SMRT Task Force 50

Task Force 50 (TF50) formerly referred to a team of standby buses and Bus Captains who operated Rail Bridging Bus services in the event of a train service disruption.

Initiated by the Land Transport Authority in January 2018, the first team of 50 bus drivers was gathered from Private Bus Operators Woodlands Transport Service Pte. Ltd. and Aedge Holdings Pte. Ltd. under a contractual agreement. Operating in two shifts, SMRT maintains a constant standby force of around 25 bus drivers at any time during rail operating hours.

It is understood that there were plans by SMRT Buses to double the Task Force driver pool in mid-2018 to enable a standby force of 50 bus drivers at any time during rail operating hours, by supplementing the Task Force with its own bus drivers. These bus drivers form an immediate response force in the event that free shuttle bus services are required during a train disruption. However, this did not take place.

On 2 April 2019, the Land Transport Authority awarded a Limited Tender (PT361 – Provision of Contingency Buses) to SMRT Buses Ltd for $40,862,335.00. It is believed that this is for the continuation of the provision of TF50 Services by SMRT Buses to LTA, but the duration of the contract is not known.

Task Force 50 ceased sometime in July 2020, standby buses parked at various sites such as Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park and Lorong 1 Geylang Terminal no longer seen. The dedicated fleet of TF50 buses was also returned to the LTA Storage Fleet, or redeployed back to revenue service.

Training & Activation

TF50 Bus Captains were familiarized with operating various common models of buses in SMRT’s bus fleet, such as the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. This, combined with training on the use of the New On-Board Bus Equipment (NOBE) as well as the Common Fleet Management System (CFMS), allowed Bus Captains from Private Bus Operators to attain the Omnibus Driver’s Vocational Licence (ODVL) from the Singapore Bus Academy, a prerequisite to operating any Public Bus.

Drivers were also trained on the full bridging bus routes for various rail lines in preparation for any possible activation:

A dedicated fleet of TF50 buses is reserved for potential activation during a rail delay or disruption. During activation, TF50 drivers would be assigned to these buses and deployed on Free Bridging Bus Services, in addition to other regular buses pulled from revenue service.

Apart from ad-hoc disruptions, TF50 resources also assist with Early Closure & Late Opening (ECLO) shuttle bus services.

Free Bridging Bus Services during Train Service Disruption

Between September 2018 and December 2019, TF50 resources were activated on at least 14 occasions to provide Free Bridging Bus Services.

These ad-hoc bridging buses are activated only during train service delays or disruptions.

Gallery (Bridging Buses)

MRT Shuttle during Early Closure & Late Opening (ECLO)

TF50 resources were also deployed on Early Closure & Late Opening (ECLO) shuttle bus services between March 2018 and April 2020, augmenting resources contributed by other public transport operators.

Gallery (Early Closure / Late Opening Shuttles)

TF50 Bus Fleet

The dedicated fleet of TF50 buses comprises Mercedes-Benz Citaro and MAN A22 single deck buses, as well as Volvo B9TL and MAN A95 double-deck buses. These buses are leased to SMRT Buses as part of TF50 operations and bear a piece of paper bearing “TF ##” on the front windscreen (where ## are numbers between 01 and 50). After October 2018, the “TF” on the front paper was dropped, leaving with only 2 digit numbers.

These buses are mainly based at Seletar Bus Depot, with smaller numbers of buses parked at Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park, Woodlands Bus Park, Ulu Pandan Bus Depot and Lorong 1 Geylang Terminal. Refuelling and other administrative matters under the purview of SMRT Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot.

End of Service

In July 2020, operations were believed to have ceased, with standby buses parked at various sites such as Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park and Lorong 1 Geylang Terminal no longer seen.

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