Go-Ahead steps up bus captain support after Tampines commuters report longer waits

Tampines residents have complained that their daily bus journeys have become less predictable since Go-Ahead Singapore took over operations from SBS Transit.

Go-Ahead Singapore buses fitted with solar panels. (Photo: Go-Ahead Singapore)

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SINGAPORE: Go-Ahead Singapore said on Tuesday (Sep 15) that it is strengthening support for its bus captains operating in Tampines, after residents complained of longer waiting times since the operator took over services in the area.

Go-Ahead took over 27 bus routes in Tampines from SBS Transit in July after being awarded a S$646 million (US$510 million) contract from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) last year.

But Tampines residents have complained since then that their daily bus journeys have become less predictable, with longer waiting times and bus bunching, Member of Parliament Baey Yam Keng (PAP-Tampines) said last week.

The bus service operator said that it had deployed more employees on the ground in Tampines to support its bus captains and commuters during this transition period.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less This was to help bus captains who were still familiarising themselves with the new routes, roads and operating conditions, in particular, it said in a Facebook post. "Our colleagues are deployed at the bus interchanges and key bus stops to keep a close watch on services, manage service intervals, and respond to conditions on the ground," said Go-Ahead, adding that this would allow bus captains to receive timely support and guidance. The bus service operator said it was "fully committed" to strengthening its services and delivering safer, more reliable and more consistent journeys for commuters in Tampines. "As we work through this transition period, rest assured we’ll keep listening to our commuters, supporting our bus captains and looking out for one another," it said. TRANSITION ISSUES Mr Baey, who is also Minister of State for Transport, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he and grassroots leaders met with Go-Ahead’s top management after the complaints, and they acknowledged transition issues. “About 40 per cent of GAS (Go-Ahead Singapore) bus captains servicing this new contract are new, hence they need time to familiarise themselves with the routes and operations,” said Mr Baey. Go-Ahead is also using a new integrated depot in East Coast where buses are parked, cleaned and maintained. Buses are deployed from this depot every morning to go to bus interchanges. Mr Baey said the move meant bus captains accustomed to the previous SBS Transit depot had to make adjustments, including to their off-service routes to and from the depot, travelling times from home, as well as meal and coffee break venues and schedules. These adjustments could affect their work attendance and performance, indirectly affecting bus services, he added. "GAS said that most of these issues have been resolved,” said Mr Baey. "GAS also assured us that it is strengthening training and support for its bus captains." Mr Baey said that he and grassroots leaders had proposed targeted monitoring at key bus stops to measure waiting times, identify recurring delays and bus bunching, and determine what corrective action was needed. He added that they will follow up closely with LTA and Go-Ahead and continue tracking the affected services. The contract for the Tampines bus package is for five years, with an option for LTA to extend it by between two and five years. The package was put up for tender in December 2024 and drew bids from SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead. LTA said the proposals were evaluated through a two-envelope process, with quality evaluation done before the price submissions were opened. Go-Ahead secured the highest total score and offered cost savings compared to the contract at the time, according to LTA.

This was to help bus captains who were still familiarising themselves with the new routes, roads and operating conditions, in particular, it said in a Facebook post.

"Our colleagues are deployed at the bus interchanges and key bus stops to keep a close watch on services, manage service intervals, and respond to conditions on the ground," said Go-Ahead, adding that this would allow bus captains to receive timely support and guidance.

The bus service operator said it was "fully committed" to strengthening its services and delivering safer, more reliable and more consistent journeys for commuters in Tampines.

"As we work through this transition period, rest assured we’ll keep listening to our commuters, supporting our bus captains and looking out for one another," it said.

Mr Baey, who is also Minister of State for Transport, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he and grassroots leaders met with Go-Ahead’s top management after the complaints, and they acknowledged transition issues.

“About 40 per cent of GAS (Go-Ahead Singapore) bus captains servicing this new contract are new, hence they need time to familiarise themselves with the routes and operations,” said Mr Baey.

Go-Ahead is also using a new integrated depot in East Coast where buses are parked, cleaned and maintained. Buses are deployed from this depot every morning to go to bus interchanges.

Mr Baey said the move meant bus captains accustomed to the previous SBS Transit depot had to make adjustments, including to their off-service routes to and from the depot, travelling times from home, as well as meal and coffee break venues and schedules.

These adjustments could affect their work attendance and performance, indirectly affecting bus services, he added.

"GAS said that most of these issues have been resolved,” said Mr Baey. "GAS also assured us that it is strengthening training and support for its bus captains."

Mr Baey said that he and grassroots leaders had proposed targeted monitoring at key bus stops to measure waiting times, identify recurring delays and bus bunching, and determine what corrective action was needed.

He added that they will follow up closely with LTA and Go-Ahead and continue tracking the affected services.

The contract for the Tampines bus package is for five years, with an option for LTA to extend it by between two and five years.

The package was put up for tender in December 2024 and drew bids from SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead.

LTA said the proposals were evaluated through a two-envelope process, with quality evaluation done before the price submissions were opened.

Go-Ahead secured the highest total score and offered cost savings compared to the contract at the time, according to LTA.

