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SBS Transit Ltd

Type	Public (SGX: SBSTransit)
Founded	1973
Headquarters	Singapore
Key people	Lim Jit Poh (Chairman) Kua Hong Pak (Deputy Chairman) Gan Juay Kiat (Executive Director)
Industry	Public Transport
Products	Bus and Rail Services in Singapore
Revenue	▲ S$729.6 million SGD (2008)
Operating income	▼ S$47.1 million SGD (2008)
Net income	▼ S$40.6 million SGD (2008)
Employees	7312 (2006)
Website	http://www.sbstransit.com.sg

SBS Transit Limited (simplified Chinese: 新捷运; pinyin: Xīnjiéyùn, SGX: S61) is a public transport operator in Singapore. Its major competitor in Singapore's duopoly transport system is SMRT Corporation, which also operates bus, rail, taxi and other transport services.

The company (organisation) was formed as a separately-listed subsidiary in November 1997 under the name of Singapore Bus Services Limited, although it can trace its history back to the formation of Singapore Bus Service in 1973 with the merger of three bus companies. On 1 November 2001, the company's name was changed to SBS Transit Limited to reflect its status as a bus and rail operator.

Its parent company is ComfortDelGro Corporation, which was formerly known as DelGro Corporation Limited. The parent company has Singapore Bus Service as its direct predecessor.

In 2003, SBS Transit started operating the North East MRT Line of the Mass Rapid Transit system in addition to its existing bus operations. SBS Transit announced in November 2009 that they were preparing to bid for future MRT lines, starting with the Downtown MRT Line.

History

Singapore Bus Service (SBS) was initially formed in 1973 with the merger of three private bus companies. The government-sanctioned merger was undertaken to improve service standards of the bus transport system.

With the shift towards the creation of multi-modal transport companies, Singapore Bus Service Ltd changed its name to DelGro Corporation Limited in November 1997. Bus operations were hived-off to a fully-owned subsidiary called Singapore Bus Services Limited, which was separately listed on the Singapore Exchange.

In November 2001, Singapore Bus Services Limited was renamed as SBS Transit Limited when the company formally became a multi-modal transport operator with the impending opening of the Sengkang LRT Line.

Operations

SBS Transit's primary business is providing public transport services in Singapore. Its more notable operations are the following.

• Bus operations in Singapore, comprising a fleet of about 2,700 buses, serving almost the entire island
• Rapid transit operations along the North East Line of the MRT network and its 16 stations
• Light rail operations and manages the 29 stations along the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines.

Current bus fleet and pictures

SBS Transit currently operates 75% of the scheduled bus market share in Singapore with more than 265 bus services and has a total fleet of more than 2,800 buses. All but 100 buses are air-conditioned.All the different bus models have a common lifespan of 17 years,except the Mercedes Benz O405 buses whose lifespan were extended to 19 years and the Volvo B10M MK3s whose lifespan were extended to 18 years. This means that the 100 non-aircon buses will be retired in 2011. In the last 3 years, SBS Transit ordered 1,100 buses from Scania AB and 350 buses from Volvo as part of its fleet renewal programme, while evaluating wheelchair accessible chassis offers from Volvo ,Mercedes-Benz and MAN.

