1.
Our public bus industry fully transitioned to the bus
contracting model (BCM) in September 2016.[1] Under
the BCM, LTA determines the bus services to be provided and sets
service standards. This enables the Government to introduce new bus
services, and reduce wait time and crowdedness. To support the
higher service standards, the Government will be subsidising close
to $4 billion over the next five years to enhance bus services as
we progressively build up our rail capacity.
2. Over the last twelve
months, two bus packages, i.e. Seletar and Bukit Merah, were put up
for open tender. SBS Transit was awarded the Seletar package in
April 2017 and will operate from the new Seletar bus depot by first
quarter of 2018. The Bukit Merah bus package is currently under
evaluation and expected to be implemented by end-2018.
Higher
Service Standards for Bus Commuters
3. To
shorten wait time for commuters, an additional 96 buses were
injected to improve 114 services. As a result, all bus services
around the island now have scheduled headways of no more than 15
minutes during the morning and evening peak periods. More than half
of the bus services have scheduled headways of 10 minutes or less.
Feeder services run at even shorter intervals, between six to eight
minutes. This has led to less crowding on about three quarters of
bus services during peak periods.[2]
4.
Bus arrivals have become more regular with the introduction
of the Bus Service Reliability Framework (BSRF) as part of BCM. For
the 292 high frequency bus services that are assessed on Excess
Wait Time, the average additional wait time has been reduced by
around 25% since transition to BCM. Of the 73 low frequency bus
services assessed on On Time Adherence, 49 have shown improvement
in their punctuality. As all bus services are now required to meet
BSRF standards, commuters can expect further improvement to bus
service reliability.
5.
Connectivity has also been enhanced, as 10 new services have
been added to the bus network since September 2016, with four more
to be introduced by the end of the year. Together, these 14 new bus
services will enhance connectivity in areas including Ang Mo Kio,
Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Hougang, Punggol,
Sembawang, Sengkang, Tampines, Toa Payoh, Tuas, Whampoa and
Yishun.[3]
More
Attractive Careers for Bus Workforce
6.
Our bus workforce has benefitted from BCM due to increased
competition from more industry players. All public bus operators
have improved working conditions and employment terms in order to
attract and retain bus captains. Since the implementation of the
first bus package last May, more than 1,000 bus captains have
joined the industry, of whom 80% are locals.[4]
7.
Our bus workforce is key to the delivery of quality services
under BCM. As such, we launched the Singapore Bus Academy in
October 2016 to continually upgrade and professionalise our bus
workforce. To date, more than 1,200 trainees from 42 intakes have
completed the Enhanced Vocational Licence Training Programme.
Moving forward, courses will also be developed for other bus
professionals, including service controllers and bus technicians.
Besides serving as a training centre, the Singapore Bus Academy
will also serve as a career resource centre for those who are keen
to embark on a career in the public bus industry.
[1] This
includes the two bus packages awarded to Tower Transit and Go-Ahead
through open tenders, and the twelve packages that are operated by
the incumbent operators, SBS Transit and SMRT Buses.
[2] Measured
as the proportion of bus services that have seen an improvement in
average loading during peak periods between September 2016 and July
2017, compared with the same period a year ago.
[3] Services
127, 129, 247, 248, 329, 374, 381, 883, 944 and 973 have already
been introduced. More details on the other four new services will
be announced later this year.
[4] Locals
include both Singaporeans and permanent
residents.
goo.gl/3vbJFK
247 and 248 introduced but 256 got axed.