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SBS Transit

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SBS Transit Ltd (abbreviation: SBS or SBST) is a multi-modal public transport operator in Singapore operating bus and rail services. With a majority of its shares owned by Singaporean multinational transport conglomerate ComfortDelGro Corporation at 75%, it was formerly known as Singapore Bus Services before rebranding to SBS Transit on 1 November 2001.

SBS Transit
Company typePublic Subsidiary
SGX: S61
IndustryPublic transport
PredecessorAmalgamated Bus Company
Associated Bus Services
United Bus Company
Founded1 July 1973; 51 years ago (1973-07-01) (as Singapore Bus Services)
1 November 2001; 23 years ago (2001-11-01) (as SBS Transit)
Headquarters
Singapore
Area served
Singapore
Key people
Bob Tan Beng Hai[1] (Chairman)
Jeffrey Sim[2][3] (Group CEO)
ServicesBus & rail services
RevenueIncrease S$1.19 billion (2017)
Increase S$59.3 million (2017)
Increase S$47.1 million (2017)
Number of employees
10,239 (2017)
ParentComfortDelGro Corporation (75%)
SubsidiariesSBS Transit Rail Pte Ltd
Websitewww.sbstransit.com.sg

It is the largest public bus operator in Singapore, as well as one of the two major operators of Singapore's rail services along with SMRT Corporation. It has a fleet of 3,656 buses and operates 261 routes, as of 2015.[4]

History

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Singapore Bus Services (1973 - 2001)

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Singapore Bus Services Limited was established on 1 July 1973 when the regional bus companies Amalgamated Bus Company, Associated Bus Services and United Bus Company (which were in turn results of amalgamations of privately run Chinese bus companies of the 1960s in 1971) agreed to merge their operations with each taking shareholdings of 53%, 19% and 28% respectively in the new company.[5][6][7] The government-sanctioned merger was undertaken to improve service standards of the bus transport system. The company was replaced by the Singapore Bus Service (1978) Limited on 17 February 1978, which was then listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES) on 26 June the same year.[8][9][10]

In 1992, SBS were reorganised under a new subsidiary SBS Bus Services Pte Ltd.[10] On 12 November 1997, Singapore Bus Services (1978) Limited was renamed DelGro Corporation, with SBS Bus Services Pte Ltd listed separately as Singapore Bus Services Limited on 10 December that year.[11]

SBS also operated taxis as SBS Taxis. SBS Taxis merged with Singapore Commuter and Singapore Airport Bus Services on 1 July 1995 to form CityCab, which remained part of DelGro Corporation.[12][13][14]

SBS also operated Airbus in the past from 1995 to 1997 and Premium Bus Services, Sentosa Services and Jurong Island Services called "SBS Leisure" in 1995 to 2003. SBS had transferred Sentosa and Jurong Island Services in 2003, and Premium Bus Services (555 and 556) in December 2003.

Route Handovers

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Year Bus Package From To Reason
1983 Sembawang/Yishun/Woodlands SBS TIBS
1995[15] Bukit Panjang SBS TIBS Foster greater competition in the bus industry and to cushion the impact with the rationalisation of bus services caused by the opening of Woodlands MRT extension in 1996; with the beginning of bus contracting model.
Sengkang/Punggol
1999[16] Choa Chu Kang SBS TIBS The tender to operate the North East Line, Sengkang and Punggol LRT; and several bus services in the Sengkang and Hougang Bus Package is awarded to SBS. In addition; bus tenders for Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok are awarded to TIBS. This move is also to cushion the impact with the rationalisation of bus services caused by Bukit Panjang LRT in 1999, as well as to reduce congestion in depots (Service 61, 67, 106 and 172).
Sengkang/Punggol TIBS SBS
2000 Bukit Batok SBS TIBS
2016 Bukit Batok SMRT Buses Tower Transit Singapore Bus Contracting Model
Jurong East SBS Transit
Pasir Ris/Punggol SBS Transit Go-Ahead Singapore
2018 Yishun (Selected) SMRT Buses SBS Transit The tender to operate Yishun bus services in SMRT Buses (feeders and selected trunks) is awarded to SBS Transit from March 2018, this is similar to Sengkang and Punggol 19 years ago.
2021 Sembawang/Yishun SMRT Buses Tower Transit Singapore Bus Contracting Model
2024 Boon Lay/Joo Koon/Tuas SBS Transit SMRT Buses The tender to operate these bus services is operated by SMRT Buses from September 2024, this is similar to Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang and Bukit Batok services 25 years ago.

