Nine bids received for Seletar bus package

SINGAPORE — Nine bids have been received for the Seletar bus package, the last one up for competitive tendering until the remaining contracts held by the incumbents expire over the next two to 10 years. 

Among them are SMRT, SBS Transit, Tower Transit Singapore, Go-Ahead Singapore, as well as Australia’s Busways Group and Singapore’s Woodlands Transport. 

The tender exercise for the package of bus routes plying from Ang Mio Kio, Yio Chu Kang and Yishun closed at noon on Thursday (Oct 27). Compared to the first two tenders which received 10 and 11 bids respectively, the current exercise saw the lowest number of bidders.

The winning company will begin running 26 bus routes from their base at the  new Sungei Seletar Bus Depot, from the first half of 2018. The depot, located off Yio Chu Kang Road, is due to be completed in the third quarter of next year. 

The package will consist of about 420 buses when it is launched in the first half of 2018. It will grow to about 500 buses in 2023 in tandem with a projected growth in ridership.

London-based Tower Transit won the Bulim package in May, getting an estimated S$556 million from the Government. 

Go-Ahead Singapore won the Loyang package with the lowest-asking price of S$498 million under the bus contracting model in November. Go-Ahead is the largest bus operator in London.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had extended the deadline of the Seletar bus tender by three weeks, from Oct 6 to Thursday.

Among those who had failed in their previous attempts and trying again this time round is private transport operator Woodlands Transport.

“Our previous submissions were not good enough, but we have since adjusted and submitted an even more competitive proposal according to LTA’s requirements,” said its general manager of the bus department, Mr Roger Wong.

The requirements relate to how the operator plans to take care of its buses and operate the routes, among other things.

Mr Wong added that the company was putting in the extra effort because “it’s the dream of our founders to provide the public service for Singaporeans”.

Another bidder, Go-Ahead Singapore, was hit by a spate of resignations last month over its “interlining” model that requires bus captains to drive a number of routes instead of just one.

When asked if the company is concerned about its driver shortage issue affecting its bid, a spokesperson said Go-Ahead Singapore  is “continously recruiting candidates who are keen”. 

“We believe our comprehensive and attractive pay package along with our training and development plan will help entice potential candidates,” she said.

In response to TODAY’s queries, Tower Transit Singapore noted that “the field of bidders is of very high quality”.

“Our successful service commencement for the Bulim Bus Package in May this year demonstrates that the TTS team has what it takes to deliver high quality bus services in Singapore,” said its managing director, Mr Andrew Bujtor.