Bulim Bus Depot handed over to Tower Transit

SINGAPORE — The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has handed over the new Bulim Bus Depot to Singapore’s third local bus operator Tower Transit Singapore, which will start fitting it out as it prepares to kick off recruitment in September.

The transfer marks the first major transition milestone since Tower Transit was awarded the contract in May, beating out 10 other bids submitted by local and foreign players. It will operate 26 bus services out of the depot from the middle of next year. 

“The hand-over of Bulim Bus Depot allows Tower Transit to prepare for its operations early, including fitting out the depot and training its bus captains and technicians,” the LTA said in a press release today (July 31).

The bus services serve the Bukit Batok, Clementi and Jurong East bus interchanges. Of these 26 services, SBS Transit currently operates 17, and SMRT operates nine. The transition of the bus services will be carried out in three tranches from mid-2016.

In a press release issued today, Tower Transit said the fitting out of Bulim Depot will take about two months. It plans to have comfortable rest areas and a fully air-conditioned canteen for its bus captains.

In the release, Tower Transit CEO Adam Leishman said: “The Bulim Bus Depot will not only be a garage for our buses and our base of operations, it will be a place where our staff will be well provided, in comfortable settings that will be extensively out-fitted with conducive areas for rest, meals and recreation. I’m sure these will be some of the finest amenities bus captains will have here in Singapore.”

The company also said it is continuing to receive expressions of interest from job seekers on its website www.towertransit.sg. Discussions with the National Transport Workers Union on employment terms are close to being finalised and recruitment is expected to begin in September, it said.

Mr Leishman added: “I expect the offer we will be making to drivers will be very attractive to a variety of individuals, and will encourage Singaporeans outside the bus industry to consider a new career as we seek to bring exemplary service to Singapore.”

Bulim Bus Depot, located off Jurong West Avenue 2, spans almost 10ha and can accommodate about 500 buses. It is equipped with refuelling and bus repair and maintenance facilities, and amenities for bus drivers such as crew rest rooms, staff lounges and a canteen.

Closer to the implementation date, the LTA will be handing over to Tower Transit the buses for deployment.