Government contracting model for public bus industry

• Gus.chong

  5 Dec 14, 22:56

  Originally posted by TIB868X:

  SMRT install service guides, arrival panels at each berth, interactive screens and frequency displays at buses only at bukit batok? why not be consistent and at least install service guides at all bus interchanges? SMRT want wayang to LTA so that they can win the first contract? 

  I feel that Bukit Panjang and Yishun are the next two areas to get the new features at the bus interchanges...no point installing them at interchanges due to be demolished...

• TIB1234T

  6 Dec 14, 00:43

  Busways Australia is looking forward to setting up an office here... Current newest fleet they have is the BusTech CDi twin-steering axles DDs...

• sgbuses

  6 Dec 14, 11:37

  Originally posted by TIB1234T:

  Busways Australia is looking forward to setting up an office here... Current newest fleet they have is the BusTech CDi twin-steering axles DDs...

  Busways official website (includes announcement of interest) : http://www.busways.sg/

  Hillsbus (ComfortDelgro CabCharge) is also operating CDi double-deck buses in Sydney, and they are set to introduce the Volvo B9TL with Volgren Optimus bodywork as well.

• carbikebus

  6 Dec 14, 13:06

  Originally posted by TIB1234T:

  Busways Australia is looking forward to setting up an office here... Current newest fleet they have is the BusTech CDi twin-steering axles DDs...

  If they win the first contract,They might get to park some of the fleets at eastern depot too...

• Freddylimkongwai

  7 Dec 14, 01:50

  more buses in the west ?

• sgbuses

  10 Dec 14, 19:05

  CNA Article - Australia's Busways hopes to spread culture of 'promotion from within' in Singapore:

  http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/australia-s-busways-hopes/1518106.html

  This reminds me of how AirAsia works to some extent.

• sgbuses

  10 Dec 14, 19:10

  In many cities where competitive tender and contracting is involved, fleet numbers are used for easy identification.

  If this were to be implemented when the government takes over the bus fleet and there is a renumbering process, how enthusiasts identify individual buses will be changed significantly. Currently, individual buses are identified by their registration plate.

  There are two main ways to number the bus fleet:

  1. Numbers only. Personally I would expect most fleet numbers to remain the same unless there is an overlap (e.g. the 5000s range).

  2. A prefix followed by the number. Each prefix represents a bus model. Examples include AVBWU1 (Hong Kong) and LT3 (London).

• TIB1234T

  11 Dec 14, 20:38

  SMB189A TRG along SBST route with a group of staffs gathering beside the driver outside Boon Lay Int... Bus followed 181/242/243/etc turning right...

• TPS Timothy Mok

  11 Dec 14, 21:51

  Originally posted by TIB1234T:

  SMB189A TRG along SBST route with a group of staffs gathering beside the driver outside Boon Lay Int... Bus followed 181/242/243/etc turning right...

  
  

  Wah first time go Bulim leh. Chey.

• sgbuses

  14 Dec 14, 19:46

  Two more official websites of prospective tenderers have appeared online.

  Go-Ahead Singapore: http://www.go-ahead-singapore.com/

  VTRA (Transdev and RATP): http://vtra.sg/index.html

• sgbuses

  19 Dec 14, 01:35

  Bidding has been extended for two weeks on request of a bidder:

  http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/closing-date-of-first/1535214.html

  If LTA is holding out for that one operator, I suppose it is a major player.

  The article places emphasis on two points already discussed:

  1. The real aim in switching to the tendering model is to lower the costs of operation. This is well known in academia. LTA intends to use this winning bid amount as a baseline to negoitate with the incumbent operators for the cost of operating the remaining 70% of bus routes.

  If an operator wins the Bulim parcel by severely undercutting the rest, the incumbent operators will have an unprofitable business on their hands and may choose to focus their resources on MRT instead.

  2. Severe shortage of bus drivers. An incumbent operator, if rational, will do whatever it can to retain its existing pool of drivers. Expect an escalation in labour costs.

  The more I read this article, the more I think the Merlion Transit fictional scenario is eventually going to play out.

• sgbuses

  19 Dec 14, 17:32

  http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/transport/story/gearing-first-public-bus-contract-20141212

  - 22 interested parties
  - GSH Travel intends to partner up with Qingdao Jiaoyun Group to bid
  - Busways may partner with Trans-Cab, or bid alone
  - Tong Tar and Bus Hub may not submit a bid due to tight deadline (reported before extension of deadline)
  - New model expected to yield 10% profit margin

• carbikebus

  20 Dec 14, 04:48

  Pls no local operator,At least busway is better

• Busways Group Singapore

  29 Dec 14, 13:35

  Originally posted by TIB1234T:

  Busways Australia is looking forward to setting up an office here... Current newest fleet they have is the BusTech CDi twin-steering axles DDs.

