Bus services to operate from new Loyang bus depot
1. As announced by the Minister for Transport during the 2015 Committee of Supply debate, the second bus package under the Government Contracting Model, consisting of bus services operated out of the new Loyang bus depot, will be tendered out in the second quarter of 2015.
Second bus package under the Government Contracting Model
2. The second package of public bus services serves primarily the Punggol and Pasir Ris areas, and will deploy out of Changi Airport Bus Terminal, Changi Village Bus Terminal, Pasir Ris Bus Interchange, and Punggol Bus Interchange. The package will consist of about 400 buses when implemented in the second half of 2016, and will grow to about 500 buses in 2021 in tandem with new developments and projected growth in ridership.
3. The bus package consists of 25 bus services, including 22 existing SBS Transit bus services and three new services which will be announced closer to the implementation date. The existing bus services to be included in the package are:
- Changi Airport Terminal: 36
- Changi Village Terminal: 2
- Pasir Ris Interchange: 6, 12, 15, 17, 354, 358, 359, 403, 518
- Punggol Interchange: 3, 34, 43, 62, 82, 83, 84, 85, 119, 136, 386
4. The package will be operated out of the new Loyang bus depot located off Loyang Avenue. The depot is scheduled to be completed in June this year and will be able to accommodate about 500 buses. It will be equipped with workshop facilities for the refuelling, maintenance and repair of buses.
Transition to the Government Contracting Model
5. The tender for the first Government contracted bus package in Bulim was closed in January and is expected to be awarded in the second quarter of this year. Details of the third bus package will be announced later this year.
Safeguarding the welfare of workers
6. Each new tender or change in contract for bus services may result in the movement of bus employees from one employer to another. To promote sound employment practices by public bus operators, the Public Transport Tripartite Committee1 chaired by Senior Minister of State for Transport Mrs Josephine Teo had issued a set of Guidelines on Good Employment Practices in the Public Bus Industry in September 2014. The Committee will continue to engage the various stakeholders to safeguard the welfare of bus sector employees during the transition.
Annex: Details of Second Bus Package
1 The Public Transport Tripartite Committee, chaired by Senior Minister of State for Transport Mrs Josephine Teo and comprising representatives from LTA, Ministry of Manpower, National Transport Workers’ Union, SBS Transit and SMRT, was established in February 2014 to provide a platform for engagement and consultation on policies that affect the public transport workforce.
