Go-Ahead steps up training, support for bus drivers after complaints of longer waits in Tampines

ST20260707-202691400159-Lim Yaohui-Esther Loi-esbus13/ Bus service 65 with the Go-Ahead Singapore logo at Tampines Bus Interchange on July 7, 2026. 29 bus services under the Tampines bus package are being handed over progressively from SBS Transit to Go-Ahead Singapore - from July 5 to 19. Operations at Tampines bus interchange, Tampines Concourse bus interchange, Tampines North bus interchange and Changi Business Park bus terminal will also be handed over to the hands of Go-Ahead Singapore. Bus services in the new bus livery with the Go-Ahead Singapore logos will mostly be on services 10, 20, 31, 65, 292 and 293 from Tampines Bus Interchange; services 18, 129, 298, 299, 454 from Tampines North Bus Interchange; and service 39 from Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange. (ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

Published Sep 15, 2026, 12:24 PM

Updated Sep 15, 2026, 12:27 PM

Go-Ahead Singapore is supporting new bus captains with extra guidance and mentorship to improve service reliability after complaints of longer bus waits in Tampines.

The operator deployed more staff at key stops to monitor and manage bus intervals, aiming to reduce bus bunching and delays.

Tampines MP Baey Yam Keng highlighted transition challenges from the new East Coast depot but expects improvements through targeted monitoring and ongoing support.

SINGAPORE - Steps are being taken to address complaints from commuters in Tampines who faced longer waiting times for buses during the last two months, said bus operator Go-Ahead Singapore (GAS).

The operator’s move comes after residents approached Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng after their daily bus journeys became less predictable, with longer waiting times and buses arriving together, since GAS took over.

Baey is Minister of State for Transport, as well as Culture, Community and Youth.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times on Sept 15, a GAS spokeswoman said the operato r has been strengthening operations to ensure service reliability for commuters.

This includes providing additional support to new bus captains who are familiarising themselves with new routes and operating conditions, in the form of more guidance and on-the-ground support to help them gain confidence in operating these routes.

She added that experienced bus captains are also providing mentorship and guidance to new colleagues.

GAS is also deploying more operations staff in bus interchanges and at key bus stops to monitor service conditions and provide support to bus captains if needed .

The spokeswoman said this will help GAS to better manage service intervals and keep buses running on time.

“We are encouraged that service performance has been improving since the transition, and we will continue to monitor operations closely and make adjustments where necessary,” she said.

From July 19, GAS started operating all 29 bus services in the Tampines area , taking over routes run by SBS Transit (SBST).

On Sept 13, Baey in a Facebook post said he conveyed residents’ concerns to the top management of GAS, who acknowledged the transition issues.

He added that about 40 per cent of bus captains operating these services are new, so they need time to familiarise themselves with the routes and operations.

Also, services are running from the bus depot at the new East Coast Integrated Depot in Changi, where buses are parked, cleaned and maintained. Drivers also start their journeys there before going to bus interchanges.

Baey said bus drivers who were used to working out of the previous SBST depot will n eed to adjust to the new depot, and that could affect their work attendance or performance, and in turn indirectly affect services.

The buses were previously operated from the SBST Bedok North bus depot.

The adjustments include making different “off-service” routes to and from the new depot, accounting for varied travelling times from home, and getting used to new meal or coffee break venues and schedules.

Most of these issues have been resolved by GAS , said Baey.

GAS also assured him that it is strengthening training and support for its bus captains, he added .

Baey said: “What matters now is that commuters see real improvements.

“We proposed targeted monitoring at key bus stops to establish actual waiting times, identify recurring delays and bus bunching, and guide the necessary corrective actions.”

Bus bunching is when two or more buses of the same service route arrive at a bus stop together, and often leads to longer waiting times between bus arrivals.

Baey said: “We will follow up closely with the Land Transport Authority and GAS and continue tracking the affected services. Residents should be able to enjoy more reliable and consistent bus journeys.”

