LTA to add another 200 bus services by end-2014

Two years earlier than original plan.

According to a joint press release by the LTA, SBST, and SMRT, about 248 new buses under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), nearly half of the 550 buses committed, have been added on the road in the first year of the programme, launched in September 2012.

The bulk of the remaining BSEP buses will be rolled out by the end of 2014, instead of 2016. Indeed, by end 2014, another 200 buses will have been added to further improve existing services and for new services.

Mr Yeo Teck Guan, the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) Group Director for Public Transport, said, “We have been monitoring the performance of the BSEP services closely.

Commuters are already experiencing tangible and perceptible improvements in bus services and feedback has been positive. Some have cited shorter waiting times while others have experienced less crowded buses.

This is a good thing. We are aware that there are still areas in our bus services that need improvement, we hope to further enhance connectivity and raise service levels as we roll out more BSEP buses in the upcoming quarters.”

SBS Transit CEO, Mr Gan Juay Kiat said, "Since September last year, we have introduced seven new bus services, extended one bus route and made improvements on 77 bus services. We have stepped up delivery of new buses and recruited more Bus Captains.

We are heartened by the positive feedback from our commuters. We will continue to work at improving our services to better meet their needs."

Vice President of SMRT Buses Ltd, Mr Tan Kian Heong said, “Under the BSEP, SMRT has in the past year injected more than 75 new buses to expand our bus service network, reduce crowdedness and improve the frequencies of our bus services.

These results are an encouraging testament to successful government and industry partnership. We look forward to rolling out more services in the years to come, to connect residents to key transport nodes and other destinations in the city areas.”