no one know whether the rotting buses (B9/A95) are for who.
But from what i think, i think it is an issue of
insurance/parking spaces that why LTA have to register the
buses.
previously, SBST can park their unregistered buses inside their
own depots (there are space) and i think SBST did bought insurance
coverages for their depot premises (which will cover the
buses/assets) as well since the buses belong to SBST.
but now with the space running out at SBST depots, and with SBST
HGBA still producing buses at around 20-25 B9TL per month， these
buses have no space to go... so they have to park at either
Bulim/Loyang.. but guess TT is not willing to pay extra for their
depot insurance coverage to include these unregistered buses, thus
LTA have to register them and buy individual insurance coverage
instead... (Imagine, if the unregistered buses caught fires in
BUDEP, who will pay for the damage??)
SBST can actually slow down the production but guess they dun
care so much now, since the buses are under LTA, they just keep on
producing and hand it over to LTA and let LTA headache (previously
it is under SBST, they can decide on the production rate depending
on space/need etc)..
same go for the new SMRT A95/.. not much space as well at SMRT
depots, and these A95 are keep coming, thus, have to move to
Bulim....
Citaros are the same issue as well..
LTA have slow down on the BSEP program and they dun really need
so much new buses for TT/GA.. and thus those new buses are just
rotting until they get utilized..
anyway, this is just my thoughts... do not shoot me..
This argument does make sense. And since LTA is ahgong,
they can say that roadable lifespan start from the day the bus
start revenue service and not from the day they are registered and
insured, since they can change the law whatever way they want.
We will only know when it actually happens though.