New seats, floors and other upgrades for 906 more public buses by 2030

SINGAPORE – Passengers can look forward to refreshed interiors, such as new seats and floors, on 906 more public buses that will undergo mid-life refurbishment works by 2030.

The fleet comprises 353 single-deck buses and 553 double-deckers, which account for 15 per cent of Singapore’s public buses. They will be refurbished as they approach 10 to 13 years of operation.

This marks the second mid-life refurbishment exercise conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) since the public bus sector transitioned to a contracting model in September 2016.

Under the model, LTA is responsible for operating assets and collecting fares, while operators are paid to run bus services at standards set by the authority through a competitive bidding process.

The first mid-life refurbishment exercise was conducted from 2023 to 2025, with more than 600 public buses refurbished.

According to tender documents published by LTA on government procurement portal GeBiz on March 5, the upcoming works include the replacement of passenger and driver seats, floor coverings, door system parts, window and windscreen adhesive sealants, as well as trims that protect the edges of steps or stairs.

Responding to The Straits Times’ queries, LTA said commuters can expect “refreshed interiors with improved seating and fittings for a more comfortable journey”.

These works are scheduled to be carried out between 2027 and 2030.

The refurbishment of each single-deck bus will take about one week to complete, while a double-decker will take about two weeks.

LTA said it will work with operators and appointed contractors to “progressively schedule” refurbishment works, ensuring that sufficient buses remain in service at all times to minimise impact on daily bus operations.

As at the end of 2025, there were 6,067 public buses in Singapore. These buses have a statutory lifespan of 17 years, after which they are decommissioned.

According to tender documents, the mid-life refurbishment of 100 MAN A22 Euro 5 single-deck buses has to be completed by Jan 7, 2029, while the works on 253 Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530 single-deck buses are due by Jan 27, 2029.

For the double-deckers, 63 MAN A95 Euro 5 buses have to be renewed by June 9, 2029, while 490 Volvo B9TL buses must be refurbished by March 29, 2030.

The contractor is expected to prioritise older buses for refurbishment. Each bus must be more than 10 years old at the start of the works and less than 13 years old when the works are completed, the documents stated.

LTA said public buses typically undergo refurbishment from their 10th year of operation to address wear-and-tear issues, ensuring they remain safe, reliable and well maintained.

The refurbishment of passenger and driver seats includes the replacement of upholstery – seat covers, cushions and supporting boards – and mounting bolts, which fasten seats to the bus floor, and the cleaning and respraying of seat frames.

The contractor also needs to ensure that all seat armrests are securely tightened, and it cannot use staples to secure upholstery. This is because the staples make it difficult for maintenance and pose a safety hazard.

The works will also involve the replacement of critical electrical parts – such as battery cables and master relays or central switches – as they are subject to wear over time.

LTA added that replacing these electrical parts helps ensure safe and reliable bus operations.

All 906 buses in this exercise are diesel vehicles.

Before the new contracting model came into effect in 2016, public transport operators owned the buses and carried out their own refurbishment works.