Tower Transit Singapore

Tower Transit Singapore
Tower Transit Singapore Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC on service 98M in January 2025
ParentKelsian Group
Founded3 July 2014 (2014-07-03)
Commenced operation29 May 2016 (2016-05-29)
HeadquartersBulim Bus Depot
21 Bulim Drive Singapore 648170
LocaleSingapore
Service areaNorthern and South-Western Singapore
Service typeBus operator
Routes64
Hubs7
Bukit Batok
Jurong East
Jurong Town Hall
Lorong 1 Geylang
Sembawang
Tengah
Yishun
Stations16
Ang Mo Kio
Bedok
Boon Lay
Bukit Merah
Changi Airport
Clementi
HarbourFront
Marina Centre
Sengkang
Shenton Way
Tampines
Toa Payoh
Upper East Coast
Woodlands (ITH + Temporary)
Yio Chu Kang
Depots2
Bulim
Mandai
Fleet720
Annual ridership12m (2023)
Fuel typeDiesel, diesel hybrid, electric
Chief executiveWinston Toh
Websitehttps://www.towertransit.sg/

Tower Transit Singapore is a contracted bus operator operating in Singapore. It commenced operations on 29 May 2016 as a subsidiary of Tower Transit in the United Kingdom, and later a subsidiary of Australian-based Kelsian Group.

History

In October 2014, the Land Transport Authority called for bus operators to bid for a contract to operate 26 routes out of Bulim Bus Depot in Jurong West based from Bukit Batok, Clementi and Jurong East bus interchanges, as part of its new Bus Contracting Model announced in May that year.[1] Tower Transit Singapore Pte. Ltd. was incorporated as a subsidiary of Tower Transit Group on 3 July 2014 to bid for the contract.[2] Tower Transit Group was a bus company based in the United Kingdom and was a subsidiary of Transit Systems in Australia.

In May 2015, the Land Transport Authority awarded Tower Transit Singapore the contract with operations to commence in May 2016, with services based at the Bulim Bus Depot.[3][4] On 31 July 2015, the Land Transport Authority handed over Bulim Bus Depot to Tower Transit Singapore, allowing preparations such as fitting works on the depot and training of its staff to be carried out earlier.[5] On 6 December 2015, the Bulim Bus Depot was officially opened by MP for Hong Kah North, Amy Khor and then-CEO of Tower Transit, Adam Leishman. A Bulim Carnival Day was also held on the same day to allow the public to tour the depot and learn more about Tower Transit.[6]

Tower Transit Singapore commenced operations on 29 May 2016,[7][8][9] introducing new technologies and practices to public buses in Singapore. It became the first bus operator to use driver telematics[10] to give Bus Captains feedback on their driving standards and to incentivise safe and smooth driving. It was also the first to install wheel nut covers.

On 13 March 2017, Tower Transit Singapore started operating Singapore's first 3-door double-decker bus (SG5999Z) for a six-month trial period.[11][12]

In January 2020, Tower Transit Singapore was included in the sale of Tower Transit Group Limited to Australian-based SeaLink Travel Group.[13][14] SeaLink Travel Group was later renamed Kelsian Group in November 2021.

On 30 September 2020, the Land Transport Authority awarded the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package to Tower Transit Singapore, along with the second 5-year term of the Bulim Bus Package.[15] Operations for the Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun packages commenced in May and September 2021 respectively,[16][17] with Mandai Bus Depot handed over to Tower Transit Singapore for the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.[18]

Tower Transit Singapore is also currently (as of 2025) the only public bus operator in Singapore to operate minibuses (BYD C6). These minibuses are deployed exclusively on Feeder Service 825, which runs between Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange and the Lentor private housing estate. The service was previously operated by SMRT Buses until the bus package was transferred to Tower Transit.

