© SentosaSG
Trains running along the Sentosa Gateway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH4fvZYXQlI
Delivery and assembly of trains
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TdANr67oU&feature=related
News report
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1022212/1/.html
Shuttle service to Sentosa in the works
By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY | Posted: 03 December 2009 0858 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
One of the two new Sentosa Express trains, which begin plying
in December 2009
SINGAPORE: Visitors to Sentosa island could soon hop onto
coaches from Changi Airport, Orchard Road and Marina areas, to
various drop-off points on the island.
The Sentosa Development Corporation has called for a tender for
"experienced and established coach operators" to operate a shuttle
service network from March 1, as new attractions and Resorts World
Sentosa come on board next year.
Sentosa welcomed 6.1 million visitors last year, but this is
expected to grow to around 10 million when Singapore's second
integrated resort opens in the first quarter of next
year.
The proposed shuttle service is aimed at providing convenience for
tourists and includes the development of tours and packages for
overseas guests to experience the resort network, said Sentosa
Leisure Group commercial director Susan Ang.
But tender documents show plans to run ad-hoc services from "key
heartland hubs" to Sentosa, which will be activated on peak periods
and events such as school holidays, public holidays and long
weekends.
Operators will propose the bus frequencies, operating hours and
ticket prices for the routes. Sentosa is targeting an annual
ridership of 300,000 in the shuttle service's first year of
operation, with a 15 per cent annual increase planned for the
second year.
Although mainly targeted at overseas visitors, regulars to the
island welcomed more public transport options to get on the island.
Visitors travelling via public transport to the island now have to
alight at HabourFront and catch either the Sentosa Express or the
Sentosa Bus.
Sales manager Leonard Ho, who remembered being caught in traffic
jams entering the island during peak festive periods, said: "It
will be a big turn-off if the island becomes a car park. I will
gladly leave my car at home if more bus services can promise me a
smoother ride in."
Besides the proposed Shuttle Network, Sentosa has also embarked on
a S$300-million Transport Management Plan to improve mobility and
connectivity for guests in and around the island. Measures include
boosting the monorail and bus fleets, building a new $70 million
boardwalk by next year, and improving roads.
Slated to open by November next year, the 620-metre long Sentosa
Boardwalk - designed to carry 8,000 guests per hour, in each
direction - will allow visitors to walk onto the
island.
On Tuesday, two new trains were added to
the Sentosa Express fleet, raising its total carrying capacity to
4,000 guests per hour, in each direction.
Island entry has also been made easier - guests can now tap
their way into Sentosa with their ez-link cards when they connect
to the monorail at VivoCity, and skip the step of buying separate
admission tickets.
