SMRT Buses
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SMRT Buses (originally Trans-Island Bus Services) is a public bus transport operator in Singapore. Currently, the only other competitor in Singapore's duopoly transport system is SBS Transit, which also operates bus services in Singapore. The company was incorporated as TIBS on May 31, 1982 to be a rival of Singapore Bus Service then. In accordance with restructuring at parent company SMRT Corporation, TIBS was changed to become SMRT Buses in 2004.
As of 2005, SMRT Buses is the only company in Singapore to have LED displays installed inside its buses. These displays provide commuters with necessary information about approaching bus-stops and locations. The company also operates an all air-conditioned fleet.
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[edit] History
In 1982, the company ran two services, 160 and 167. Later, more services were handed over to them by the government along with the tender to operate services in the northern region, mainly Yishun and the developing Woodlands New Town.
In 1995, as part of the government's plan for more competition, 17 SBS services were handed over to Tibs along with the tender to operate bus services in the North-East corridor, mainly the developing towns Sengkang and Punggol.
In 1996, Tibs began operations at Woodlands Regional Interchange, Singapore's 1st underground bus interchange. It was also the first bus interchange to accommodate articulated, or bendy buses. Tibs used articulated buses, some of which were designed by world-renowned designer Pininfarina and known as the Habit bendy buses, on a large scale in its fleet, as compared to the double deckers used by SBS Transit.
Things changed in 1999 when SBS won the tender to operate the North-East Line and bus services in the North-East Corridor. In return, Tibs and SMRT agreed to merge and Tibs was awarded the tender to operate bus services in the North-West corridor towns of Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok. The handover was done in stages. 8 Tibs services were handed over to SBS in exchange for 15 bus services in Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok.
In 2004, the merger was officially complete, and TIBS officially adopted the name SMRT Buses to reflect their merger with SMRT.
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[edit] Bus fleet
SMRT Buses currently has a fleet of 800 buses plying 74 routes, and is the second-largest bus transit company in Singapore after SBS Transit. It is the only bus operator to have an all air-conditioned fleet. The current bus fleet includes:
- Mercedes-Benz O405G Hispano Habit and Volgren Cr221A
- Dennis Lance
- Hino HS3KRK
- Mercedes-Benz O405G Hispano MK2 and MK1
- Mercedes-Benz O405
- DAF SB220LT
- Scania L113CRL
- Nissan Diesel U31RCN
[edit] Latest developments
Recently, SMRT Buses has also introduced a line-up of service improvements to better serve the needs of commuters. These initiatives include:
- Introduction of new bus service 902 to serve students and staff of Republic Polytechnic in Woodlands.
- Introduction of new bus service 922 to serve residents of Bukit Panjang, particularly those staying in Segar and Fajar areas.
- Introduction of new service 900A to serve students of Singapore Sports School and Innova Junior College.
- Amendment of service 985 to serve more areas of Bukit Batok West.
- Integration of services 700/700A and 921 to better serve residents of Petir Road.
- Extension of service 925C to Lim Chu Kang farms on weekends.
- Amendment of service 173 to serve Hume Ave and Bukit Batok Swimming Complex.
- Introduction of new service 985W to serve residents of Bukit Batok Road and Bukit Batok West.
- Amendment of service 859 to serve Sembawang Drive and Sembawang Way.
- Route extension of service 980 to serve along Canberra Road, Admiralty Drive and Sembawang Drive.