SBS Transit (2001 - present)

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On 1 November 2001, Singapore Bus Services was rebranded as SBS Transit to reflect it becoming a multi-modal transport operator with the impending opening of the Sengkang LRT line and North East MRT line.[10]

On 29 March 2003, DelGro Corporation merged with Comfort Group to form ComfortDelGro Corporation.[10][17] ComfortDelGro Corporation owns 75% of the shares in SBS Transit.

On 18 January 2003, SBS Transit commenced operating the Sengkang LRT, followed by the North East MRT line on 20 June the same year.[18] SBS Transit commenced operating the Punggol LRT on 29 January 2005, followed by the Downtown MRT line on 22 December 2013.[19]

Bus

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Routes

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SBS Transit had operated the majority of routes in almost all areas of Singapore with the notable exception of Tuas, Joo Koon, Jurong West, Jurong East, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Woodlands, Sembawang, Yishun, Punggol, Tengah and Pasir Ris, where some routes were under SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore (Bulim Bus Package) and Go-Ahead Singapore (Loyang Bus Package). As of September 2023, there are 222 wheelchair-accessible bus services that SBS Transit operates.

SBS Transit later became the first local operator to win a tender under the BCM in April 2017, and began operating the Seletar Bus Package on 18 March 2018.[20] It was announced in 2018 by LTA that SBS Transit had won the subsequent package, the Bukit Merah Bus Package.[21]

In 2023, it was announced that SBS Transit retained the Bukit Merah Bus Package for its second term, but lost the bid for Jurong West Bus Package, which was awarded to SMRT Buses.[22] In July 2024, it was announced that SBS Transit retained the Seletar Bus Package for its second term.[23]

Fleet

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A MAN A22 bus that was transferred to SBS Transit from SMRT Buses in 2018 as part of the Seletar Bus Package
 
The three-door MAN A95 demonstrator, which was introduced in late 2015 and is currently operated by SBS Transit since 2018

As of December 2019, SBS Transit operated more than 3,500 buses.[24]

SBS Transit operates a mix of single decker, double decker and articulated buses.[25]

Single deckers

Double deckers

Articulated buses

 
A 1989 Scania N113CRB still bearing the original SBS livery at Bedok Bus Interchange.
 
SBS Transit purchased 12 Volgren-bodied CNG Volvo B10BLE buses.

When SBS was first formed in 1973, it inherited a wide variety of buses of various makes from its Chinese predecessors. Examples of such buses included the Albion Viking VK, Mercedes-Benz LP1113 and OF1413 and Nissan Diesel RX102K3 with small numbers of Ford R192 and 226, Seddon, Fargo-Kew, Bedford and Austin.[27] Most of these buses were bodied by local coachbuilder Soon Chow although some were bodied by other companies such as Supreme Star and Strachan.[28] Subsequent models that were purchased by SBS included Berliet and Guy Victory in the 1970s and the Volvo B57 and Mercedes-Benz OF1417 in the 1980s, the latter which were bodied by foreign coachbuilders like New Zealand Motor Bodies and Hawke Coachwork.[27]

