In September 2021, the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package will be progressively taken over by Tower Transit.
| Current Term (PT213) | Upcoming Term (PT217) | |
| Bus Operator | SMRT Buses | Tower Transit Singapore |
| Contract Term | Negotiated Contract: 01 Sep 2016 – 04 Sep 2021 (extended by 1 year from 2020) |
Tendered Package 1st Term: 05 Sep 2021 – 2026 |
| Bus Services | 167, 167e, 169, 171, 656, 663, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859/859A/859B, 882, 883/883M, 963, 963e, 963R, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981, NR1 & NR2 (26 bus routes)
Note: All services (except 663) operated by SMRT Buses. Express 167e was withdrawn in December 2020. |
167, 167e, 169, 171, 656, 663, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859/859A/859B, 882, 883/883M, 963, 963e, 963R, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981, N1 & N2 (26 bus routes)
Note: Express 167e was withdrawn in December 2020 |
| Bus Depot | Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot | Mandai Bus Depot |
| Bus Interchanges | Sembawang Bus Interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange, Lorong 1 Geylang Bus Terminal | |
Under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), bus routes are bundled into bus packages, consisting of a single bus depot, several bus interchanges/terminals, the bus routes and the buses themselves. With all bus infrastructure belonging to the Government, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would contract out the bus package, select a bus operator (through a competitive tendering process), and lease these assets to the new operator.
The successful tenderer operates these bus routes and collects fares on behalf of LTA, while maintaining the associated bus infrastructure (buses & onboard equipment, depots, interchanges & terminals). In return, the operator is awarded an operating fee from LTA, and potential bonuses via an incentive framework.
The Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package is one of fourteen bus packages under the BCM, and the fifth package to be tendered out, following the Bulim, Loyang, Seletar and Bukit Merah bus packages.
The Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package package comprises bus services mainly originating from Sembawang Bus Interchange, Yishun Bus Interchange, and Woodlands Bus Interchange, with a handful originating at Yio Chu Kang, Resorts World Sentosa, and Marina Centre.
Bus operations for the Tendered Package would be based out of the new Mandai Bus Depot, located off Mandai Road and integrated with Mandai Train Depot.
Having secured the tender, Tower Transit will take over 25 existing bus services operated by SMRT Buses progressively from 5 September 2021.
Ramping Up
Redeployment of Buses
In March 2021, MAN A22 (Euro 6) & MAN A95 (Euro 6) buses were drawn from the LTA storage bus fleet and leased to Tower Transit in preparation for the commencement of operations in September 2021.
On 19 March 2021, a Mercedes-Benz OC500LE, Volvo B5LH and MAN A24 (1 unit each) were transferred from SMRT Buses to Tower Transit to facilitate training and familiarisation of Bus Captains and Technicians leading up to the takeover.
More buses are expected to be transferred to Tower Transit for training purposes in the near future.
| Bus Registration | Bus Model | Transferred From |
| – March 2021 Transfers – |
||
| SG6105E | MAN A95 (Euro 6) | LTA Storage (Mar 2020 – Mar 2021) |
| SG1821D – SG1833U | MAN A22 (Euro 6) | LTA Storage (Dec 2018 – Mar 2021) |
| SMB9L | Mercedes-Benz OC500LE | SMRT Buses |
| SG3016Z | Volvo B5LH | SMRT Buses |
| SMB8015R | MAN A24 | SMRT Buses |
Tower Transit is the first operator of the MAN A22 (Euro 6) buses with registration SG1821D – SG1833U. These buses have sitting disused in storage since their registration in December 2018.
Mandai Bus Depot
Back in October 2020, Tower Transit began outfitting works at the new Mandai Bus Depot in preparation for the commencement of its term of the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.
Transitioning Dates
Similar to previous route packages, bus services under the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package will be transferred to Tower Transit in stages, starting from Sunday, 5 September 2021.
| Tranche | Implementation Date | Bus Services | No of Routes |
| – | – | 663 | 1 |
| – | To Be Announced | 167, 169, 171, 656, 663, 825, 853/853M, 854, 854e, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859/859A/859B, 882, 883/883M, 963, 963e, 963R, 965, 966, 969, 980, 981, N1 & N2 | 25 |
| Total: 26 | |||
No operator change for City Direct 663 as it is currently operated by Tower Transit.
See Also:
- Gearing up for 2021: Things to expect ahead of the Sembawang–Yishun Bus Package transition
- Tower Transit awarded Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages
- Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages put up for tender