SBS Transit to operate 18 Bukit Merah bus services

It plans to place a driving behaviour monitor on about 330 buses in the package.

SBS Transit won the tender to operate the Bukit Merah Bus Package, which is the fourth set of public bus services that have been put up for tender under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM). According to a press release, the award of the five-year contract, which can be extended by another two years, is the second bus tender award for SBS Transit under the new model.

The new contract, which comprises 18 bus services, including two cross-border services to Johor Bahru, will start from Q4 2018. The services will originate from two bus interchanges - Bukit Merah and HarbourFront – and four bus terminals – Kampong Bahru, Marina Centre, Queen Street and Shenton Way. They will be supported by the new Ulu Pandan Bus Depot. Currently, SBS Transit operates all the 18 existing bus services under the Package.

Moreover, SBS Transit said it will introduce a telematics system, known as SAGE, on about 330 buses under the Bukit Merah Bus Package. “This will monitor the smoothness and comfort of our bus rides. The system records and monitors the Bus Captain's (BC’s) driving behaviour including whether he or she has been travelling too fast or accelerating too harshly. Feedback is then given in real time to the BC through audio and visual alerts. Besides SAGE, the buses will also be equipped with Mobileye, which is an Advanced Driver Assistance System, to act as an added safeguard to alert BCs of an impending collision with vehicles or pedestrians in front of them – enabling them to take defensive action immediately.” 

Public transport deals have helped lift SBS Transit's revenue, especially in 2017, when it rose 9.8% to $1.14b. This was mainly due to a full year contribution of revenue under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) and higher ridership from rail services with the commencement of Downtown Line (DTL) 3 on 21 October 2017.