Model	Image	Bodywork	Year Introduced	Units Introduced	Notes/Comments
Dennis Dart		Duple Metsec	1994	10	Deregistering Midibuses 9.4 meters long Retiring Registered as SBS8009A – SBS8018Z
Dennis Trident 3		Duple Metsec DM5000	1999-2000	20	Euro 2 Registered as SBS9671E – SBS9690A
Leyland Olympian 3-axle		Walter Alexander Royale	1993	200	Euro 1 Registered as SBS9000S – SBS9199C
MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL		Gemilang	2008	1	Demonstrator registered as SBS8031J
Mercedes-Benz O405		Duple Metsec	1990-1991	700	Deregistering Registered as SBS82P – SBS581R, SBS3723D – SBS3922X
		Walter Alexander PS
Scania K230UB		Gemilang	2007	1101	Euro 4 Demonstrator registered as SBS8033D
			2007(Batch 1) 2008-2009(Batch 2)		Euro 4 Batch 2 K230UBs have an extra granny seat behind the bus driver Batch 1 registered as SBS8034B - SBS8131D, SBS8138K & SBS8888D and SBS8132B - SBS8561X, except SBS8138K & SBS8888D for batch 2
			2009(Batch 1) 2010(Batch 2)		Euro 5 Batch 1 Registered as SBS8562T - SBS8999S (except registration numbers ending with "4" and "SBS8888D"), SBS8884P, SBS8894K, SBS8904R, SBS8934D, SBS8954X, SBS8984J and SBS8994E and batch 2 registered as SBS5001R - SBS5033Z; SBS5122A - SBS5193C(except registration numbers ending with "4")
Scania L94UB		Volgren CR221L	1999	1	Euro 2 Demonstrator registered as SBS2888T
Volvo B7RLE		Soon Chow	2007	1	Euro 4 Demonstrator registered as SBS8030L
Volvo B9TL		ComfortDelgro Engineering	2006	200	Euro 4 Registered as SBS7300P – SBS7499A
Volvo B10BLE		Volgren CR221L (Diesel) Volgren CR222L (CNG)	1997	13	Euro 2 Demonstrator registered as SBS1688K Diesel
			2001-2002		Euro 3 CNG Registered as SBS2988M - SBS2999G
Volvo B10M		Duple Metsec	1992-1993	775	Mk 3 Deregistering Registered as SBS582M - SBS881A
		PSV Soon Chow	1993-1995		Euro 1 Mk 4 Previously deployed on Sentosa Services and are SH-plated buses Registered as SBS8019X – SBS8028U
		Duple Metsec	1995-1997		Euro 1 Mk 4 Registered as SBS882Y - SBS996C 1 Superlong demonstrator registered as SBS997A SBS997A is 14.5 meters long and has 3-axles Refurbishment ongoing
		Walter Alexander Strider	1996-1997		Euro 1 Mk 4 Registered as SBS1896B - SBS1999M and SBS2593T - SBS2688D Refurbishment ongoing
		Duple Metsec DM3500	2001		Euro 2 Mk 4 Registered as SBS2689B - SBS2838M SBS2754X is the first bus to be fitted with outswing plug doors SBS2779A is fitted with EDS and a CCTV camera beside the left front lights
Volvo Olympian		Walter Alexander Royale	1994	100	Euro 1 2-axle Non-aircon Registered as SBS7198T - SBS7297R
			1994-1995(Batch 1 and 2) 1996-1997(Batch 3) 1999-2000(Batch 4)	471	Euro 1 (Batch 1 and 2) Euro 2 (Batch 3 and 4) 3-axle Aircon Registered as SBS9200G - SBS9670H Batch 4 Volvo Olympians are to be retrofitted with LECIP EDS
Volvo Super Olympian (Volvo B10TL)		Volgren CR222LD	2001-2002	51	Euro 3 Registered as SBS9800A - SBS9849K SBS9810X is assembled in Australia and is fitted with an EDS
		ComfortDelgro Engineering	2005		Euro 3 Demonstrator registered as SBS9889U

Non-commissioned buses

Model	Image	Bodywork	Year	Units to be introduced	Notes/Comments
Volvo B9TL		Wright Eclipse Gemini 2	2010	150	Euro 5 Yet to be delivered

Former buses (Deregistered from 2001 onwards except for the Volvo B10M demonstrator)

Model	Image	Bodywork	Year Introduced	Units Introduced	Notes/Comments
Leyland Atlantean		Walter Alexander R-type	1984-1986	200	Scrapped
Leyland Lynx		Walter Alexander PS	1989	1	Demonstrator (SBS3572Y) Used a Scania N113CRB front bumper after an accident in August 2001 Scrapped
Leyland Olympian 2-axle		Walter Alexander R-type	1986-1988	200	Non-aircon 2 buses are bought by private companies and are preserved while the remaining buses were either sold to overseas or are scrapped
MAN 16.240 HOCL		PSV Soon Chow	1986	1	Demonstrator (SBS81S) Scrapped
Mercedes-Benz O305		Walter Alexander R-type	1984-1986	200	Scrapped
Mercedes-Benz 811D		Asia Coach	1993	5	Minibuses 7.6 meters long Sold to private companies
Scania L113CRL [1]		PSV Soon Chow	1995	12	Previously deployed on Airbus Services and are SH-plated buses PA-plated and painted in SBS Leisure livery 3 buses were sold to Westpoint, a private company in 2005 while the remaining buses were scrapped
Scania N113CRB		Walter Alexander PS	1989-1990	200	Scrapped by May 2009
Volvo B10M		Van Hool	1986	1	Demonstrator (SBS9C) Sold to New Zealand in late 1990s
Volvo B10M MK 2		Walter Alexander PS Duple Metsec	1988-1989	200	Scrapped by 2008
Volvo B10MA		Duple Metsec	1996	1	Demonstrator (SBS998Y) Sold to New Zealand in 2006[2]
Mercedes-Benz O405G		Volgren	1996	1	Demonstrator (SBS999U) Sold to New Zealand in 2006[2]
Mercedes-Benz OC500LE		Gemilang	2009	1	SBS Transit rejected the trial for the OC500LE demostrator. This bus is now sold to Chitson Transport Services
Volvo Super Olympian (Volvo B10TL)		Volgren CR222LD	1999	1	Euro 2 Demonstrator registered as SBS9888Y SBS9888Y had its EDS removed in 1 December 2005 First bus to have TVMobile SBS9888Y on service 25 was burnt on 7 March 2010 due to a fire in Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot, status is unconfirmed yet(Not deregistered yet).

Bus routes

SBS Transit operates many different types of bus routes and bus services, taking up the majority of the pie of Singapore's duopoly bus system in almost all areas of Singapore, with the notable exception of the North and Northwest areas, where bus services are mainly run by its competitor, SMRT Corporation.