In 1976, SBS purchased its first 20 Leyland Atlantean AN68 buses to evaluate the suitability of double-decker bus operation, with the buses first entering service on 13 June 1977.[27] Following the success of the trial, SBS ordered another 500 Leyland Atlantean AN68 buses from 1978 up to 1984, all of which were either bodied by Metal Sections or Walter Alexander Coachbuilders; SBS also conducted comparative trials of double-decker buses of other makes, namely the Leyland Olympian, Volvo Ailsa B55, Scania BR112DH, Dennis Dominator, Dennis Trident 3, Mercedes-Benz O305 and Volvo B10MD Citybus.[29] In 1984, SBS purchased another 200 Leyland Olympian and 200 Mercedes-Benz O305 double-decker buses.[29] SBS also conducted an evaluation of air conditioned buses (namely the ex-Singapore Airport Bus Services Mercedes-Benz OF1413 coaches) that year and conducted similar trials with other bus models like the Nissan Diesel U31S and Renault PR100 before its first bulk order for 50 Scania N113CRB buses in 1989.[27][29]

In the 1990s, some bus makes on the roads included the Volvo B10M, Scania N113CRB, Mercedes-Benz O405, Leyland and Volvo Olympian and Dennis Dart.[30] SBS also conducted trials of high capacity single decker buses, namely a superlong Volvo B10M Mark IV, an articulated Volvo B10MA and an articulated Mercedes-Benz O405G, in 1996 although the trial did not succeed.[29] The first low-floor bus, a Volgren-bodied Volvo B10TL demonstrator was brought to SBS by Volvo Buses for trial purposes in 1999. After its successful trial, 51 Volvo B10TL chassis were further brought in by SBS Transit. 50 buses are bodied by Volgren between 2002 and 2003 while 1 remaining chassis is being reserved for a ComfortDelGro Engineering bodywork, which entered revenue service by 2005. The first wheelchair-accessible bus was also brought into service in 2006. SBS Transit CNG buses began service in 2002. Hybrid and electric buses came into foray since 2019, although small-scale trials began in 2010.

In 2020 to 2021, a unit of Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 Hybrid, SG4004B, was brought in for trial purposes and was loaned from Daimler South East Asia under a Special Purpose License. The bus was on revenue service from 9 March 2020 to 8 March 2021 on 93 & 272 with SBS Transit under the Ulu Pandan Depot.

All single-decker Volvo B10BLE CNG buses were retired in 2019 except for the first two units which had been preserved, after that, both Volvo B10TLs and Volvo B9TL CDGEs were retired early and scrapped. Only 20 Volvo B9TL CDGE buses remained in operation until late September 2023 when they reached the end of their lifespan, with the last day of service being 22 September.[31]

In March 2024, several units of the Scania K230UB (Euro IV and V) buses were transferred to SMRT Buses from SBS Transit for some testings at Woodlands Depot before the Jurong West Bus Package begins operations in September that year.

Rail

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Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

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SBS Transit operates two of Singapore's six MRT lines in the network, the North East Line (NEL) since its opening on 20 June 2003 and the Downtown Line (DTL) since its opening on 22 December 2013.[32]

The NEL currently spans 19.2 km and 16 stations, running from HarbourFront in the south-west to Punggol in the north-east. As of 2023, the NEL uses a fleet composed of three very similar series of 49 Alstom Metropolis train-sets, namely the C751A, C751C and C851E.[33][34] The operating license for the NEL was awarded to SBS Transit in order to foster competition with SMRT Trains and to create multi-modal public transport companies, each specialising in their own district. In 2018, it was confirmed that SBS Transit's contract for maintaining the NEL would last until 31 March 2033.[35][36]

The NEL was Singapore's third metro line and the city's first automated and driverless system. At times, it has been referred to as "the first driverless heavy metro line in the world" or the "world's first fully automated and driverless high-capacity rapid transit line" by some.[37][38] While driverless metro systems have existed long before (notably the Lille Metro since 1983, the Vancouver Skytrain since 1985 and the Kelana Jaya Line and Paris Metro Line 14 since 1998), the NEL is the first application of a fully automated and driverless metro system with heavy rail characteristics such as an overhead catenary (in contrast to earlier systems using third rail) and 1,435 mm standard-gauge (in contrast to earlier systems featuring smaller rail profiles). Till today, it is the only MRT line in Singapore using the overhead catenary electrical system while the rest of Singapore's MRT uses the third rail.

