*StarDust*

SBS and SMRT to spruce up bus fleets
Worn-out seats, handles and mechanical parts are some items to be fixed
By Yeo Ghim Lay


COMING SOON: SMRT will make more than 50 modifications to each of its buses, including resealing windows and changing emergency exits. -- PHOTO: SMRT

LEAKING air-conditioners. Torn seats. Peeling paintwork.

Commuters will soon see less of these on buses, as transport operators give their older vehicles makeovers during the next few years.

SMRT said yesterday it plans to have 85 per cent of its fleet, or 731 buses, upgraded within the next eight years at a cost of $26 million.

It has already refurbished about 170 buses, most about 11 to 13 years old, since early last year.

Bus operator SBS Transit said it has also been regularly retrofitting its eight- to nine-year-old buses.

While public buses in Singapore have a legislated lifespan of 17 years, both operators said mid-life upgrading is needed to ensure that buses remain comfortable for commuters.

The average age of both operators' buses is 10 years.

The improvements range from servicing bus air-conditioning systems to replacing seats and corroded floorboards.

MP Lim Biow Chuan, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said the upgrading of buses should help make journeys more comfortable.

'This will perhaps be a good incentive for people to move to public transport. After all, if you want them to switch, you have to make sure it's up to the mark,' he said.

In SMRT's eight-year plan, more than 50 modifications will be made to each bus, said Mr Tan Teong Joo, deputy director of SMRT Automotive Services.

Among the major changes is the resealing of bus windows and changing of the emergency exits, he said.

Commuters can also look forward to new vinyl seats. Mr Tan said that the previous ones, which had velvet coverings, got the thumbs-down from some commuters with skin allergies.

The changes are not purely cosmetic, though. SMRT will also replace worn-out parts in air pressure and brake systems.

Commuters, like postgraduate student Michelle Kok, 29, were pleased to hear about the makeovers.

'Sometimes the seats on buses are wet because the air-con is leaking. Or (sometimes) the rubber on the handles at the backs of seats is torn off,' she said.

Besides sprucing up their old buses, operators have also purchased new ones.

SMRT plans to buy 130 new buses, with the first batch set to hit the roads in the middle of this year.

SBS, which bought 700 new vehicles over the last two years, is still rolling out buses from its new fleet.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_230104.html

Casper26

Erm, it'll still get vandalise still.. =.="

gumok

I feel that as long as vandalisers see new buses, they'll have chances vandalise again...
Those old and vandalised buses are full of their handiwork so they'll not do it that much if they see an old bus...

hooolahoop

at least they made the effort to upgrade abit? that time i sit hor, the whole cushion of the seat came off leh!!! people stare at me, as if is i make spoil de... walao

Stefen

ya lo.. all spolit liao.. sometimes even drip water.. =.=| plus when got heavy rain the water will drip in de..

lalala....
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hooolahoop

YA! dripping water is very eeeew. and the seats get wet, the floor gets wet... or the air-con spoil. *sighs* like that they also can get good service award *slap forehead*

Voodoo Vince

As long as no increase in fare is good enough for me.

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People don't plan to fail... They fail to plan.

wcong

Not for now, they put CCTV in the bus for some REASONS..

oh. its mostly the sbstransit buses which have the cushions coming off.

wells. all SBSTransit bus drivers were reminded to check for leaks during raining day. not sure abt SMRT though.

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corp25

finally!!

gotta need some fresh air and some workable air con.. if not i would have to saffocate to death in that one hour bus ride every day..

CaRe

Same here. Please do not raise the fare.

winni12

ya pls dun pass down to the user

- Glen -

Actually, they will increase the fare soon, and the usual reason would be rising oil price.

shypineapple

increase fare still ok....as long GST is fixed at 7%...if increase to 10%,can die lor.. -.-

I know i screwed it up but I will love you forever.
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