• Trunk: Routes that ply between towns. These are the basic forms of SBS Transit bus services. Fares are distance-related and differential up to 8 fare bands.
• Short working Trips (SWT): Routes that operate short haul trips between origin-destination pairs with high demand, such as the area near an MRT station. It operated a subset of the parent route and there can be more than one SWT per trunk route.
• Feeder: Services that operate within a neighbourhood, connecting outlying areas to the town centre or bus interchange. (Loops around from an interchange, around one or more neighbourhoods or towns and then terminates at the starting interchange). As a name suggest, it is to feed the commuters to the trunk services or MRT services at the terminal/interchange. A flat fare, equivalent to the first fare band is charged per entry.
• TownLink: Routes that consist of combined feeder services to provide links and improve connectivity between neighborhoods within the same town. (Similar to a feeder service except that, other than when stopping a 'session', the service will not terminate at the interchange but will re-run its route immediately after letting passengers alight, in essence, a true loop)
• Express: Routes that stop at several nominated and sparsely located stops and generally run on expressways for faster travel between several towns. This is a basic-plus service charging higher fares.
• Fast Forward: A modification of basic trunk routes, Fast Forwards are an innovation of SBS Transit, which provides faster travel between places where there is higher demand, by calling at fewer stops and skipping low demand areas. This is also a basic-plus services charging higher fares.
• Premium: A single trip from the designated neighborhoods during the morning peak hours on weekdays to Shenton Way and Raffles Place via expressway. They were introduced following the liberalization in regulations for public operators providing such services. Fees are flat rated ($3.10 or $3.40 for ez-link card users depending on the distance travelled) and standing is prohibited on Premium Services.
• Nite Owl: These are after-hour services on Fridays, Saturdays and eve of public holidays. There are only a handful of bus routes for this service and fees are $1.45 (ez-link) or $1.50 (cash) for intra-town commutes and $3.80 (ez-link) or $4 (cash) between CBD and HDB towns served.
• Chinatown Direct: Introduced in 2005, these are routes that run from suburban towns to Chinatown via expressway. Such routes are very popular in the period before the Lunar New Year. A fare of $1.75 (ez-link) or $1.80 (cash) is charged per boarding ($0.95-$1.00 for child/concession card holders).
• Parks: Services that run from major parks to the nearest bus interchange/terminal.
• Stadium Direct: Services that run from the Singapore Indoor Stadium to major towns after major concerts or events being held there.

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

SBS Transit is the operator of the North East Line since it opened in 2003. The North East Line is the third Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore, and also the world's first fully underground and automated rapid transit line. The line is 20 km long with 16 stations.

The operating license was given to SBS Transit in order to foster competition with SMRT Corporation and to create multi-modal public transport companies, each specializing in their own district.

As the name implies, the line connects central Singapore to the north-eastern part of the island. Transfer to the North South Line is provided at Dhoby Ghaut station East West Line at Outram Park station and Circle Line at Serangoon Station. The rolling stock used is Alstom Metropolis. By 17 April 2010, it will connect to the Circle Line at Dhoby Ghaut station too. It is expected to become an interchange station with the Circle Line at Harboutfront Station in 2011.

Light Rail Transit (LRT)

In addition to the North East Line, SBS Transit is also operates two LRT systems, Sengkang and Punggol. Both lines connect the estate to one of two NEL Stations and is total of 29 stations including Sengkang and Punggol interchange stations.

Key operating statistics

Monthly Ridership for Bus and Rail ^[3]

Notes

• Rail ridership includes North East Line (NEL), Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT rides.
• The Sengkang LRT and NEL commenced revenue service on 18 January 2003 and 20 June 2003 respectively. The Punggol LRT began service on 29 January 2005.
• Monthly rail ridership exceeded 10 million for the first time in December 2007.

See also

• TVMobile - an outdoor digital television previously installed in SBS Transit buses. (currently discontinued on 1 January 2010)
• SBS Transit Service 143 - an up-to-date article on an SBS Transit-operated route.

References

• Ilsa Sharp, (2005), SNP:Editions, The Journey - Singapore's Land Transport Story. ISBN 981-248-101-X

External links

• SBS Transit official site

Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) Overviews History (Nicoll Highway collapse) · Fares and ticketing · Facilities (STARIS) · Safety · Security (Public Transport Security Command) Lines and stations North South · East West · North East · Circle · Downtown · Thomson · Eastern Region · Branch (now merged with North South) Rolling stock Kawasaki C151 · Siemens C651 · Kawasaki/Nippon Sharyo C751B · Alstom Metropolis C751A · Alstom Metropolis C830 · Kawasaki C151A · Bombardier MOVIA C951 Depots Bishan · Changi · Gali Batu · Kim Chuan · Sengkang · Ulu Pandan Companies ComfortDelGro (SBS Transit) · SMRT Corporation (SMRT Trains)

Light Rail Transit (Singapore) Overviews Fares and ticketing Lines and stations Bukit Panjang · Sengkang · Punggol Rolling stock Bombardier CX-100 · Crystal Mover Depots Ten Mile Junction · Sengkang Companies ComfortDelGro (SBS Transit) · SMRT Corporation (SMRT Light Rail)