ST20260707-202691400159-Lim Yaohui-Esther Loi-esbus13/ 2026年7月7日，一辆印有Go-Ahead Singapore标志的65路公交车停靠在淡滨尼巴士转换站。淡滨尼巴士配套计划下的29条巴士线路正从新捷运（SBS Transit）逐步移交给Go-Ahead Singapore，移交时间为7月5日至19日。淡滨尼巴士转换站、淡滨尼广场巴士转换站、淡滨尼北巴士转换站和樟宜商业园巴士总站的运营也将移交给Go-Ahead Singapore。采用新涂装并印有Go-Ahead Singapore标志的巴士线路主要包括：从淡滨尼巴士转换站出发的10路、20路、31路、65路、292路和293路；以及从淡滨尼北巴士转换站出发的18路、129路、298路、299路和454路。以及从淡滨尼巴士转换站出发的39路公交车。（海峡时报照片：林耀辉）

发布于 2026 年 9 月 15 日下午 12:24

更新于2026年9月15日下午12:27

此前有乘客投诉淡滨尼公交车候车时间过长，Go-Ahead Singapore 正在为新任公交车司机提供额外的指导和辅导，以提高服务可靠性。

运营商在重点站点增派人手，监控和管理公交车发车间隔，旨在减少公交车扎堆和延误。

淡滨尼国会议员白炎庆强调了从新的东海岸车厂过渡到新车厂所面临的挑战，但他希望通过有针对性的监测和持续的支持能够有所改善。

新加坡——巴士运营商 Go-Ahead Singapore (GAS) 表示，正在采取措施解决淡滨尼通勤者在过去两个月中遇到的巴士候车时间延长的问题。

此前，由于 GAS 接管运营后，居民们的日常公交出行变得更加难以预测，等待时间更长，公交车也经常同时到达，居民们因此向淡滨尼集选区议员白炎庆 (Baey Yam Keng) 反映了情况。运营商随后采取了行动。

贝伊是交通、文化、社区和青年事务国务部长。

9月15日，《海峡时报》就此事向新加坡公共交通管理局（GAS）发言人询问，GAS一直在加强运营，以确保通勤者的服务可靠性。

这包括为正在熟悉新路线和运营条件的新公交车司机提供更多支持，例如提供更多指导和实地支持，以帮助他们建立运营这些路线的信心。

她补充说，经验丰富的公交车司机也会为新同事提供指导和帮助。

GAS 还在公交枢纽和主要公交站点部署了更多运营人员，以监控服务状况并在需要时为公交车司机提供支持。

发言人表示，这将有助于GAS更好地管理服务间隔，并确保公交车准时运行。

“我们欣慰地看到，自过渡以来，服务表现一直在改善，我们将继续密切监控运营情况，并在必要时进行调整，”她说。

从 7 月 19 日起，GAS 开始运营淡滨尼地区的全部 29 条巴士线路，接管了 SBS Transit (SBST) 运营的线路。

9 月 13 日，Baey 在 Facebook 上发帖称，他已将居民的担忧转达给了 GAS 的高层管理人员，后者也承认了过渡期存在的问题。

他还补充说，运营这些线路的公交车司机中约有 40% 是新来的，因此他们需要时间来熟悉路线和运营。

此外，樟宜新东海岸综合车厂的巴士总站也提供巴士服务，巴士在此停放、清洁和维护。司机也从这里出发，然后再前往各个巴士转换站。

贝伊表示，以前在 SBST 旧车库工作的公交车司机需要适应新的车库，这可能会影响他们的出勤率或工作表现，进而间接影响服务。

这些巴士之前由 SBST Bedok North 巴士车厂运营。

调整措施包括制定不同的“非服务”路线往返新车库，考虑到从家出发的不同出行时间，以及适应新的用餐或咖啡休息场所和时间安排。

贝伊表示，这些问题大部分都已由GAS解决。

他还补充说，GAS也向他保证，公司正在加强对公交车司机的培训和支持。

贝伊说：“现在重要的是通勤者能看到真正的改善。”

“我们建议在重点公交车站进行有针对性的监测，以确定实际的等待时间，找出反复出现的延误和公交车扎堆现象，并指导采取必要的纠正措施。”

公交车扎堆是指两条或两条以上同线路的公交车同时到达同一个公交车站，这通常会导致公交车到达之间的等待时间延长。

贝伊表示：“我们将与陆路交通管理局和GAS密切合作，继续追踪受影响的公交服务。居民们应该能够享受到更可靠、更稳定的公交出行服务。”