Bus service plan between Jurong West, Central Business District unveiled

It will kick into gear by 3Q13.

According to an LTA release, commuters travelling between Jurong West and the Central Business District (CBD) during peak periods will now be served by a new City Direct bus service to be rolled-out under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) in the third quarter of 2013.

City Direct will provide a direct alternative for Jurong West train commuters travelling to the CBD. With limited stops and the use of the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), the journey time by City Direct is expected to be comparable to taking a feeder service and transferring to a train into the city.

The new service will operate on weekday mornings (excluding public holidays) during peak hours from Jurong West to the city. In the evening peak hours, the service will operate the return trip from the city to Jurong West. Details of the new route are being worked out and expected to be finalised in December 2012.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will call a tender in December, when the route is finalised, to invite private bus operators to submit their cost proposals to operate the new bus service. The tendering process will allow the most cost efficient operator to win the rights to operate the service.

The move is in line with the Government’s announcement at the Committee of Supply 2012 to explore the feasibility of engaging private bus operators to run selected aspects of the BSEP on a limited scale during peak hours to complement BSEP capacity improvements to existing bus services.

To support the roll-out of City Direct, LTA is calling a tender today, 21 November, for the provision of a private bus operator payment system to support fare collection for the new service.