On 14 March 2024, 10 Scania K230UB buses from SBS Transit were transferred to SMRT Buses. Spotted at Woodlands Bus Park, these buses have the SMRT Buses logo affixed on all corners of the bus, while retaining the original white-orange-purple SBS Transit livery.
An unusual sight to behold, mixed livery buses (“rojak buses”) are not a new phenomenon in Singapore’s bus fleets. However, these Scania K230UB buses, originally purchased by SBS Transit, are being operated outside of SBS Transit for the first time.
SMRT Buses will be taking over the Jurong West Bus Package in September 2024, which is formerly operated by SBS Transit. Leading up to the takeover, these buses have been transferred to facilitate training and familiarisation of Bus Captains and Technicians.
The buses transferred are:
- Scania K230UB (Euro IV):
SBS8198L, SBS8331T, SBS8367R, SBS8457P & SBS8460D - Scania K230UB (Euro V):
SBS8625X, SBS8628M, SBS8699H, SBS8902X & SBS8930P
the replacements for these buses at Soon Lee Bus Depot were MAN A22 buses drawn out from the LTA Storage bus fleet in January 2024, namely: SG1737P, SG1767C, SG1796T, SG1824X – SG1830C
Gallery
with SMRT Buses Logo
with SBS Transit
Actually, it does not make economic sense to transfer to SMRT, considering the useful life only left about 1 year plus like that.
Could have just transfer to another SBS Transit bus package, on one for one exchange, then later on just one for one replacement only when the useful life is up.
I suspect, it is more than the bus driver and the technician. Especially since most if not all of the existing staff at the Jurong West bus package will just simply transfer over to SMRT.
It is probably for analytical reasons, to test mileage before fault occurrence, etc, cuz SMRT never operated this bus model before, and they want to do predictive analysis, etc.
Most probably my speculation is correct.
Now… I cannot take SBS8311T
Return of Hanover SMRT EDS after TIB1034D and Return of Coolair SMRT EDS after one of the O405s
They have so much storage buses to use
Actually, they might as well paint them into lush green livery, since won’t return to revenue service until September 2024. Got time to do repainting.
There’s no point repainting the Euro IV KUBs, most of these buses retiring by the end of next year anyway.
Rather than painting buses that will retired end of next year might as well paint those rojak Citaro,A22,A24 & A95 that TTS,SBST leased.
I do not agree, the Scania KUB buses are not painted to lush Green as Scania KUBs are not Friendly for environment due to Noise pollution.