2 new Direct City bus services serving Hougang, Buangkok, Sengkang to launch in 4th quarter of 2016

Commuters boarding a City Direct Service at the Downtown Station bus stop. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Two new Direct City services serving residents in Hougang, Buangkok and Sengkang will begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Monday (Aug 1).

Their addition will bump up the total number of City Direct Services to 22.

The two new services - serving Hougang and Buangkok/Sengkang respectively - will each run two one-way trips towards the Central Business District (CBD) during morning peak hours and another two one-way trips from the CBD during evening peak hours on weekdays.

More trips may be added if there is more demand for them, said LTA.

In its press release, LTA also said the contract for the two services, along with an existing service - 651 in Jurong West - had been awarded to Rui Feng Chartered Ptd Ltd.

The contract is worth about $2.87 million in total.

LTA had called for a tender in April, inviting private bus firms to bid on the two new services.

Introduced in 2013, the services - which incorporate fewer stops and use expressways - serve areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Clementi, Dover, Hougang, Jurong West, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Tampines East, Simei, West Coast, Yew Tee and Yishun.

The LTA on Monday also called for a tender on six existing services - 652, 653, 654, 655, 656 and 657 - as their current contracts are due to expire between January and February next year.

The tendering process will allow the most cost-efficient operators to win the rights to operate them, LTA added.

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