Bedok Integrated Transport Hub opens, more than half additional bus fleet now on roads

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew interacting with staff of the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub on Sunday, Nov 30. -- ST PHOTO: YEO SAM JO
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew interacting with staff of the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub on Sunday, Nov 30. -- ST PHOTO: YEO SAM JO
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew interacting with staff of the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub on Sunday, Nov 30. -- ST PHOTO: YEO SAM JO
Assistant route master Chin Vui Min (extreme right), 30, seen working in the passenger service office at the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Senior bus captain Lee Chong Wah (extreme right), 45, gets lunch at the NTWU Canteen in the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Commuters waiting for buses at the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub, which links Bedok MRT, Bedok Mall and the bus interchange, on Sunday, Nov 30. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Commuters waiting for buses at the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub, which links Bedok MRT, Bedok Mall and the bus interchange, on Sunday, Nov 30. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew (in blue) visits the passenger service office during a tour of the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Commuters waiting for buses at the new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub, which links Bedok MRT, Bedok Mall and the bus interchange, on Sunday, Nov 30. -- ST PHOTO: YEO SAM JO

SINGAPORE - The Bedok Integrated Transport Hub, opened its doors to passengers on Sunday.

The 1.6 hectare (16,000 sq m) air-conditioned hub, the largest in Singapore, links the Bedok MRT station with the bus interchange and Bedok Mall. With 29 bus services, it is expected to serve about 40,000 commuters daily.

The seventh integrated transport hub here, it is the first to incorporate energy-saving features such as LED lighting for the driveway and bus park areas.

At the hub's opening ceremony, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said that like the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), the new hub will provide "added convenience" to commuters. He noted that so far, more than half, or 510, of the 1,000 additional buses under the programme have gone on the roads. More than 30 new bus services have also been introduced to step up connectivity.

This has shortened the waiting times for popular services by three to seven minutes, and reduced the number of bus services crowded during peak hours by 60 per cent, said Mr Lui.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

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