The DTL currently spans 41.9 km and 34 stations as of October 2017, running from Bukit Panjang station in the north-west to Expo station in the east via the Central Area. The DTL is fully automated and driverless as well and consists of a fleet of 92 Bombardier Movia C951/C951A trainsets.[39]

Fleet

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Name Image Maximum Speed (km/h) Trains built Cars built Cars per set Lines served Built Number in service Introduction into service
Design Service
C751A   100 90 25 150 6 North East Line 2000 – 2003
2019 – 2026[nb 1] 		25 20 June 2003
C751C   18 108 2014 – 2016 18 1 October 2015
C851E   6 36 2020 6 28 July 2023
C951(A)   90 80 92 276 3 Downtown Line 2012 – 2017 92 22 December 2013
  • The trains are classified as contracts unlike other countries which use "class".

Light Rail Transit (LRT)

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Out of three LRT lines in Singapore, two are operated and maintained by SBS Transit, namely the Sengkang LRT line and Punggol LRT line (SPLRT). These lines serve a total of 29 stations and provide feeder connections to Sengkang and Punggol stations, the two northernmost stations of the North East Line. As of 2016, these lines use a fleet of 57 sets comprising two series of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover APMs (namely the C810 and C810A[40]), a number expected to increase in the future with the introduction of C810D APMs.[41] In 2018, it was confirmed that SBS Transit's contract for both LRT lines would run until 31 March 2033.[35][36]

Fleet

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Name Image Maximum Speed (km/h) Trains built Cars per set Lines served Built Number in service Introduction into service
Design Service
C810   80 70 41 1 or 2 Sengkang LRT
Punggol LRT 		2000 – 2003 41 18 January 2003
C810A   16 2012 – 2016 16 5 April 2016
C810D — 25 2 2024 – 2027 0 From Q3 2025 onwards
  • The trains are classified as contracts unlike other countries which use "class".

Depots

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Out of ten operational rail depots in Singapore, SBS Transit maintains three, namely:

  • Sengkang Depot which houses NEL and SPLRT trains. The depot is undergoing an expansion program which is targeted for completion on 2027 in order to accommodate more trains, after being in operation since 2003.
  • Tai Seng Facility Building which houses some DTL trains.
  • Gali Batu Depot which houses the majority of DTL trains. It has undergone expansion towards the end of 2010s.
  • East Coast Integrated Depot which is expected to house DTL trains upon its opening in 2026.

Notes

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  1. ^ Refurbishment.

