Singapore’s public bus fleet gets a new look and comfier seats during its midlife refurbishment programme. This programme is a first for the fleet, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
FLEET FACELIFT
Out of the island’s 629 public buses, 364 of these are single-decker bus and 265 are double-deckers. The LTA relinquished care for these buses to two separate buses last March 2024. The single-decker buses are under the care of Wah Sheng Motor Supply, while ComfortDelGro Engineering will refurbish the double-decker buses. The remaining 56 buses are not part of the refurbishment but will go through a separate maintenance programme. These 56 buses have been in operation for 17 years and, according to an assessment, are still operational for up to 2 more years.
Bus models for Singapore’s public transport fleet include the Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530, MAN A22, Volvo B9TL, Alexander Dennis Enviro 500, and Scania K230UB.
Previously, separate operators owned Singapore’s public buses and refurbished them independently. However, ownership of the buses was transferred to the LTA in 2016. Now, the LTA owns all of its “operating assets and infrastructure, including buses.” Due to this, the current refurbishment programme is the LTA’s first.
Before committing to the programme, the LTA exhaustively assessed the buses for wear and tear. Each refurbishment process per bus takes about 7 working days, starting with a tear-down of the interiors. The seats and floor mats are then replaced once the poles and aircon ducts are removed. The buses’ window sealants are then scraped off and replaced, while the interiors get a fresh paint job, which can take up to 2 days.
While the interiors are being painted, other workers sew together new bus seats in a separate workshop in the facility. Cushions and seat covers are then replaced with new fabric stitched on. When all replacements are done, the poles, seats, and aircon ducts are reinstalled and the interior of the bus is cleaned.
LONGEVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Earlier in 2024, the Singaporean government invested up to 900 million SGD (1.06 billion AUD) into their public bus network. This government initiative is called the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme and it aims to enhance Singapore’s existing bus network and more.
Initially, bus services were expanded to towns like Yishun, Punggol, and Tampines in September 2024. This was then followed by an addition of express bus services from residential areas to the city proper. Lastly, some bus routes will be adjusted and receive additional buses to account for “changing travel patterns.” Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat stated the government also intends to acquire more buses and hire more drivers and staff to complement its expansion.
According to The Straits Times, the first batch of the refurbished buses were rolled out as early as August 2024. The LTA expects the overall programme to be finished by January next year. As of 16 January 2025, 20 per cent of the overall fleet have been completely refurbished.
Refurbishment programmes for fleets allow organisations to fulfil sustainability goals. Consistent preventive maintenance and refurbishment elongate vehicle life and reduce costs and waste.
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