1. As of 31 December 2015, about 760 Government-funded buses have been added to the public bus network as part of the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP). This has provided better connectivity, reduced crowding and shortened waiting times for commuters. Commuters can expect a total of 1,000 buses to be added by 2017.
Nine new/extended bus services in 4Q2015 to enhance connectivity
2. Between October and December 2015, seven new bus services were introduced, i.e. SBS Transit Services 47, 117, 118 and 258, SMRT Service 979 and City Direct Services (CDS) 664 and 665. Two existing bus services – SBS Transit Service 49 and SMRT Service 983 – were also extended. A total of 61 new buses were deployed for these routes. These new and extended bus services have improved connectivity for residents of Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East, Jurong West, Marine Parade, Punggol, Sembawang, Tampines and Yishun. They bring the total number of new or extended services under BSEP to 54.
3. Commuters can look forward to more new routes in Eunos, Marine Parade and Yishun by March 2016. One new route, SBS Transit Service 382, which serves the new housing developments in Punggol West, as well as key amenities such as the new Punggol SAFRA Clubhouse, has started operations on 3 January 2016. More new routes will be announced later.
80 weekly trips added to reduce crowding and shorten wait times
4. To reduce crowding and shorten waiting times, seven additional buses were deployed to improve five[1] bus services during morning and evening peak hours in the fourth quarter of 2015. In all, 80 weekly peak-hour bus trips were added in this period.
Improvements by Public Transport Operators
5. Separately, as part of the on-going quarterly bus service review process, SBS Transit and SMRT have also improved 13[2] bus services by deploying higher capacity buses and/or adding more bus trips along sectors that experience heavy ridership. In total, the operators have added 90 weekly trips during peak hours for these services in the fourth quarter of 2015. This is in addition to the 80 additional weekly peak-hour bus trips added by the Government under the BSEP during the same period.
Higher service levels with more BSEP buses
6. The BSEP was started in September 2012. Together with the buses injected by the public transport operators (PTOs) and the use of private bus operators to provide additional capacity through the City Direct Services and the Peak Period Short Services, the BSEP will expand the public bus fleet by about 35%.
7. Commuters can expect better service levels and connectivity over time. By 2017, buses will be added to about 8 out of 10 feeder bus services. Connectivity will also be further improved with the introduction of 80 new routes.
8. With the additional capacity provided by BSEP buses, PTOs will be required to deliver higher service standards. Currently, 95% of feeder services are required to operate at 10-minute or shorter intervals during the morning and evening peak periods. This will be further tightened to 100% of feeder services operating at 8-minute or shorter intervals by 2017 when the BSEP is fully implemented.
Annex A: Examples of BSEP improvements (Oct - Dec 2015)
Annex B: Enhancements to existing bus services (Oct - Dec 2015)
Annex C: Map of BSEP improvements
[1] Services that have been improved under the BSEP in 4Q2015: SBS Transit Services 72, 98, and SMRT Services 172, 857, 972
[2] These 13 services are: SBS Transit Services 170A, 138 and SMRT Services 171, 187, 856, 858, 860, 882, 901, 927, 963, 966, 981
