Go-Ahead Singapore wins contract to run 27 routes under Tampines bus package from July 2026

SINGAPORE – From July 5, 2026, Go-Ahead Singapore will run bus services in Tampines – such as 10, 23, 81 and the newly launched 299 – from

the new East Coast Integrated Depot

.

Under the new five-year contract, Go-Ahead Singapore will also manage Tampines Bus Interchange, Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange, Tampines North Bus Interchange and Changi Business Park Bus Terminal.

It will be taking over from SBS Transit (SBST), which has been running the Tampines bus package since 2016.

Go-Ahead Singapore won the tender to run a total of 27 bus routes under the Tampines bus package with a $646 million bid.

It will be paid this amount by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) over the duration of the contract. But the figure may be adjusted for factors such as inflation, change in wage levels, fuel costs and changes to services during the contract period. The authority has the option to extend the contract by two to five years at the end of the five-year term.

Go-Ahead Singapore’s bid was the highest among those submitted by the existing public transport operators here. SBST, SMRT Buses and Tower Transit Singapore submitted bids of $596 million, $613 million and $617 million, respectively. A total of five companies participated in the tender, but Hong Kong public transport company Bravo Transport’s bid was not considered in the price evaluation.

LTA said in a statement on Sept 19 that Go-Ahead Singapore received the highest total score for its proposal, which included cost savings for the authority compared with the current contract.

It added that Go-Ahead Singapore’s proposal offered initiatives to increase the industry’s abilities to deploy electric buses on a large scale, tapping its UK group’s experience in operating the largest fleet of electric buses in London.

Go-Ahead Singapore debuted as a public transport operator here when it secured the Loyang bus package, which it has been running since 2016 and will do so until 2026 with two contract extensions.

It also oversees Punggol Bus Interchange and Pasir Ris Bus Interchange.

LTA said that it placed greater emphasis on the proposal’s quality in this tender, particularly in electric bus operations and maintenance capabilities.

Under the contract, Go-Ahead Singapore will work with the Singapore Bus Academy to establish a satellite centre in Singapore to pass on knowledge and build expertise in electric bus operations for the industry.

This centre will develop a team of skilled local electric bus specialists to support Singapore’s transition to a cleaner energy public bus fleet. LTA’s goal is to have a fleet that

runs fully on cleaner energy by 2040

.

The operator will use tools driven by artificial intelligence to assist service controllers in regulating bus intervals and controlling the deployment of buses. These tools are intended to reduce bus bunching – which refers to buses of the same service arriving at stops at around the same time – and improve service reliability.

Go-Ahead Singapore will also introduce commuter-friendly initiatives, such as caring corners at bus interchanges and “baby on board” badges for pregnant passengers, in addition to enhancing staff welfare programmes.

Under this new contract, the operator will be running the 27 bus services on a fleet of around 400 buses, which include more than 250 electric buses.

Mr Leonard Lee, managing director of Go-Ahead Singapore, said this is an exciting step forward for the company and it looks forward to serving commuters in Tampines with greener journeys.

LTA noted that current SBST employees working under the Tampines bus package will be offered jobs by Go-Ahead Singapore, at employment terms – including remuneration – on a par with those of their current contracts.

Affected employees can choose to join incoming operator Go-Ahead Singapore, or be redeployed elsewhere by their current employer SBST where feasible.

Ms Yeo Wan Ling, executive secretary of the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU), said this change will affect about 700 employees.

As the awarding of the package has an emphasis on electric buses, she also said NTWU will train workers to ensure they are equipped for such roles.

Ms Yeo, who is also an MP for Punggol GRC, added that the union will work closely with Go-Ahead Singapore and SBST to ensure affected workers are offered employment and support them with a smooth transition.

Mrs Grace Wu, spokeswoman for SBST, said: “We are naturally disappointed at not being awarded the tender as we had worked hard to put in a competitive bid that included quality initiatives aimed at uplifting the local industry.”

She added that SBST respects LTA’s decision and congratulated Go-Ahead Singapore on its successful bid.