  Hi TIB1234T,

  We are looking forward to building a long term presence in Singapore should we win a contract with the LTA. Our tender team is currently working very hard to put together a competitive bid!

  Our newest additions to our fleet have the MAN18320 chassis with a Custom Coaches CB80 body.

  

• chooyaochuen

  29 Dec 14, 13:38

  I feel LTA should award it to local contractors.

• TIB1112L

  29 Dec 14, 13:47

  Originally posted by Busways Group Singapore:

  Hi TIB1234T,

  We are looking forward to building a long term presence in Singapore should we win a contract with the LTA. Our tender team is currently working very hard to put together a competitive bid!

  Our newest additions to our fleet have the MAN18320 chassis with a Custom Coach CB80 body. Our double deckers that you mention were purchased in late 2012.

  

  Hi Busways! Welcome to SGForums Buses! 

• TIB1234T

  29 Dec 14, 14:18

  

  Welcome to SGF... 

• SBS9C

  29 Dec 14, 14:29

  Originally posted by Busways Group Singapore:

  Hi TIB1234T,

  We are looking forward to building a long term presence in Singapore should we win a contract with the LTA. Our tender team is currently working very hard to put together a competitive bid!

  Our newest additions to our fleet have the MAN18320 chassis with a Custom Coach CB80 body.

  

  Welcome to SGForums! Wish you all the best in your bid!
  On a side note the Custom Coaches CB80 bodywork is looking very nice on the MAN 18.320 chassis.

• sgbuses

  29 Dec 14, 14:42

  Originally posted by Busways Group Singapore:

  Hi TIB1234T,

  We are looking forward to building a long term presence in Singapore should we win a contract with the LTA. Our tender team is currently working very hard to put together a competitive bid!

  Our newest additions to our fleet have the MAN18320 chassis with a Custom Coach CB80 body.

  

  Welcome! We hope you will find some of the information here helpful.

  The MAN 18.320 A69, popular with operators in Sydney and Canberra, is the low-entry counterpart to the low-floor MAN NL323F operated by SMRT Buses and you should find some similarities there. The main difference in Singapore is that all public buses are limited to 60 km/h by regulation, and so it is not possible to make up time on the highway.

  You will also find your experience with your Scania K230UB fleet useful as SBS Transit operates a very large fleet of this model as well.

• TIB1234T

  29 Dec 14, 14:51

  Originally posted by SBS9C:

  Welcome to SGForums! Wish you all the best in your bid!
  On a side note the Custom Coaches CB80 bodywork is looking very nice on the MAN 18.320 chassis.

  I remember there was one demonstrator with the same bodywork showcased on a Bus Expo, but can't remember that was a MB OC500LE or Iveco or this MAN...

• sgbuses

  29 Dec 14, 15:04

  Originally posted by TIB1234T:

  I remember there was one demonstrator with the same bodywork showcased on a Bus Expo, but can't remember that was a MB OC500LE or Iveco or this MAN...

  A number of CB80s were on display, including but not limited to:

  - ACTION Scania K360UA
  - Iveco Metro
  - Forest Mercedes-Benz OC500LE

  This gallery on Flickr lists out almost all the buses that were on display.

  The CB80 can be fitted on Scania, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Iveco, MAN and even ADL chassis (Enviro350H).

• krisgage

  29 Dec 14, 16:03

  Welcome onboard Busways Group Singapore ! 

• carbikebus

  29 Dec 14, 22:30

  I wouldnt mind joining busway if they won the first contract beside a few contracts later,Would be good if they set up based in the east..

• SBS3688Y

  29 Dec 14, 23:20

  Originally posted by chooyaochuen:

  I feel LTA should award it to local contractors.

  
  just like all the govt Gebiz tenders, it will be a fully transparent and fair tendering system regardless of nationalities. so expect a very competitive fights for the bus contracts. i predict there will surely be some who will win the bids and underprice. then they will slowly suffer then go into financial liquidation and another operator takes over.
• Busways Group Singapore

  30 Dec 14, 07:43

  Originally posted by TIB1112L:

  Hi Busways! Welcome to SGForums Buses! 

  Originally posted by TIB1234T:

  

  Welcome to SGF... 

  Originally posted by SBS9C:

  Welcome to SGForums! Wish you all the best in your bid!

  Originally posted by sgbuses:

  Welcome! We hope you will find some of the information here helpful.

  Originally posted by krisgage:

  Welcome onboard Busways Group Singapore ! 

  Thanks for the warm welcome guys! We're here to participate in the discussion and learn from a very enthusiastic community.