Three more bus services to be added by June

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/3-more-bus-services-be-added-june

Three new bus services will be introduced by June this year as part of the Government’s Bus Service Enhancement Scheme, which has rolled out 143 new buses thus far.

Under the S$1.1 billion programme, the Government will buy and fund the costs of 550 new buses. Operators SBS Transit and SMRT will add another 250 buses to increase the overall bus fleet size by 20 per cent. The bulk of the enhancements is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Three new bus services will be introduced to improve connectivity in areas such as Bukit Merah, Novena, Telok Blangah, Toa Payoh and Woodlands by June this year. The LTA said details of these new routes are being worked out and the two public transport operators, SBS Transit and SMRT, will provide more information closer to the implementation dates.

Both operators said they have stepped up bus drivers’ recruitment and training.

Towards the end of this year, the LTA also plans to put on trial a scheme aimed at improving the regularity of bus waiting times.

Under the framework, operators will need to enhance their en-route management of bus operations to earn incentives and avoid penalties.

Operators will be assessed on how they have fared in improving bus service regularity before any incentives and penalties are applied.

The LTA aims to trial this scheme on 25 services, or about 10 per cent of bus services, towards the end of the year.