GrabShuttle more than doubles number of routes to 32

SINGAPORE — Nearly two months after its launch, the on-demand shuttle-bus service, GrabShuttle, has more than doubled its number of routes to 32.

Launched early last month with 15 routes that run on weekdays, GrabShuttle is powered by data from the Beeline platform developed by the Land Transport Authority and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore.

The service, which operates as a separate app from the Grab ride-hailing platform, allows commuters to suggest routes and book rides anytime between five minutes ahead and one month in advance.

Fares range from S$3.50 to S$5 — a fraction of the cost of a taxi or private-hire car ride.

In the mornings, the new routes include rides from Tanjong Rhu and East Coast to Orchard Road; from Punggol and Sengkang to Changi Airport; and from Bukit Panjang to Alexandra Hospital and Mapletree Business City along Pasir Panjang Road.

As the day winds down, the added evening routes include journeys from the Central Business District and Suntec City to Tanjong Rhu and Marine Parade; from Alexandra Hospital and Mapletree Business City to Tampines; and from the Central Business District to Marine Parade and Bedok Reservoir.

When contacted by TODAY, Grab declined to share GrabShuttle’s ridership figures since its launch, but said that many of its commuters use it as their “primary mode of transportation” to travel to and from their workplaces and schools.

The ride-hailing platform also said that it has been receiving requests to “crowd-start” new routes, which it is ranking according to popularity.

The aim is to start new routes if a particular route draws enough commuters — 15 passengers or so.

Grab said that the goal of the service was to enhance transport connectivity to and from MRT stations, public housing estates, and under-served locations including military camps and industrial estates.

“We are constantly studying commuters’ travel data to implement new and relevant routes, while modifying existing routes for greater efficiency,” it added.

Tapping the Beeline platform, GrabShuttle allows commuters to track their buses in real time on the day of travel.

The commuters’ suggestions on new routes are combined with data from the platform’s beta trial and Beeline, to allow Grab and its partner bus operator to launch and price new bus services based on evolving passenger demand.

Started in 2015, Beeline is a crowdsourcing platform that matches users with private bus operators. Right now, it has a total of 36 routes.