The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has announced plans to refurbish approximately 630 public buses as they approach their 10th year of operation. This initiative, disclosed on June 22, marks the first refurbishment exercise since the introduction of the contracting model in 2016.

The refurbishment process will involve substantial updates, including the replacement of bus seats, floor coverings, sealants for windows and windshields, as well as door system components. The LTA aims to appoint a contractor through a tender process to oversee these enhancements, which are set to take place between 2023 and 2025.

Typically, refurbishing a single bus will take about a week, depending on the contractor’s available resources. The LTA will coordinate with the selected contractor and public bus operators to ensure that bus operations remain uninterrupted during the refurbishment.

This midlife refurbishment is intended to address issues related to wear and tear, ensuring that the buses maintain a high operational standard. All buses undergoing refurbishment are diesel vehicles and are expected to remain in service until the end of their designated 17-year lifespan.

As of May 2022, Singapore’s public bus fleet consists of around 5,800 buses, with an average fleet age of eight years. The LTA has set ambitious goals to transition the entire public bus fleet to cleaner energy sources by 2040, with half of the fleet expected to be electric by 2030.

Prior to initiating this refurbishment exercise, the LTA conducted a physical condition inspection of over 400 public buses to determine the necessary scope of work. Under the current contracting model, the LTA owns all operating assets, including buses, while public transport operators bid for contracts to provide bus services based on standards set by the authority. This model aims to enhance service standards and promote competition within the public transport sector.