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淡滨尼居民抱怨说，自从 Go-Ahead Singapore 接管 SBS Transit 的运营后，他们的日常公交出行变得更加难以预测。

新加坡前进巴士公司为其配备了太阳能电池板。（图片：新加坡前进巴士公司）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：Go-Ahead Singapore周二（9月15日）表示，将加强对在淡滨尼运营的巴士司机的支持，此前有居民抱怨自该公司接管该地区的服务以来，候车时间延长。

Go-Ahead 于 7 月从 SBS Transit 手中接管了淡滨尼的 27 条巴士线路。此前，Go-Ahead 于去年从陆路交通管理局 (LTA) 获得了价值 6.46 亿新元（5.1 亿美元）的合同。

但淡滨尼居民自那以后一直抱怨，他们的日常公交出行变得更加难以预测，等待时间更长，公交车也出现拥挤现象。国会议员白炎庆（人民行动党-淡滨尼）上周表示。

巴士运营商表示，已在淡滨尼增派员工，以在过渡期间为巴士司机和乘客提供支持。

CNA游戏猜词游戏：逐行破解单词；流行词游戏：用给定的字母组成单词；迷你数独：小巧的谜题，强大的脑力挑战；迷你填字游戏：小方格，大挑战；单词搜索：尽可能多地找出单词。显示更多 显示更少 Go-Ahead在Facebook帖子中表示，此举旨在帮助仍在熟悉新路线、道路和运营状况的巴士司机。“我们的同事已部署在巴士转换站和主要巴士站，密切关注服务、管理服务间隔并应对现场情况，”Go-Ahead表示，并补充说，这将使巴士司机能够及时获得支持和指导。这家巴士运营商表示，它“全力以赴”地加强服务，为淡滨尼的通勤者提供更安全、更可靠、更稳定的旅程。“在这个过渡时期，请放心，我们将继续倾听通勤者的意见，支持我们的巴士司机，并互相照应，”该公司表示。过渡期问题 交通部政务部长白先生周日在脸书上发文称，他和基层领袖在接到投诉后与Go-Ahead公司的高层管理人员进行了会面，对方承认存在过渡期问题。白先生表示：“大约40%的Go-Ahead Singapore（新加坡Go-Ahead公司）巴士司机是新来的，因此他们需要时间来熟悉路线和运营。” Go-Ahead公司还在东海岸启用了一个新的综合车厂，巴士在此停放、清洁和维护。每天早上，巴士都会从该车厂出发前往各个巴士转换站。白先生说，这意味着习惯于之前SBS Transit车厂的巴士司机必须做出调整，包括往返车厂的非运营路线、从家出发的时间，以及用餐和咖啡休息的地点和时间安排。他补充说，这些调整可能会影响他们的出勤率和工作表现，从而间接影响巴士服务。 “GAS表示，大部分问题已经解决，”贝先生说。“GAS还向我们保证，他们正在加强对巴士司机的培训和支持。”贝先生表示，他和基层领袖已提议在重点巴士站进行有针对性的监测，以测量候车时间，找出反复出现的延误和巴士扎堆现象，并确定需要采取哪些纠正措施。他补充说，他们将与陆路交通管理局（LTA）和Go-Ahead公司密切跟进，并继续追踪受影响的巴士服务。淡滨尼巴士线路的合同为期五年，LTA可以选择续约两到五年。该线路于2024年12月进行招标，吸引了新捷运（SBS Transit）、SMRT巴士、Tower Transit Singapore和Go-Ahead公司的投标。LTA表示，所有投标方案均采用两信封评审流程，在开启报价之前进行质量评估。LTA称，Go-Ahead公司获得了最高总分，并且与当时的合同相比，其方案能够节省成本。

该机构在 Facebook 帖子中表示，此举旨在帮助仍在熟悉新路线、道路和运营条件的公交车司机。

Go-Ahead公司表示：“我们的同事被部署在公交枢纽和主要公交站点，密切关注公交服务，管理服务间隔，并对现场情况做出反应。”该公司还补充说，这将使公交车司机能够及时获得支持和指导。

巴士运营商表示，他们“全力以赴”加强服务，为淡滨尼的通勤者提供更安全、更可靠、更稳定的旅程。

“在这个过渡时期，请放心，我们将继续倾听通勤者的意见，支持我们的公交车司机，并互相照顾，”声明中写道。

兼任交通部国务部长的贝先生周日在Facebook上发帖称，他和基层领导人在接到投诉后与前进党的高层管理人员会面，他们承认存在过渡问题。

“负责这项新合同的 GAS（Go-Ahead Singapore）巴士司机中约有 40% 是新人，因此他们需要时间来熟悉路线和运营，”Baey 先生说。

Go-Ahead公司还在东海岸新建了一个综合性公交车库，公交车在这里停放、清洁和维护。每天早上，公交车都会从这个公交车库出发，前往各个公交枢纽站。

贝先生表示，此举意味着习惯了之前 SBS Transit 车库的巴士司机们不得不做出调整，包括调整往返车库的非服务路线、从家出发的出行时间，以及用餐和咖啡休息的地点和时间安排。

他补充说，这些调整可能会影响他们的出勤率和工作表现，间接影响公交服务。

“GAS表示，这些问题大部分已经解决，”贝伊先生说。“GAS还向我们保证，他们正在加强对公交车司机的培训和支持。”

贝伊先生表示，他和基层领导人已提议对主要公交车站进行有针对性的监测，以测量候车时间，找出反复出现的延误和公交车扎堆现象，并确定需要采取哪些纠正措施。

他还补充说，他们将与陆路交通管理局和Go-Ahead公司密切跟进，并继续跟踪受影响的服务。

淡滨尼巴士服务合同为期五年，陆路交通管理局可以选择将其延长两到五年。

该项目于 2024 年 12 月进行招标，吸引了 SBS Transit、SMRT Buses、Tower Transit Singapore 和 Go-Ahead 等公司的投标。

陆路交通管理局表示，这些提案是通过两信封流程进行评估的，质量评估是在打开价格提交文件之前进行的。

据LTA称，Go-Ahead获得了最高总分，并且与当时的合同相比节省了成本。

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