References

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  1. ^ Ng, Hong Siang (29 April 2021). "SBS Transit appoints former SMRT board member as new chairman". CNA. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. ^ SBS Transit (1 January 2023). "SBS Transit Announces Leadership Change". SBS Transit. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. ^ "SBS Transit Singapore". 24 February 2016.
  4. ^ https://cms.uitp.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Governance-of-PT-Market-Singapore-report.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "Merger plan by the 3 bus firms". The Straits Times. Singapore. 14 April 1973. p. 15.
  6. ^ "Bus firms agree to a big merger". New Nation. Singapore. 26 May 1973. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Better deal for bus commuters". The Straits Times. Singapore. 1 July 1973. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Conversion of SBS into a public company" (PDF). Singapore Government - The Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Finance. 20 March 1978. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Active Trading in SBS Shares". The Straits Times. Singapore. 27 June 1978. p. 1.
  10. ^ a b c d "Proposed merger of Comfort Group Ltd and DelGro Corporation Limited" (PDF). Zaobao. Comfort Group Limited and DelGro Corporation Limited. 21 November 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  11. ^ "SBS Limited changes its name to DelGro". The Straits Times. 13 November 1997. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  12. ^ "New cab fleet". The New Paper. Singapore. 19 May 1995. p. 4.
  13. ^ "SBS, ST Automotive sign deal to merge taxi arms". The Straits Times. Singapore. 19 May 1995. p. 19.
  14. ^ "Milestones". ComfortDelgro Taxi. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Tibs takes over services". The Straits Times. Singapore. 11 August 1995. p. 32.
  16. ^ "Tibs and SBS in routes swap". Business Times. Singapore. 15 July 1999.
  17. ^ Corporate Profile Archived 28 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine ComfortDelGro
  18. ^ SBS Transit Celebrates First Anniversary of North East Line Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine SBS Transit 20 June 2004
  19. ^ SBS Transit selected to operate Downtown Line Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Metro Report International 30 August 2011
  20. ^ "LTA Awards Third Bus Package to SBS Transit Ltd". Land Transport Authority. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  21. ^ SBS Transit wins Bukit Merah bus package for S$472 million Archived 23 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Channel NewsAsia 23 February 2018
  22. ^ Lee, Nian Tjoe (18 August 2023). "SBS Transit retains Bukit Merah bus package, loses Jurong West package to SMRT". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  23. ^ Yufeng, Kok (19 July 2024). "SBS Transit to continue operating bus services from Seletar depot until at least 2030". The Straits Times. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ "In Pictures: Bus Models". Land Transport Guru. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  26. ^ More SBS Transit Volvo B9TLs Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Coach & Bus Week 11 July 2014
  27. ^ a b c d York, FW; Davis, Mike; Phillips, Ron (2005). Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 1: Early Single-Deck Buses and the First Double-Deckers. DTS Publishing. ISBN 9781900515757.
  28. ^ ILee, Imm Yew; Lee, Hong Meng; Lim, Joseph PK; Poon, Ngai Seng (2007). The Soon Chow Story: 80 Years of Bus and Coach. Busfansunlimited@yahoo.com.sg. ISBN 9789810589721.
  29. ^ a b c d Davis, Mike; Phillips, Ron (2005). Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 2: Double and Single-Deck Buses from the 1980s to 2005. DTS Publishing (published 2006). ISBN 9781900515269.
  30. ^ "SBS Transit". SGBuses.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Farewell. Volvo B9TL (CDGE) Buses". Land Transport Guru. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  32. ^ Land Transport Masterplan: Downtown Line Stage 1 to open on Dec 22 Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine The Straits Times 7 October 2013
  33. ^ First North East Line trains arrive in Singapore Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine International Railway Journal 23 July 2014
  34. ^ Driverless trains delivered to Singapore Archived 28 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 23 July 2014
  35. ^ a b North East Line, Sengkang and Punggol LRTs to move to new financing framework Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Channel NewsAsia 14 February 2018
  36. ^ a b Final Singapore metro lines transferred to new concession model Archived 29 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Metro Report International 16 February 2018
  37. ^ "Alstom in Singapore" (PDF). 8 December 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  38. ^ "DNV GL cable monitoring system to enhance Singapore rail reliability". DNV GL. 6 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  39. ^ Bombardier delivers first Downtown Line train Archived 2 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine Metro Report International 15 October 2012
  40. ^ "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation Receive Order for Design, Manufacture, Installation and Commissioning of Singapore Light Rapid Transit Capacity Expansion — Vehicles and Electrical and Mechanical Systems for Sengkang and Punggol LRT Systems (C810A)". Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 22 May 2013.
  41. ^ "MHI Receives Follow-up Order for 8 Two-Car Trains for Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) — Additional 16 Cars to Boost Capacity of SPLRT Serving Sengkang and Punggol Districts —". Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 9 May 2023.

Further reading

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  • Ilsa Sharp, (2005), SNP:Editions, The Journey — Singapore's Land Transport Story. ISBN 981-248-101-X
  • York, FW; Davis, Mike; Phillips, Ron (2005). Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 1: Early Single-Deck Buses and the First Double-Deckers. DTS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-900515-75-7.
  • Davis, Mike; Phillips, Ron (2005). Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 2: Double and Single-Deck Buses from the 1980s to 2005. DTS Publishing (published 2006). ISBN 978-1-900515-26-9.
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