The second term for Bulim Bus Package (PT217), which was awarded to Tower Transit in September 2020, commences on Saturday 29 May 2021.
This article summarises changes to bus services as part of the transition from the first term (PT200) to the second term (PT217) of the Bulim Bus Package.
| Service | Changes |
| 66A | Withdrawn |
| 66B | Withdrawn |
| 66C | Introduced from 31 May 2021 |
| 97e | Serves 3 additional bus stops along Jurong Town Hall Road from 31 May 2021 |
| 333 | Daily last bus timing extended from 00:50 to 01:15 from 29 May 2021 |
| 335 | Daily last bus timing extended from 00:50 to 01:15 from 29 May 2021 |
| 653 | Operated by Tower Transit from 31 May 2021 |
| 657 | Operated by Tower Transit from 31 May 2021; Double Deck buses deployed |
| 665 | Operated by SMRT Buses from 31 May 2021 |
| 944 | Operated by Tower Transit from 29 May 2021 |
| 974 | Operated by SBS Transit from 29 May 2021 |
| 974A | Operated by SBS Transit from 29 May 2021 |
Change of Commencement Date
In September 2020, as part of the press release on the award of Bulim & Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages to Tower Transit by the Land Transport Authority, the commencement of these bus packages was stated as “progressively from the second quarter of 2021”.
A press release regarding the award was also made by SeaLink Travel Group Limited, which wholly owns subsidiary Tower Transit Singapore Pte Ltd. In that, the contract commencement date for Bulim Bus Package was stated to be on 30 May 2021.
However, changes to bus services under the Bulim Bus Package (such as change in operator) were announced to take place from 29 May 2021 instead by Tower Transit in May 2021. As such, the commencement date is believed to have been brought forward 1 day earlier.
Change in Operator
Under the second term of Bulim Bus Package, Tower Transit would operate Bus Services 944, 653 & 657 which were operated by SMRT Buses prior to the commencement.
As City Direct services do not operate on weekends & public holidays, Tower Transit would be operating these services from Monday 31 May 2021.
Service 974 / 974A & City Direct 665 would also be transferred out from Tower Transit to SBS Transit & SMRT Buses respectively during this period.
Bus Service 944
Tower Transit takes over operations from SMRT Buses for Service 944 under the second term of Bulim Bus Package on Saturday 29 May 2021.
City Direct 653
Tower Transit takes over operations from SMRT Buses for City Direct 653 under the second term of Bulim Bus Package on Monday 31 May 2021.
Tower Transit takes over operations from SMRT Buses for City Direct 657 under the second term of Bulim Bus Package on Monday 31 May 2021.
City Direct 665
Tower Transit, which has been operating City Direct 665 since October 2017, will transfer operations to SMRT Buses from Monday 31 May 2021.
Service 974 / 974A
Tower Transit, which has been operating Service 974 / 974A since April 2018 and January 2019 respectively, will transfer operations to SBS Transit from Saturday 29 May 2021.
Service Changes
Short Trip Services 66A, 66B & 66C
New Short Trip Service 66C from Jurong East Int to Jln Jurong Kechil (Opp Beauty World Stn) commences under the second term of the Bulim Bus Package from Monday 31 May 2021.
In the operator poster, Short Trip Services 66A & 66B were mentioned to be discontinued. As these services operate on Sunday / Public Holidays, it remains to be seen if they will operate on Sunday 30 May 2021, after the second term of Bulim Bus Package would have already commenced on Saturday 29 May 2021.
Express 97e
Express 97e serves 3 additional bus stops along Jurong Town Hall Road from Monday 31 May 2021.
Capacity Changes
City Direct 657
City Direct 657 was operated by SMRT Buses using single deck buses. Tower Transit would be deploying double deck buses upon its takeover on Monday 31 May 2021.
Changes to Operating Hours
Services 333 & 335
The last bus timing for Services 333 & 335 from Jurong East Int daily would be extended from 00:50 to 01:15 from Saturday 29 May 2021.