Initiatives

On 10 December 2016, Tower Transit Singapore became the first bus operator in Singapore to award an employee with a leisure trip. Mr Kumaran joined Tower Transit Singapore in May after 16 years with Singapore's second public bus operator SMRT Buses, and received a pair of return tickets to London and five nights’ accommodation worth S$4,500 from TTS for excellent service.[19]

On 13 February 2017, Tower Transit Singapore became the first bus operator in Singapore to celebrate Valentine's Day. Tower Transit buses all had Happy Valentines Day programmed onto their buses' Electronic Destination Signages (EDS) and ran an article in The New Paper regarding the couples working in Tower Transit.[20]

On 1 March 2017, Tower Transit Singapore rolled out its signature scent on 100 buses operating on routes 66, 97 and 106. Tower Transit is the first bus operator in Singapore to have such an initiative.[21]

On 8 March 2017, Tower Transit Singapore became the first bus operator to celebrate International Women's Day.[22]

Bus routes

See also: List of bus routes in Singapore

Tower Transit Singapore currently operates 60 bus services under the Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages, consisting of 31 Bulim bus services and 29 Sembawang-Yishun bus services. They are mostly operated from Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Jurong Town Hall, Sembawang, Tengah Bus Interchanges & Yishun Integrated Transport Hub with some handful of routes operating from Clementi Bus Interchange and Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub.

Tower Transit is operating the Bulim bus package for another term on 29 May 2021 as continuous to commemorate its 5th anniversary of operations in Singapore, with bus services 653, 657 and 944 handed over to Tower Transit from SMRT Buses.[17] It also handed over services 665 and 974 to SMRT Buses and SBS Transit respectively as they were not part of the new contract.

Between September and October 2021, bus services were handed over from SMRT Buses in three tranches as part of the Sembawang-Yishun Package except for Service 110, 652, 963R, NR1 and NR2 (the later three were withdrawn at the expiry of the contract; 110 and 652 were transferred to other packages). City Direct service 663, which was under the bus package, was already operated by Tower Transit. The bus package was based at Mandai Bus Depot.[16][17][23]

Bus fleet

When Tower Transit Singapore started operations in 2016, it inherited a variety of buses previously operated by incumbent operators SMRT Buses and SBS Transit.

Single-decker buses

Double-decker buses

Articulated buses

Former Vehicle Fleet

References

  1. ^ "First Bus Package Under The Government Contracting Model Up For Tender". LTA Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Tower Transit Singapore Pte. Ltd". SGP Business. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  3. ^ "LTA Awards First Tendered Bus Package to Tower Transit Group Limited". LTA Singapore. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ^ "London-based Tower Transit wins first Government bus contract to run services in Jurong". The Straits Times. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Bulim Bus Depot Handed Over to Tower Transit Singapore". LTA Singapore. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Bulim Bus Depot officially opens". Channel Newsasia. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. ^ First Tranche of Bus Services in Bulim Package to Roll Out on 29 May Land Transport Authority 29 April 2016
  8. ^ First batch of Tower Transit bus services to roll out on May 29 Channel NewsAsia 29 April 2016
  9. ^ "Tower Transit FAQ".
  10. ^ Koh, Valerie (28 June 2017). "Device on Tower Transit buses helps cut down bad driving habits, accidents". Today online.
  11. ^ "3-door double decker bus with 2 staircases and USB ports hits the road in trial". Straits Times. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  12. ^ "LTA evaluates 3-door MAN Lion's City DD Concept Bus | Land Transport Guru". 14 March 2017.
  13. ^ "SeaLink announces strategic acquisition of Transit Systems Group and launches capital raising". SeaLink Travel Group. 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  14. ^ Sealink Completes Acquisition of Transit Systems Group SeaLink Travel Group 16 January 2020
  15. ^ "Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  16. ^ a b "Tower Transit to run Sembawang and Yishun bus interchanges, taking over from SMRT". Channel News Asia. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "Sealink awarded contracts for bus services in Singapore" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. Sealink Travel Group. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  18. ^ "LTA Awards Bulim and Sembawang-Yishun Bus Packages to Tower Transit". Land Transport Authority. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Bus Driver Who Goes Extra Mile Awarded UK Trip". TODAY Online. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Bus Captain Couples Keeping Love Alive On The Roads". The New Paper. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Tower Transit rolls out signature scent". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Manicure Treats for Tower Transit Female Staff". Straits Times. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  23. ^ "We're coming to the North very soon!". Tower Transit Singapore. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
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