The Jurong West Bus Package will be progressively taken over by SMRT Buses in September 2024.
The transfer of bus services will take place across two tranches as detailed below. This gradual transition process allowed the incoming operator to build up its operational competency in stages while minimising any potential effects on commuters.
| Former Term (PT212) | Upcoming Term (PT218B) | |
| Bus Operator | SBS Transit Ltd | SMRT Buses |
| Contract Term | Negotiated Contract: 01 Sep 2016 – 15 Sep 2024 |
Tendered Package 1st Term: 01 Sep 2024 – 2029 |
| Bus Services | 179/179A, 181/181M, 182/182M, 185, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 247, 248/248M, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 405, 502/502A & 974 (26 bus routes) |
|
| Bus Depot | Soon Lee Bus Depot | |
| Bus Interchanges | Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Joo Koon Bus Interchange, Tuas 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 Jurong West Bus Package is one of fourteen bus packages under the BCM, and the sixth package to be tendered out.
Bus services in the Jurong West Bus Package mainly originate from Boon Lay & Joo Koon Bus Interchanges, as well as Tuas Bus Terminal.
As the awarded operator, SMRT Buses will take over the 26 existing bus services operated by SBS Transit in two tranches on 1 September 2024 & 15 September 2024.
Bus operations for the Tendered Package would be based out of the existing Soon Lee Bus Depot, which was sold by former operator SBS Transit to the Land Transport Authority in September 2024.
Transitioning Dates
Similar to previous bus packages, bus services under the Jurong West Bus Package will be transferred to SMRT Buses in stages, starting from Sunday, 1 September 2024.
| Tranche | Implementation Date | Bus Services | No of Routes |
| 1 | 1 Sep 2024 | 179/179A, 181/181M, 192, 193, 194, 199, 240/240M, 241, 242, 243G/243W, 246, 249, 251, 252 & 405 | 15 |
| 2 | 15 Sep 2024 | 182/182M, 185, 247, 248/248M, 253, 254, 255, 257, 258, 502/502A & 974 | 11 |
| Total: 26 | |||
Training Fleet
To facilitate the training of SMRT Buses staff to the Scania K230UB buses for the Jurong West Bus Package, 10 buses from SBS Transit were transferred to SMRT Buses in March 2024.
Main Article: Transfer of Scania K230UB Buses to SMRT Buses
Back to Jurong West Bus Package
The post SMRT Buses – Transitioning to Jurong West Bus Package first appeared on Land Transport Guru.