydney Metro, whatever?) Everyone’s expecting that SBST will get Jurong Region Line, in exchange for Jurong West package. But it may turn out otherwise.
Of course, the bus interchanges will be retrofitted with SMRT’s wecare features, bus captain motivation wall, mobile phone charging points, etc.
SBST is like only providing the basics. SMRT seems to be focusing on value added service.
Congratulations to SMRT on winning the Jurong West package, and looking forward to the commencement on 1st September. And honestly, if SMRT’s really that good, they deserve to win Jurong Region Line, and should not lose the bid just because “it has to go to SBST”.
Point 2.
Not possible. (1) Not enough SG plated buses left in storage (2) TTS and GAS who had been running bulim and loyang for years, still had SBS plated buses.
More than likely, SMRT will return SG plated buses to Storage, just as they did in the past.
Seriously I don’t think SMRT has the authority to change the SBS plate buses to SG or SMB.Just look at Seletar for instance,Why SBST still operates SMB plate A22/A24?If follow your logic GA/TTS also would be glad to convert from SBS/SMB to SG.
Anyway. Volvo B9TL also reaching lifespan, with the expiry at around 2027, 2028, 2029.
Along with Soon Lee Depot, this tender essentially just helping to use finish the remainder of the useful life only.
It is the next tender after that, that will be all new. Considering SBS can get second tender for Seletar, I am sure SMRT will also get second tender for Jurong West when the time comes.
I feel Keolis-Downer should be allowed to submit a sole bid for JRL and CRL without local involvement. It’s fairer that way.
Yes i concur that,JRL & CRL should be operated by TTS & GAS respectively.